The ’90s Makeup Trends We Can’t Wait to Try This Year

March 02, 2023

By: Ariel Wodarcyk | Makeup.com by L'Oréal

Y2K-inspired makeup had its moment in 2022, but this year, we’re taking inspiration from the ’90s. From matte skin to blue eyeshadow and thin eyebrows (love them or hate them, they’re back!), there’s no shortage of popular ’90s beauty trends sweeping social media right now. Below, find seven of our favorites, with product recommendations to help you recreate the trends at home.

’90s Makeup Trends to Try Now

Thin Brows

Thin brows are one of the buzziest (and one of the most polarizing) ’90s makeup trends to make a comeback this year. But don’t reach for your tweezers and magnifying mirror just yet — you can fake the look of thin brows by patting concealer and powder on your natural brows, and drawing a new shape on top. For a super skinny, precise line, reach for the Maybelline New York Express Brow Ultra Slim Pencil.

’90s Supermodel Eyes

To recreate this ’90s-supermodel-inspired look, blend a mix of matte brown and black shadows in your crease and outer corners, and be sure to wing the colors outwards to elongate the eyes. Any neutral eyeshadow palette will do, but we love the NYX Professional Makeup Ultimate Color Palette in Ultimate Queen.

Blue Eyeshadow and Nude Lips

Blue eyeshadow was a ’90s beauty staple, as were nude lips lined with dark brown lip liner. Recreate the look by packing a pale blue shadow on your lid and crease with a flat eyeshadow brush, and heavily line your lips with a chocolate brown shade.

Dark Berry Lips

A deep berry lip is an easy way to try out the ’90s beauty trend. We love the L'Oréal Paris Colour Riche Intense Volume Matte Lipstick in Le Plum Dominant, a deep plum shade that looks great on every skin tone.

Grunge Smoky Eyes

Smudgy, smoky eyes and taupe lipstick look just as cool in 2023 as they did when grunge music soared to popularity in the early ’90s. To master the grunge makeup look, use your fingers to blend out a creamy black eyeliner, like the Lancôme Drama Liqui-Pencil Dramatic Eyeliner in Café Noir.

Monochrome Makeup

Toasty brown shadows complement a warm nude lip perfectly. Replicate the warm brown tones with the Urban Decay Naked Half-Baked Mini Eyeshadow Palette.

Frosty Lips

For full, frosty lips, slick on a layer of the NYX Professional Makeup Filler Instinct Plumping Lip Polish Gloss in Brunch Drunk. The gloss is flecked with champagne shimmer and contains a powerful plumping complex.

Photo: @jacquelynmcpheemakeup, Design: Juliana Campisi