Picture the scene. The Spice Girls are on Top of the Pops, Destiny’s Child’s debut album is ready to go in your portable CD player and makeup aisles of your local drugstore are full to the brim with frosted eyeshadows and lipsticks—it was an iconic time for beauty. And while there are plenty of ’90s beauty trends I’m keen to leave in the decade (thin eyebrows, for one) there are some ’90s makeup trends that are coming back around again in 2023. And with a bit of makeup fine-tuning and learnings, I’m seriously into them again.
Destiny’s Child in matching purple dresses and eyeshadow.
It’s not hard to miss that all things ’90s are making a comeback right now. First things first, the iconic ‘Rachel’ haircut has made a nostalgic return, with those flicky layers having a revival with a nod to supermodel blowouts and 90s hairstyles. Clinique’s Almost Lipstick in Black Honey, a standout makeup icon from the decade, has now been discovered by a whole new generation with its suits-everyone formula.
So, how to we wear those ’90s makeup looks today? Scroll ahead for the best ’90s-inspired makeup looks I’ve saved.
Halle Berry wearing brown lipstick in 1999. Brown lipstick was a universally loved makeup trend among many celebrities in the ’90s, and we’re seeing brown tones continue to be popular. Nowadays, we thankfully have more inclusive lipliner and lipstick shades to suit all skin tones, and formulas that sit comfortable on our lips all day.
Christina Aguilera wearing an iconic ’90s makeup trend: blue eyeshadow. We can’t talk about ’90s makeup without talking about blue eyeshadow, right? Back then, the blue eyeshadow was usually of the pastel blue variety, had a frosted effect and was often paired with red lipstick. Nowadays, it’s been given a modern update with matte texture in deep blue, that’s worn alone to showcase it in its true glory.
Kate Moss is one if the major poster girls for ’90s beauty. I’m here for Kate Moss’s ’90s frosted lip gloss and kohl eyeliner look. While we haven’t seen frosted lipstick make a full comeback, we have seen the return of lips that have a subtle shimmer or metallic glow. Look for lipsticks or glosses that offer a iridescent shimmer in neutral tones.
Reese Witherspoon wearing glossy berry lips. Lip gloss was a ’90s makeup staple, and we saw just about every kind of shade and finish to the glossy (yet sticky) formulas. In 2023, we’re less inclined to reach for those berry tones, and are instead opting for neutrals like brown to coat our lips. Thankfully, lip gloss textures have also come a long way and we now have balmy glosses that impart shine without feeling tacky to the touch, as well as lip oils, which add moisture and a healthy sheen to lips.
Britney Spears wearing frosted eyeshadow. Ah, frosted eyeshadow. While chalky frosted shades were everywhere during the ’90s, we’ve traded them in for sheer, iridescent veils that add a transparent sparkle to eyelids.
Christy Turlington wearing natural makeup. When I think of the ’90s, I think of Calvin Klein campaigns and the minimal makeup looks that accompanied them. In 2023, with brands such as Glossier and Merit championing streamlined makeup and natural-looking results (think lightweight skin tints and a slick of mascara) we can draw a lot of similarities today with those in the ’90s.
Naomi Campbell wearing kohl eyeliner. Grungy kohl eyeliner was another trend we saw in the ’90s. Back then, application was usually around the entirety of the waterline (think both upper and lower lash line), but the look has been modernsed by softly diffusing the liner around the lash line for a soft-focus effect, and brown is often used instead of black to soften the intensity.
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If there is one thing we can spot from the ’90s, its the penchant for matte foundation. While trends like cloud skin have brought the velvety complexion back into the limelight, we’re adding blusher and bronzer to add dimension to prevent the look from washing out our complexions.
