Y2K makeup
Y2K makeup, from around the year 2000, is frosty and playful: shimmering pastel lids in icy blue, lilac or silver, shimmer on the cheekbones, thin arched brows and a high-shine clear or pink gloss.
How to do Y2K makeup1990s makeup: brown lips and matte skin
1990s makeup is matte and muted: thin, defined brows, smoky brown or taupe eyes, a little contour, and the decade's signature lip, a dark brown liner around a lighter nude or glossy center. It ranges from the polished supermodel face to the barely-there grunge look.
Jump to the steps
Before
After- Lid
- Crease
- Cheek
- Lip
The signature details
- Brown lip liner around a lighter nude or gloss
- Thin, arched brows
- Matte skin with soft contour
- Smoky brown, taupe or gray eyes
What you need
- Matte foundation and powder
- Matte contour powder
- Taupe and dark brown eyeshadows
- Brown kohl pencil
- Brown lip liner
- Nude or brown-nude lipstick and clear gloss
Any brand works; match the shades to your coloring.
Supermodel or grunge
The 1990s had two faces. Runway supermodels wore a polished, matte complexion with sculpted cheeks, smoky brown eyes and the famous lined lip. Grunge and minimal fashion went the other way: very little foundation, smudged pencil around the eyes and a bare or barely tinted lip. Both share the decade's palette of browns, taupes and muted berries rather than bright colors.
Brows were plucked thin with a high, defined arch. You can suggest the shape without plucking by filling only the arch and keeping the tail sharp and slim.
Getting the lined lip right
The liner should be a shade or two deeper than your lip color, not black. Line the full outline, blend the liner slightly inward so there is no hard edge, then fill the center with a lighter nude lipstick or just clear gloss. On deeper skin, a rich chocolate liner with a caramel or nude center gives the same contrast. Our hair color guide also suggests brow and lip depths that suit your hair.
How to do 1990s makeup, step by step
- Matte base. Apply a matte foundation and set it with powder over the whole face for a soft, shine-free finish.
- Soft contour. Sweep a matte contour powder under the cheekbones and along the sides of the nose, blending well.
- Define slim brows. Fill only the arch and tail with a pencil, keeping the shape thin and the arch noticeable.
- Smoky brown eyes. Blend taupe through the crease and dark brown along the upper lash line, then smudge brown kohl under the lower lashes.
- Mascara. One or two coats of black or brown mascara. Lashes in the 1990s were defined but not dramatic.
- Line the lips. Outline the lips with brown liner and blend it slightly inward.
- Fill the center. Fill with a lighter nude lipstick or simply add clear gloss so the darker outline frames the lips.
Common mistakes
- Black or gray-toned lip liner, which looks harsh rather than brown.
- Leaving a hard line between liner and lipstick; blend the inner edge.
- Strong, bright blush; the decade kept cheeks soft and muted.
- Over-drawn thick brows that cancel the slim 1990s shape.
Frequently asked questions
How do I do 90s lip liner?
Choose a brown liner a shade or two deeper than your lips, outline the mouth, blend the liner slightly inward, then fill the center with a lighter nude or clear gloss.
Did 90s makeup use shimmer?
Some. The best-known 90s face is matte with muted browns and taupes, but frosted lipsticks and shimmery lids were also popular, especially later in the decade.
What eyeshadow colors are typical for 90s makeup?
Taupe, warm and cool browns, gray and muted plum, blended into a soft smoky shape.
More decade looks
1980s makeup
1980s makeup is loud and colorful: bright eyeshadow such as electric blue, purple or fuchsia carried up toward the brow, strong blush draped along the cheekbones, bold full brows and a vivid pink, fuchsia or red lip.
How to do 1980s makeupAll faces shown are AI-generated fictional models, not real people.
Related guides
- Makeup colors that suit your hair colorBlush, lip and eyeshadow shades that suit black, brown, light brown, blonde, platinum, red and gray hair, plus how to choose a brow color for each.
- A simple makeup routine for beginnersA simple beginner makeup routine in the right order, from skin prep and base to brows, mascara, blush and lips, with a starter kit and key techniques.