"While the world is buzzing over “~riiiseeee ‘n shiineee~”, I’m going to remind everyone of when Kylie Jenner’s makeup practically broke Instagram in approximately 2014. I remember immediately running to MAC to buy Kylie’s signature brown lip shade. Then, next thing I knew, I was wearing tattoo chokers, high-neck tank tops, and high-waisted jeans. The ’90s were in full swing. I’m not trying to say Kylie Jenner is to blame, but her Instagram gave us a lot more than Stormi videos, that’s for sure. Although Kylie’s signature shade is now in the form of her own liquid lipsticks, classic ’90s makeup is dominating runways, street style, magazines, and more. I can’t scroll through my Instagram feed without seeing a metallic or glitter eye look (thanks, Euphoria!), dark nude lips, and smooth, satin skin. So, how exactly do those trends translate into real life? Here are all the top trends, plus, our secrets to wearing them from the office to the club:
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Natural-looking skin
A flawless complexion that didn’t look like you were wearing pounds of makeup was the goal for women in the ’90s, and the same look was achieved across runways (such as Marc Jacobs, Stella McCartney, and Balmain) with a little bit of a twist. Instead of matte skin that cracks and looks cakey, the focus is put on a natural-skin finish. Get the look by layering products in thin layers instead of overloading on product and coverage in one go. Use a light moisturizer first, then a thin layer of a medium-coverage foundation, concealer to spot conceal, and then set with a powder. Along with natural skin, the “no-makeup” makeup look is totally ’90s. Try this look first, and then add these other trends on top — this ensures nothing goes too over-the-top (unless that’s the look you’re going for, which is honestly a look on its own!).
This foundation is the true form of a satin/natural finish. It gives a flawless coverage without getting cakey or looking dry on parched, winter skin.
This is the easiest way to hack a natural finish if you have oily skin. While it might be a little drying for someone on the other end of the spectrum, it provides a skin-like finish for those who are trying to keep oils at bay.
If you're looking for something with a satin/matte finish that won't dry out your skin (AKA perfect for the fall and winter), this is a great option to try!
If you want a matte, pore-free look, this is the powder for you. It blurs the skin like nothing else I've ever tried without leaving you looking cakey or feeling heavy on the skin. You can also dust it lightly across the face just to set your foundation in place.
This powder does the job of pricier formulas for less than half the price. Use this to mattify dewy foundations or set your makeup for the day.
Natural blush
Dewy blushes in bright shades were everywhere last summer, but this season, we’re opting for natural blush looks that complement both those natural, no-makeup looks and fun, shimmery eyes. To get the ’90s look, go for something close to your skin tone, whether that’s a peach, a neutral mauve, or a dark brown.
If you want to keep your natural, radiant-finish on the skin, these cream blushes do the trick. They never look heavy or cakey the way a powder might, and they blend into the cheeks like nothing. The shades are all super wearable too, so you really can't go wrong with any of them!
Burt's Bees blushes are one of the best formulas at the drugstore, and the shades are perfect for a natural blush look.
Metallic eyeshadow
Metallic eyelids that shine in the light are the ’90s equivalent to the warm, smokey eye of the early 2010s. They’re easy AF, they use only a few shades, and anyone can pull them off. Simply swipe a metallic shade across the lid — it’s seriously that easy! Make it extra glam for a night out by wetting your brush beforehand, or opt for an intense cream or liquid shadow. Want to go full Euphoria? Glitter isn’t just for festivals and New Year’s Eve anymore. Try wearing glitter as a liner, in the center of the eyelid, or in the inner corners to get a light glitter look without looking like you’re heading to a rave.
A cream eyeshadow is a great way to get super high intensity, and these eye pigments seriously do the trick. Swipe one of these across the lid, and you're good for the entire day (or night!).
These eyeshadows are no joke when it comes to pigment and shine. To get the look of an eye gloss without all the mess and creasing, add one of these to your lids. The shimmers are so reflective that it makes your lids look wet!
For the gal on the go, these Nudestix pencils are a lifesaver. Both the satin and matte versions make a simple smokey eye when smudged across the lid and lower lash line.
If Daisy Buchanan lived in 2019, she would own every shade of these glitter eyeshadows. They're the sophisticated way to wear glitter on the eyes. Not to mention, they last forever — holiday parties, here I come.
These glitters are suspended in a paste that glides evenly over the lids or inner corner of the eyes without getting everywhere like a loose glitter would. Glitter tech in 2019 is everything.
Matte smokey eyes
I know we just talked about Kylie Jenner, but KKW’s classic matte smokey eyes are what ’90s-supermodel-makeup dreams are made of. (They’re so classic that she made an entire ’90s collection based on it for her makeup line!) This look is back this season. From the Tom Ford runway to magazine pages to Pinterest, smokey eyes are getting an elevated upgrade with matte cool tone shades and smudged out grundgey eyeliner. This tutorial makes the basic matte smokey eye so easy, but if you want to take it up a notch, run a black eyeliner across the upper lash line and smoke it out with a pencil or smudge brush. This gives that “bedroom eye” effect. The 1990s classic smokey eye isn’t supposed to be perfect either, so go to town with blending and smudging the product out to create a grungey look. Final touches: your Doc Martens and Nirvana band tee.
This could basically be called a matte smokey eye for beginners. The shades blend together easily, and the colors are perfect for daytime looks at work to sexy smokey eyes for date night.
Just looking at this palette makes me want to create a smokey eye. Kim K really brought out all the stops with cool browns, navy, black, and grey, all in one palette. Her formula is easy to blend too, making it perfect to create grungey looks.
This eyeliner is amazing for smudging along the lash line because it already comes with a smudge tool on the other end. It's also creamy when you first apply it, but it dries down and stays all day. I own it in black and brown, and it's become my favorite eyeliner.
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Dark nude lips
You can’t think about ’90s makeup without thinking about the supermodel, dark lip colors donned by Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington, and Cindy Crawford. While light nudes for lighter skin tones are all over the market, it’s not as easy to find them for darker skin tones, especially in varying undertones.
There are dozens of shades within this line, from gorgeous reds to nudes for every skin tone. Opt for one shade darker than your skin tone to get the true '90s brown lip.
The Lip Bar has amazing lip products in all shades. "Cocoa Cooler" and "Chocolate Spritzer" are great nudes for medium to dark skin tones!
If you want the brown lip look without going for a heavy lip color, you can't go wrong with this nude shade of an already cult-classic lip balm.
These lip liners are so creamy that they double as a full lip color. Swipe it across the lip line and fill in to create a complete look. You can add a gloss to make it 2019, or blot your lips with a tissue to keep the look matte all day long.