How to recreate Venetia’s soft-grunge makeup in Saltburn
Alexa, play “Murder on the Dancefloor”
Emerald Fennell’s psychological thriller Saltburn takes us back to the early 2000s against the backdrop of the upper echelons of British society. Delving deep into themes of class, desire, and identity, the character of Venetia stands out amidst this intriguing backdrop - not only for her role in the narrative but also for her distinctive makeup style.
Contrary to her high societal standing, Venetia's makeup is characterised by its messy, ‘lived in’ appearance. Reflecting a sense of detachment from her wealth and privilege, her overall aesthetic merges rock glam with an early 2000s pop star feel.
Accompanying the returning popularity of Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s ‘Murder on the Dancefloor’ (IYKYK), the indie sleaze look is trending once again, thanks to actress Alison Oliver’s embodiment of the aesthetic.
For those wishing to recreate the careless, ‘I slept in this makeup’ look, look no further. Here, we break down Venetia from Saltburn’s makeup.
Venetia's Saltburn makeup
Grunge, smokey eyeliner
The cornerstone of Venetia's undone look is the smudged black eyeliner. This creates a grungy, lived-in feel that’s both striking and effortlessly cool. This is where we start the look.
Start by applying a thin line of brown eyeliner close to the lash line and smoke it out with a smudging brush for a lived-in look. Layer a deep brown and charcoal shadow over top to add further definition. Layer on a glittery or shimmery eyeshadow for added drama. Think metallics or iridescent colors that catch the light.
Finish off the eyes with a generous coat of black mascara - the messier, the better.
Lived-in base
The key to Venetia’s base makeup is keeping things matte.
After spot concealing your face, apply a mattifying setting powder to capture that Y2K essence. Accompany this with a bright pink blush on the apples of the cheeks. Blend the look together with a terracotta-toned bronzer.
Nude lips
Focusing the attention on her eyes, Venetia’s lips are kept relatively understated, with nude or light pink shades, often with a gloss finish to add a touch of glamour.
Main image credit: @saltburnfilm
Take another leaf out of Venetia’s book by exploring the ‘concealer lips’ look…
Olga is BEAUTYcrew's Content Producer. When she's not writing about beauty, she's probably watching endless TikTok videos about the topic. Her extra one per cent of brain space is reserved for her two poodles. She can be easily bribed with a good blush or lip tint (take notes, please).
