These Are the Iconic '90s Makeup Trends Making a Comeback

Updated on 3/25/2024 at 5:45 PM

The 1990s were a good time for music and rom-coms, but the beauty trends from that decade were a mixed bag (yet still undoubtedly better than the 2000s). Whether you loved looks from the '90s or not, one thing is clear: there was no such thing as minimalism when it came to makeup. Celebrities and models were seen rocking everything from dark lip liner to bold, sparkly eyeshadow, and the maximalism didn't stop there. Authentic '90s makeup meant ultra-thin eyebrows, frosted lips, and even face gems.

While we may have at one point thought these looks were gone for good, some of the hottest 1990s makeup looks are currently making a comeback. These days, everyone is looking to embrace the maximalism and take their makeup looks to the next level.

If at some point you rocked some fabulously flipped ends or know the struggles of trying to wash off body glitter, then you're a '90s kid and therefore probably get weirdly nostalgic when you see a picture of stick-on earrings. Ahead, we invite you to take a trip down memory lane as we round up the best '90s makeup trends of all time.

Brown Lipstick

Achieving the '90s brown-lipstick look is one of the easiest trends you can try with just one simple product. Grab your favorite brown lipstick and apply it all over your lips to immediately give yourself a '90s makeup look.

Bitten Red Lips

Red lips never go out of style, and this is one makeup trend that has stayed relevant no matter the year.

Thin Eyebrows

While we still aren't totally sure how we feel about thin eyebrows making a comeback, celebrities like Bella Hadid and Kylie Jenner have certainly embraced the trend. If you're not ready to accept that thin is in, you can always try the faux '90s brow trend.

Frosted Lips

Frosted lips are probably one of the easiest '90s makeup looks to master because the color isn't what matters — the gloss is. Make sure you have a lip gloss that offers tons of shine, and you'll be good to go — or "glow."

Blue Eyeshadow

While celebrities these days might not be rocking a full blue-eyeshadow look, we've seen it making a comeback in the form of fierce eyeliner, like Hailey Bieber's reverse blue eyeliner at Coachella.

Brown Lip Liner

Brown lip liner has been seen on celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Lizzo and is currently being touted as the '90s "supermodel lip." To achieve the look, all you need to do is line your lips with brown liner while leaving the center nude.

Body Glitter

While we haven't formerly reintroduced body glitter into our makeup routines, we've definitely adopted our own twist on the '90s trend. Body highlighter, a more subtle form of body glitter, is all the rage right now, and there are tons of products on the market to help you achieve the glow at home.

Face Gems

Face gems in the form of crystal eye makeup have been taking runways and red carpets by storm. The look is super easy to achieve at home and can be applied in just a few minutes.

Jessica Harrington is the senior beauty editor at POPSUGAR, where she writes about hair, makeup, skin care, piercings, tattoos, and more. As a New York City-based writer and editor with a degree in journalism and over eight years of industry experience, she loves to interview industry experts, keep up with the latest trends, and test new products.