While the ‘80s were all about bold and bright colors, the ‘90s decided to dial things back a bit. Matte textures, earthy tones, and an effortlessly undone aesthetic defined the decade’s makeup trends. So what are the most iconic ‘90s makeup trends, then? We thought you’d never ask…
Curious about the hottest fashion trends of the ’90s? Check out: 15 Hella Fly ‘90s Fashion Trends
Thin Eyebrows
One of the easiest ways to tell if a picture/movie/tv show was based in the ‘90s is if all the girls were sporting super thin eyebrows. Do thin brows really look good? No, but it was SO in during the ‘90s, you had to have them. Almost every picture here features the thin brow look!
Brown Lips
Brown lips might not resonate until you stop and look back at pictures from the ‘90s and realize that girls were wearing brown lips all over the place. Matte or glossy, it didn’t matter, it was all about that mahogany. Indeed, look at most of the pictures here and you’ll notice the brown lips are everywhere!
Light Eye Shadow
Though light blue eye shadow is the most obvious example, the ‘90s didn’t discriminate against other light-colored eye shadows. It was all about that pale glow, and light eye shadows totally enhanced that look.
Glitter
Glitter, glitter, everywhere. Roll on, brush on, lips, whatever way you put it on, it was a must in the ‘90s to complete your look. The ultimate combo was the glitter roll on that also had a scent to pull some beauty double duty.
Face Gems
Gwen Stefani is probably the most prominent example of the use of face gems in the ‘90s – she wore them in a variety of ways, but they were generally always around the eyes.
What are your favorite ‘90s makeup trends? Let us know in the comments!
- Since prehistoric times, glitter has been made from many different materials including stones such as malachite and mica, as well as insects and glass. These days, it’s usually manufactured from a combination of aluminum and plastic.
- Though it may have just been a cyclical trend, some have credited makeup artist Kevyn Aucoin with launching the thin 90s eyebrows trend, taking inspiration from 1930s movie stars like Jean Harlow and Carole Lombard.
- If you want an authentic ‘90s lipstick, some of the colors are still around today, including Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Coffee Bean and MAC Matte Lipstick in Taupe.
- Maksymilian Faktorowicz founded Max Factor & Company in 1909, popularized the term make-up as a noun, and is credited with creating the iconic styles of Lucille Ball, Clara Bow, Jean Harlow and Joan Crawford.
- Makeup has been around for thousands of years, with many of the most iconic ancient civilizations (Egypt, Rome, Greece, etc) having their own beauty trends.
- Since prehistoric times, glitter has been made from many different materials including stones such as malachite and mica, as well as insects and glass. These days, it’s usually manufactured from a combination of aluminum and plastic.
- Though it may have just been a cyclical trend, some have credited makeup artist Kevyn Aucoin with launching the thin 90s eyebrows trend, taking inspiration from 1930s movie stars like Jean Harlow and Carole Lombard.
- If you want an authentic ‘90s lipstick, some of the colors are still around today, including Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Coffee Bean and MAC Matte Lipstick in Taupe.
- Maksymilian Faktorowicz founded Max Factor & Company in 1909, popularized the term make-up as a noun, and is credited with creating the iconic styles of Lucille Ball, Clara Bow, Jean Harlow and Joan Crawford.
- Makeup has been around for thousands of years, with many of the most iconic ancient civilizations (Egypt, Rome, Greece, etc) having their own beauty trends.
