As we near the end of the year, I’m taking a moment to look back on all this year’s beauty trends that are reminiscent of looks pulled off by the It girls of the 1990s. While there are definitely trends that are better left in 20th century, there are just as many that have been popping up on the runway, red carpet, the silver screen, and in your nearest beauty retailer and department store.
Out of all the makeup looks that made ’90s style as iconic and inspiring as it is today, here are 10 makeup looks worn by the era’s leading ladies that are on trend and still wearable today. Keep reading to find out which ones made the list and easy ways to re-create them.
If you’re looking for rosy, node lip inspiration, look no further than Gwyneth Paltrow’s no-makeup makeup look at the 51st British Academy Film Awards in 1999. Get Paltrow’s look by lightly lining your lip with a beige lip liner (remembering to follow their natural shape) before filling the lips in with a matching lipstick shade. To achieve her just-pinched cheeks look with a cream blush in a rosy pink color. Lastly, use a pigmented, chrome eye shadow to brush against your lids. It’s a simple and timeless look that’s just as popular as it was in 1999 as it is today.
When hasn’t Naomi Campbell served iconic looks? This picture of Campbell at a Victoria’s Secret Show fashion show in 1997 could have been taken today. Since there’s been recent interest in glossy, brown-lined lips (Hailey Bieber dubbed them “brownie lips” on TikTok), this iconic look has been everywhere lately. As demonstrated by Campbell, this lip combo has been a staple since long before Bieber’s time, particularly in Black and Brown communities. To try it: carefully line your lips with a deep brown lip pencil before applying a rosy pink, sheer tinted lip balm or lipstick. Next, blend your lip pencil with the lip color you’ve selected.
Here’s Cameron Diaz at a 1997 film premiere in New York wearing bright, powder blue eye shadow, smudged eyeliner, and glossy pink lips. Does it look familiar? This late ’90s/Y2K look has been absolutely everywhere. To replicate this look, reach for a fallout-proof, powder eye shadow (try applying it over white shadow for extra vivid color) and go for ultra-glossy lips with a soft pink tinted lip balm and matching gloss.
Halle Berry’s glowy and sweet makeup look at the premiere of The Flintstones in 1994 was just as perfect then as it is now. Re-create it by using a lightweight gel serum or highlighter, rosy-pink glossy lips, and a warm orange-hued blush that catches the light. It’s a versatile, day-to-night look that’s absolutely angelic.
If you’re planning to wear the frosty makeup trend in a chic and playful way, look to Tyra Banks at the 3rd annual GQ Men of the Year Awards in 1998 for inspiration. For makeup, opt for shimmering eye shadow hues of purple, pinks, and blues. To add a whimsical touch, pull out a couple of strands around your face and gently twist them back, clipping them in place with oversize butterfly hair clips.
TLC will forever be a major source of inspiration for me. From their unparalleled sounds to their iconic style, there’s nothing this ’90s girl group couldn’t do (especially if it had anything to do with their eye-catching makeup and style). My favorite look? This picture of them from a 1995 MTV Music Awards. They topped off their sporty matching looks with gorgeous berry-hued lips and a hint of gloss.
Whether you listen to grunge or not, there’s no denying the huge impact the grunge movement had on pop culture in the ’90s. Like most trends, grunge makeup looks have made a return in the past year (especially on the runways). Fiona Apple’s makeup look at the 40th annual Grammy Awards in 1998 was the epitome of grunge with a “messy” eye shadow look, thin angled brows, and a deep mauve lip color.
Here’s Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy attending a star-studded event in the mid-’90s with her husband, John F. Kennedy Jr. while wearing an ultra-chic red lip. Minimalistic CBK-inspired looks have also been trending—from putting on red lips for a run to the grocery store to skinny, angled brows to frame the face. Re-create this look by using a vibrant brick-red lip color and an angled brow brush so your eyebrows can be groomed and ready for the cameras (no over-plucking required).
Putting together a cohesive makeup look and outfit can be challenging. Things were made a little easier in the ’90s when more and more stars showed up on the red carpet wearing makeup looks that matched the unique hues of their outfits (like Jennifer Lopez at the 70th annual Academy Awards). The secret behind achieving this look in an updated way is simple: go for more opaque colors that aren’t overly bold.
Sarah Jessica Parker is practically glowing in this picture with her husband, Matthew Broderick at the UNICEF 50th Anniversary in 1998. To make SJP’s look your own, go for the glow with shimmering highlighters, rosy pink blush, and a lip color in a pinkish-orange shade that adds the perfect finishing touch to any red carpet–ready look.
Next: The Only Perfume That Matters If You Want To Smell Rich and Unbothered
