25 Iconic ‘90s Beauty Trends That We’re Still Obsessed With

’90s Makeup Trends That Defined the Decade

1. Sheer Metallic Lids 

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The ’90s were known for metallic everything—from puffer jackets to pants and yes, makeup. We still love our metallic eyeshadows today, in every shade under the sun. And while bold metallic eyeshadow is always on our list, the sheer washes of gold eyeshadow, silver, and purple that we’re seeing (like the swipe of silver liner on Florence Pugh) have us falling in love all over again. 

Want to try it? “To achieve a sheer metallic finish on the eye, you can wet a flat eyeshadow brush with water, and gently press on the eyelid until you have created your desired look,” says makeup artist Sasha Ghodstinat. 

2. Vinyl Lips 

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We love the Angelina Jolie era glossy, glassy, latex-like lips of the ’90s. And we couldn't be more excited that this edgy-glam trend has made a comeback. There are plenty of vinyl lip products on the market, but if you want to get creative, layering a lip pencil, lipstick, and ultra-shiny topper is the way to go. Looking to get glam in a pinch? Ipsters love the GXVE BEAUTY Xtra Sauce - Longwear Vinyl Liquid Lipstick in Original Recipe for its high-impact, saturated color and lacquer-like shine. 

3. Barely-There Blush

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A natural-looking flush never goes out of style. And the just-pinched effect we love is easier than ever to create thanks to this reverse application tip. Ghodstinat says, “If you want to try [blush] underneath your foundation, apply on top of the apple of the cheeks, blending upwards. You can apply more than you normally would, then blend your base on top for a natural soft finish. 

4. Purple-Plum Lips

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From JLo to TLC, deep, plummy-purple lips took the ’90s by storm. One swipe of this bold lip color gave you instant edgy, cool vibes (just peep Priyanka Chopra’s take on the ’90s trend at the Emmy Awards). Keep the rest of your makeup simple—or, if you really want to channel the ’90s, make it matte, and let your bold lips take the spotlight. Tip: To prevent feathering and flaking, use a lip scrub to get your lips nice and smooth before applying your lipstick.

5. Chunky Glitter Eyeshadow 

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Nothing’s more ’90s than over-the-top glitter—on hair, on lips, and on eyes, like on Margot Robbie. Opt for gleaming gold, shiny silver, or a mix of colors for a super fun effect. Chunky glitter eyeshadow is the perfect way to glam up your look.

6. The Brick Lip

If there was a single lip color to represent the ’90s, it would hands down be brick lipstick. It was donned by celebs like Drew Barrymore and Winona Ryder and looked just as chic on a red carpet as it did in the grunge music scene. A few notches away from a classic red and not as dramatic as brown lipstick, this shade was (and still is) incredibly flattering. 

To get this look, Los Angeles celebrity makeup artist Esther Foster used a combo of burgundy and deep taupe lip pencils to fill in the lips. Just top with a clear balm and pair it with your favorite oversized flannel. Instant ’90s cool-girl vibes.

7. Frosty Blue Eyeshadow

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Everyone in the ’90s had the blues—from matte pastels to metallic blue-gray. It may have been shunned for a few decades (thanks to the bright cobalts of the ’80s), but it’s no doubt been making an inevitable return the last couple of years. 

This time around, we’re seeing minimal pops of bright blue shades. “There were so many trends in the ’90s that I’m happy to see being revamped,” Foster tells us, demonstrating an easy way to create a ’90s-made-modern eye look. To get this 2025-approved version, reach for a deep-gray kohl pencil to line the eyes with a slight wing, then use a shimmery mid blue to smudge it out and extend the wing before finishing with a few coats of your favorite mascara.

8. Matte Skin

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Before we all pined for perfectly dewy skin, a matte finish was all the rage. Tyra Banks shows off her soft-focus skin with a romantic flush on the apples of the cheeks and just the right amount of eye makeup—a little liner and softly defined lashes.

9. Pencil-Thin Brows

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Originally made iconic by the flapper girls of the ’20s and resurrected in the ’90s (hello, Pamela Anderson), pencil-thin brows are having yet another comeback. Celebs like Bella Hadid are proving that less can definitely be more—but before you reach for the tweezers, here’s how to test-drive the look without the long-term commitment.

10. Pastel Eyeshadow

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Drew Barrymore in a shimmery peridot shadow is the epitome of the late ’90s looks. In contrast to the decade’s beloved neutrals, Easter egg pastels in shades like lavender, sky blue, and mint green began popping up towards the end of the decade and into the early ’00s. Usually paired with luminous skin and a glossy lip, these playful colors are *still* considered cool. Wanna go green like Drew? Try these 20 Green Eyeshadows to Add to Your Beauty Stash.

11. Overlined Lips

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Everyone these days probably knows that slightly overlining your lips creates the illusion of a fuller pout (thank you, Tiktok beauty influencers). But instead of using a color that matches your natural lip shade or lipstick, ’90s celebs like supermodel Naomi Campbell used contrasting dark brown pencil liners to trace around the lip line with a slick of clear or nude gloss on top. The result? Effortlessly edgy, a little rebellious, and unmistakably ’90s.

12. Red Lips

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No ’90s roundup is complete without Gwen Stefani’s signature look: platinum blonde hair paired with a bold, unforgettable red lip. It’s a combo so iconic, she’s still rocking it decades later. Want to channel your inner Gwen? It all starts with finding your perfect red—and don’t worry, we’ve got the guide to help you nail it.

