HAYLS BEAUTY TALES
Beauty Edits

The Shocktober Beauty Edit

October 13, 2026 · by admin

The Shocktober Beauty Edit: Goth, Sophisticated & Soft Alt

Save

Alternative beauty doesn’t have one uniform.

Some days I want to look like I’ve just emerged from a crypt with excellent eyeliner. Other days I want something polished, expensive-looking and slightly intimidating. And sometimes I want the alternative edge without going full drama.

So for this Shocktober Beauty Edit, I’m not giving you one prescribed autumn face.

I’m giving you three moods: Goth, Sophisticated and Soft Alt.

Pick your poison.

🖤 Mood One: Goth

This is the one that doesn’t whisper.

The Goth edit is all about contrast, drama and committing to the look. Black liner isn’t an accent here — it’s practically a personality trait.

Start with a pale or perfected base depending on how theatrical you want to go. Then concentrate the drama around the eyes: smoky charcoal shadow, black pencil, liquid liner and plenty of mascara.

For lips, you’ve got options. A deep berry or wine shade keeps things wearable, while black or almost-black takes the look somewhere much more dramatic.

And yes, this is exactly where my Stargazer white makeup gets to come out and play.

The Goth Beauty Bag

  • Black liquid and pencil eyeliner
  • Black or charcoal eyeshadow
  • Volumising black mascara
  • White or very pale base for theatrical days
  • Deep berry, burgundy or black lipstick
  • Cool-toned contour
  • Black, oxblood or metallic nails

The mood: I may be buying shampoo in Superdrug, but spiritually I’m wandering around a Victorian mansion.

🥀 Mood Two: Sophisticated

Alternative doesn’t have to mean maximalist.

This is my grown-up dark beauty mood: polished skin, beautiful brows, carefully placed colour and one feature doing the talking.

Think berry lipstick with an otherwise understated face. A beautifully blended smoky brown eye. Sharp black liner with a nude lip. Deep plum nails. A fragrance that announces you before you’ve said anything.

It’s still alternative — we’ve just given it excellent tailoring.

I’d reach for rich autumn shades here: espresso, burgundy, aubergine, wine, charcoal and muted metallics.

And this is the mood where some completely mainstream beauty products become surprisingly good alternative staples. Something doesn’t need a skull on the packaging to earn a place in an alt makeup bag.

The Sophisticated Beauty Bag

  • Berry or wine lipstick
  • Brown-black eyeliner
  • Espresso, plum and charcoal shadows
  • Defined brow products
  • Lengthening mascara
  • Subtle highlighter
  • Burgundy or deep plum nails
  • A rich autumn fragrance

The mood: Board meeting at five. Mysterious disappearance at seven.

⚡ Mood Three: Soft Alt

Soft alt is for the days when I want the edge without the full theatre.

And no, soft doesn’t automatically mean pastel.

We’re keeping the definition firmly within the new HBT world.

Take a fresh, comfortable base and add slightly smudged liner rather than a perfect wing. Use taupe, grey, muted plum or washed-out burgundy around the eyes. Add mascara, brushed brows and a lip that’s either muted berry, brownish nude or something softly bitten-looking.

You can introduce colour here too. A flash of electric blue liner, a muted purple shadow or a tiny metallic detail can completely change an otherwise simple face.

It’s relaxed. A little messy. Deliberately imperfect.

And incredibly wearable.

The Soft Alt Beauty Bag

  • Smudgy black or charcoal pencil
  • Taupe, grey and muted plum shadows
  • Natural-looking mascara
  • Tinted or lightweight base
  • Muted berry or brown-toned lip
  • Silver accents
  • One unexpected colour product

The mood: I didn’t spend three hours getting ready. I just naturally look like I know an obscure band you haven’t heard of.

So Which One Am I?

All three.

That’s really the point of this edit.

I don’t think finding your alternative style means picking a box and staying obediently inside it. Goth Hayley can turn up one day, sophisticated Hayley the next and soft-alt Hayley when I want something effortless.

The common thread isn’t a particular lipstick.

It’s attitude.

Goth gives me drama.

Sophisticated gives me polish.

Soft Alt gives me freedom.

And throughout Shocktober, we’re going to play with all three.

Because HBT isn’t interested in telling you the “correct” way to look alternative.

I’d much rather hand you the makeup bag and see what you do with it.

Welcome to the darker side of Hayls Beauty Tales