Ganguro

A specific 90s/2000s Gyaru sub-style. Deep fake tan, white concealer around eyes and lips, and face stickers.

Ganguro is a bold Japanese street fashion and makeup subculture that emerged in the mid-1990s as a vibrant rebellion against traditional beauty standards. It is characterized by an intentionally deep artificial tan contrasted starkly with opaque white concealer around the eyes and lips, heavy black eyeliner, and frosty finishes. Popularized by the gyaru youth of Harajuku and Shibuya, the look is often completed with decorative facial stickers, rhinestones, and bleached hair.

To create Ganguro makeup, begin by applying a deep matte foundation to mimic an intense tan. Next, pack stark white concealer in large circles around the eyes and down the nose bridge. Outline the eyes heavily with black liquid liner, add dramatic upper and lower false lashes, and finish with frosty pale lips and decorative facial rhinestones.

Full Look Face/Base Eyes Lips Alternative Bold Retro Costume/Theme Festival

~18 min 6 steps 12 products

The Kit

Deep Matte Foundation
Dense Buffer Brush
Opaque White Concealer
Flat Synthetic Brush
Thick Black Liquid Liner
Black Mascara
Dramatic False Lashes
Clear Eyelash Glue
Frosty Pale Pink Lipstick
Tweezers
Facial Rhinestones
Decorative Face Stickers

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How to Create Ganguro

Apply Dark Foundation

Use a dense buffer brush to blend a deep matte foundation several shades darker than your natural skin tone evenly across the face, neck, and chest.
Apply White Concealer

With a flat synthetic brush, pack opaque white concealer in large circles around both eyes, reaching the brow bone. Draw a thick line of the same white concealer down the center of the nose.
Draw Bold Eyeliner

Outline the entire eye with thick black liquid liner, connecting the inner corners and extending the outer corners into a dramatic, slightly downward wing.
Apply False Lashes

Apply black mascara to your natural lashes. Use clear eyelash glue to attach heavy, dramatic false lashes to both the upper and lower lash lines.
Paint Pale Lips

Outline the perimeter of the mouth with a thin layer of white concealer, then fill in the center of the lips with a frosty pale pink lipstick.
Attach Face Stickers

Using tweezers and a tiny dot of clear eyelash glue, place rhinestones and decorative face stickers symmetrically along the upper cheeks and outer eye area.

Pro Tips

To prevent the heavy white concealer from cracking or creasing around your eyes, prep the area with a gripping eye primer and set the concealer immediately with a pure white matte setting powder.
When selecting a dark foundation, choose one with warm or orange undertones rather than neutral or olive, as the authentic 2000s Ganguro aesthetic favored a heavily bronzed, almost sun-baked appearance.
Use a specialized cosmetic adhesive or long-wear clear eyelash glue to attach your facial rhinestones, ensuring they stay put on top of the heavy, layered foundation without sliding off.

Common Questions

What is Ganguro makeup?

Ganguro is an iconic 1990s and 2000s Japanese gyaru subculture makeup style known for its deep artificial tan and contrasting white eye and lip makeup. It was originally worn as a rebellious, highly expressive statement against traditional Japanese beauty ideals of pale skin and subtlety.

What products do I need for a Ganguro look?

You will need a matte foundation several shades darker than your natural skin tone, an intensely opaque white concealer, and a thick black liquid eyeliner. Additionally, dramatic upper and lower false lashes, frosty pale pink lipstick, and facial rhinestones are essential to complete the aesthetic.

Is Ganguro makeup good for beginners?

No, Ganguro is considered a difficult and advanced look due to the extreme color contrast required and the precision needed for the stark white circles and heavy black eyeliner. It is best suited for costume parties, themed festivals, or editorial and cosplay artistry rather than everyday wear.

What is the difference between Ganguro and traditional Gyaru makeup?

While traditional Gyaru makeup focuses on large, doll-like eyes and an overall glamorous, trendy vibe, Ganguro is a specific, extreme sub-style that pushes those boundaries. Ganguro distinctly requires an intensely dark fake tan and stark white concealer heavily packed around the eyes and lips, whereas standard Gyaru leans toward more natural skin tones.

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