13. The Nude Lip

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She may not have invented the nude lip, but it’s hard not to think of it without Victoria Beckham coming to mind. Posh Spice (who also wore the dark liner/nude gloss trend on the reg) was rarely seen on the red carpets without a smoky eye, nude lip, bronzed skin, and a little Gucci dress. 

14. No-Makeup Makeup

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One of the biggest beauty statements of the ’90s? Skipping makeup altogether. Minimalism and the no-makeup makeup vibe took center stage, thanks to supermodels like Kate Moss, and it was less about perfection and more about projecting that ultra-cool, “effortlessly undone” energy. Opt for a sheer, skin-like foundation (or none at all) to achieve that dewy, fresh-faced Jennifer Aniston glow.

15. Purple Eyeshadow

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Want an easy ’90s throwback? Follow Angela Basset’s lead and pair a light lavender eyeshadow shade close to the lash line and blend a darker hue into the crease. To make it extra ’90s, pair it with a bright red lip. But if you prefer a more modern take, Foster suggests choosing between a bold lip or eye look. “Now, there is a bit more balance to the excess of eyeshadow, where the lip might be more natural. If you go for a bold lip, keep the face minimal and fresh,” she says. 

16. Face Gems

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HBO Max’s hit show Euphoria clearly took notes on popular ’90s makeup trends, because face gems were everywhere. Clip-on gems made an appearance in the hair, while pops of sparkle were applied to the decolletage and, of course, focused around the eyes to complement or replace eyeshadow. Turn back time like Cher and apply self-adhesive gems (or with a dab of lash glue) along the lower lash line and up onto the brow bone.

17. Black Liner

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Of all beauty products, a dramatic black eyeliner was guaranteed to be in everyone’s kit. Gwyneth Paltrow shows off the ’90s makeup trend of tightlining and smudging around the eye with a heavy kohl liner and a shimmery blue shadow. Just don’t forget your hair straightener and black leather choker. 

18. All the Lip Gloss

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If you didn’t have five different lip glosses in your bag, were you even living in the ’90s? Before Beyoncé went solo, girl groups like Destiny’s Child, Spice Girls, and TLC set the juicy ’90s lip trend into stone. Sparkly lip glosses, scented rollerballs, super pigmented (and super sticky)—any way you wore it was in.

19. Monochromatic Makeup

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Another one of the landmark ’90s makeup looks? Monochromatic makeup. Mahogany, purple, and burgundy shades were used on lips, lids, and even hair to create an all-over aesthetic. Here, Tatyana Ali wore a monochromatic mauve with a studded choker and bedazzled pigtails, which was majorly on trend.

20. The Cut Crease

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The cut crease was the glam moment of the ’90s—bold, dramatic, and totally unforgettable. Madonna took it next-level with her brick-red lips and sky-high lashes, cementing the look as iconic. To bring it back today, pair crisp white with soft brown shadows for that sharp crease contrast, or give it a 2025 twist with a sleek liner “floating crease”.

21. Brown Lips 

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In the ’90s, women of color set the standard for cool with rich brown lips and soon, every celeb was following their lead. The shade range was endless, from barely-there nudes to deep, dramatic chocolates, all equally chic. To nail the look now, channel beauty icon Halle Berry with a glossy, high-shine finish or go for a velvety matte vibe.

22. Beauty Marks 

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The rumor is, supermodel Cindy Crawford wanted to get her mole removed but her mom encouraged her to keep it. The dark beauty mark became part of her signature look, and women in the ’90s went crazy copying it. All you need is a dark brown liner and the model-ready look is complete. 

23. Blush-Free Skin 

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After the bright blush of the ’80s faded, early ’90s celebs ditched color and went for one-tone, totally matte skin—no blush, no bronzer, no fuss. It feels wild now with our blush blindness and sculpted cheekbones, but we’re still obsessed with Saved by the Bell’s Tiffani Thiessen rocking this undeniably ‘90s look. 

24. Spider Lashes

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Women in the ’90s, such as Naomi Campbell above, lived for heavy, ultra-long lashes—even with clumps! Load up on your favorite mascara and pair it with shimmery blue eyeshadow for an even more ’90s supermodel look. 

25. Navy Smoky Eye 

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The ’90s girlies didn’t just do black or grey smoky eyes—they played with color. Case in point: Brandy winning an American Music Award in 1996 with a blue-toned smoky eye that’s now officially earned a spot on our “recreate this” list.

Modern Twists on ’90s Makeup

The beauty of ’90s makeup is that it can feel just as fresh today with the right tweaks. Instead of pencil-thin brows, think fuller, feathered arches that frame your face naturally. A brow gel like ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS Brow Freeze Gel & Dual-Ended Applicator is perfect for setting a modern, brushed-up look.

Where matte skin reigned supreme in the ’90s, today’s update leans toward luminous, dewy finishes that let skin shine through. Swap out heavy powders for a skin tint or hydrating base like E.L.F. COSMETICS Halo Glow Skin Tint SPF 50 to keep your complexion fresh but polished. For extra glow, tap on a liquid highlighter like SAIE Glowy Super Gel—a versatile product that layers beautifully over foundation or bare skin.

Want to modernize those iconic brown and brick lips? Instead of a bold liner contrast, pair a neutral liner with a hydrating gloss balm to soften the look while still honoring that nostalgic vibe.

Final Thoughts

The ’90s were bold, experimental, and downright iconic—but that doesn’t mean the trends have to stay in the past. With a few product swaps and pro tips, you can make these looks work for today in a way that feels fresh, wearable, and uniquely you. Whether you’re rocking a frosty lid, a brick lip, or a face full of dewy glow, the magic of ’90s makeup lies in its fearless self-expression. And honestly? That’s always on trend.