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Y2K makeup: frost, shimmer and gloss

By Lookslate · Updated

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. It is meant to look shiny, light and a little futuristic.

Jump to the steps
BeforeY2K makeup on an AI-generated modelAfter
An AI-generated example of Y2K makeup. The Lookslate preview cannot apply this look to your photo yet.
  • Lid
  • Crease
  • Cheek
  • Lip

The signature details

  • Frosted pastel or silver eyeshadow
  • Shimmer on the cheekbones and inner corners
  • Thin, arched brows
  • High-shine clear or pink lip gloss

What you need

  • Light, dewy foundation or skin tint
  • Frosted eyeshadow in icy blue, lilac or silver
  • White or silver shimmer for inner corners
  • Liquid or cream highlighter
  • Brown or black mascara
  • Clear or pink lip gloss

Any brand works; match the shades to your coloring.

The look of the millennium

Around the turn of the millennium, pop stars, teen magazines and the first wave of digital culture made shine the point of makeup. Frosted pastel shadow went over the whole lid, body glitter showed up on shoulders and cheekbones, brows stayed thin from the 1990s, and lips were all about thick, sticky gloss. The look has returned with social media, usually with a slightly softer brow.

Where the 1990s look was matte and brown, Y2K is light, cool and reflective. Think silver, ice blue, lilac and baby pink.

Keeping frost flattering

Frost highlights texture, so keep it on the lids and the high points of the cheekbones and away from areas with fine lines or enlarged pores. If cool pastels wash you out, try a pale gold or champagne frost; our eye color guide shows which shimmer shades make each eye color pop.

How to do Y2K makeup, step by step

  1. Dewy base. Apply a light, dewy foundation or skin tint and powder only the sides of the nose and the chin.
  2. Frost the lids. Pat an icy blue, lilac or silver frosted shadow across the whole lid with a fingertip for maximum shine.
  3. Brighten the inner corners. Dab white or silver shimmer into the inner corners and under the center of the lower lashes.
  4. Thin brows. Brush brows up and fill sparingly, keeping them slim with a clear arch.
  5. Mascara. Apply a light coat of mascara; the shine on the lids is the focus, not the lashes.
  6. Shimmer the cheeks. Tap a liquid or cream highlighter on the tops of the cheekbones and add a touch of pink blush below.
  7. Gloss. Finish with a generous layer of clear or pink gloss.

Common mistakes

  • Matte shadow, which loses the reflective quality that defines the look.
  • Shimmer over every part of the face, which looks greasy instead of frosty.
  • Heavy black liner, which pulls the look toward the 1990s or toward grunge.
  • A dark or matte lip instead of shiny gloss.

Frequently asked questions

What is Y2K makeup?

The frosty, shiny makeup of around the year 2000: pastel or silver shimmering lids, cheekbone shimmer, thin brows and high-shine lip gloss.

What is the difference between 90s and Y2K makeup?

90s makeup is matte, brown and muted with lined lips; Y2K makeup is shiny and cool-toned, with frosted pastel lids and glossy lips.

Can I wear Y2K makeup if I have mature skin?

Yes. Keep frost on the center of the lids and the tops of the cheekbones, choose a finely milled shimmer rather than chunky glitter, and use a cream highlighter instead of powder.

More decade looks

1990s makeup

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.

How to do 1990s makeup

All faces shown are AI-generated fictional models, not real people.

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