How to recreate Aespa Ningning’s signature gothic aesthetic

Happy Ningning Day! To celebrate Aespa’s vocal powerhouse and fashion muse, beauty fans worldwide are embracing her iconic dark siren aesthetic. Defying bright K-pop norms, Ningning champions sultry, ’90s-inspired dark glamour with dramatic contrast, sharp graphic brows and smouldering smoky eyes – balancing haute-couture polish with a rebellious edge

Picture: Instagram @imnotningning

Step 1: Luminous base with Haus Labs Triclone™ Skin Tech Foundation

Picture: Sephora

The foundation of Ningning’s dramatic look relies on a high-contrast, luminous base that appears bright and velvety smooth under flash photography. To achieve this porcelain finish, opt for a foundation shade half a tone lighter than your natural skin tone using Haus Labs by Lady Gaga’s Triclone™ Skin Tech Medium Coverage Foundation. Designed with fermented arnica to soothe redness, this clean formula offers a natural, radiant finish with long-wearing medium coverage. It seamlessly evens out the complexion without masking texture, providing a smooth canvas that allows dark eye makeup to pop dramatically.

Step 2: Arch precision with Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Definer in Black

Picture: Anastasia Beverly Hills

Forget soft, straight Korean brow shapes. Ningning’s signature look hinges on sharply defined, dark raven brows that frame her eyes with feline intensity. Using ABH's Brow Definer, rely on its triangular-tipped retractable pencil to carve out a clean, slightly lifted arch. The balanced wax-and-pigment formula glides on without skipping, allowing you to draw precise hair-like strokes before using the custom spoolie end to blend the rich black pigment softly through the hairs for a bold, structured finish.

Step 3: Smouldering depth with Dior Beauty Diorshow Mono Couleur Eyeshadow in 098 Black

Picture: Dior

The undisputed centrepiece of Ningning’s aesthetic is her velvet-black smoky eye. To achieve that intensity without appearing muddy, sweep Diorshow Mono Couleur Eyeshadow in 098 Black across the lid and blend outwards into a subtle wing. Formulated with highly concentrated pigments, this couture shade delivers immediate, rich colour payoff. Pressing the matte black pigment directly into the lash line and lower water line elongates the eyes, giving them that signature feline, siren-like shape that defines her stage presence.

Step 4: Sculpted coolness with Nars Blush in 956 Foreplay

Picture: Sephora

To ensure the dramatic eye look remains the main focus while adding dimension to the face, warm peach tones are replaced with cool, muted shades. The Nars Blush in shade 956 Foreplay provides a soft, cool-toned brown flush that subtly carves out the cheekbones. Its silky, blendable formula glides effortlessly over the skin, delivering true-colour payoff that mimics natural contouring rather than heavy rouge, adding an air of mysterious, nineties supermodel sophistication.

Step 5: Velvet nude lip with Chanel Beauty Rouge Allure Velvet Luminous Matte Lip Colour

Picture: Chanel

Complete the dark siren look with a chic, muted lip that balances the intense eye makeup. Chanel Beauty’s Rouge Allure Velvet Luminous Matte Lip Colour delivers a comfortable, second-skin texture enriched with concentrated pigments. Choosing a soft, neutral nude shade ensures your lips look naturally plump and velvety without competing with the smouldering smoky eyes, providing a long-lasting, sophisticated finish worthy of an off-duty icon.

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