The 2000s are calling, and they’re saying glossy lips and frosted lids are back! Y2K makeup looks are having their major comeback and have taking over social media. We’re seeing a huge mix of early 2000s trends with modernized twists. Whether you kept your makeup looks simple back then or sported a bold 2000s eye, there’s a makeup look for everyone to try that feels fresh yet nostalgic.
This era of makeup was unforgettable for a reason. The obsession of this Y2K era today makes sense- it was a push for one-of-a-kind looks. The early 2000s were all about playful and carefree glam that expressed your personality. It was all about being experimental with your look! Standing out wasn’t questioned, but instead, welcomed — something we can say we’re all craving a bit of today.
Iconic 2000s Makeup Looks
If there was one beauty trend we all lived for, it had to be frosty lipsticks and glosses. Icy pinks and silvers were all the rage and our Glow Reviver Lip Oil Glimmers are made to give your lips the perfect frosted finish. Eyeshadow certainly played a heavy influence and became a Y2K staple, and our blue eyeshadow hated to see us coming! Shimmer and metallic shades had their spotlight, everything from silver to gold and pastel hues were in.
Dramatic eyes were always seasoned with bold eyeliner and mascara for that sought-after doe-eye effect. Blush also had a significant comeback, with rosy cheeks playing a big part in the early 2000s. Grab your perfect shade of the Halo Glow Blush Beauty Wand for a healthy and flushed pinch of color.
The Evolution of Brows: A 2000s Story
The iconic era of thin brows! The 2000s, for many of us, was an experimental time where we unfortunately may have over-plucked, or just got the ultra-slim brows look just right. Although thicker, fuller brows have set the standard for the past few years, skinny brows have resurfaced and made a subtle comeback today.
Recreating brows from the 2000s today doesn't require much plucking but instead a hint of precision. Begin by shaping your brows by focusing on a thinner outline; you can also opt for a brow pen to help define and fill in sparse areas of the brow- our Holy Strokes Brow Pen is perfect for creating precise, hair-like strokes. To bring back the trend today, avoid over-plucking and instead create a balanced, classic, slim brow with a hint of fullness, using a brow gel , to soften the brow shape.
Tutorial for Creating 2000s-Era Makeup Styles
We’re here to make that classic 2000s makeup look stand out and never go out of style again. Learn to recreate any of your favorite iconic Y2K looks in five simple steps. Our go-to products, which we suggest, always begin with a base!
Start with a medium-coverage foundation for a smooth base, ideally a matte finish that can be lightly dusted with a setting powder. Next, reach for a shimmery eyeshadow any silver, gold, or pastel color can work here, but you also quickly heal your inner child with a blue frosty one! After sweeping your preferred eyeshadow shade across your lids, you can bolden up the look with black eyeliner or volumizing mascara for added dimension. For skinny brows, shape them with a pencil to keep them defined. Next, add some flush to your skin by swiping some blush on the apples of your cheeks, and finish with a frosty lipstick or gloss to complete the look. Still not sure which products to choose for your Y2K look? This e.l.f. shimmer makeup bundle has everything you’ll need from frosty shadows, to shimmery lids, and of course the perfect flush for your cheeks!
Frequently Asked Questions About Y2K and 2000s Makeup:
Q: What Is Y2K Makeup?
A: Y2K makeup is the combination of beauty trends that were popular during the late 90s and early 2000s. Popular makeup styles were characterized by frosty, shimmery finishes and lots of glitter on eyes, lips, and skin. The Y2K aesthetic is experiencing a revival on social media, with Gen Z putting their own spin on these nostalgic beauty trends.
Key elements of Y2K makeup include:
1. Frosty, metallic eyeshadows and lip colors, often in blues, silvers, and pinks
2. High-shine lip gloss, especially clear or with glitter
3. Thin, heavily plucked eyebrows
4. Blue eyeshadow and heavy shimmer
Q: What Makeup Was Popular in the 2000s?
A: 2000s makeup was often defined by bold, shiny looks that shifted focus to the eyes and lips. The signature makeup look included ultra-glossy lips, thin eyebrows, and pastel eyeshadows, usually in baby blue or pastel shades. Face makeup brought shimmery blushes back into style, while black eyeliner volumizing mascara were must-have eye products.
Q: Is Blue Eyeshadow Y2K?
A: Yes! Blue eyeshadow was one of the most iconic elements of Y2K makeup. Specifically, frosty or metallic blue shadows were seen everywhere in the late 90s and early 2000s. While blue eyeshadow existed before Y2K, the particular pastel or icy blue shade with a frosted finish became synonymous with the era's aesthetic and remains one of the most recognizable aspects of Y2K beauty trends. If you need help replicating the iconic blue shadow glam, check out our Guide to Perfecting a Blue Eyeshadow Look (/guide-to-perfecting-blue-eyeshadow) for all of the tips and tricks!
Q: What Did the 90s Makeup Look Like?
A: 90s makeup was defined by matte brown lipsticks paired with darker lip liners, thin plucked eyebrows, and neutral eyeshadows. Face makeup typically had a matte finish rather than today's dewy look. The 90s popularized minimal, natural-looking makeup with brown-toned lips, while the grunge movement brought smudged eyeliner and dark lipsticks into mainstream beauty. For more on 90s glam, check out our article on How to Get a 90’s Inspired Makeup Look (/90s-makeup-look).
Q: Did They Use Blush in the 2000s?
A: The 2000s brought us the comeback of blush, after all of the warm, bronzy tones we saw in the 90s. Blush in the 2000s was all about bringing a dusty, rosy glow back to your complexion. To get the look grab a cool-toned blush and swipe it on the apples of your cheeks to give yourself a pink flush.
Q: What Eye Makeup Techniques Were Trending in the 2000s?
A: Y2K eye makeup was characterized by several distinctive techniques that defined the era. Black eyeliner heavily applied in the waterline (known as tightlining) was extremely popular, often paired with pale or frosted eyeshadow on the lid. Mascara was applied heavily to create spiky, separated but volumized lashes, and metallic eyeshadows – especially in frosty blue, silver, and white shades – were must-have looks. Another key element was the ultra-thin, highly arched eyebrows that were heavily plucked or waxed.
Q: What Were Popular Lip Colors in the 2000s?
A: In the 2000s, lip makeup was dominated by ultra-glossy and frosty finishes. The most popular and iconic lip colors were pale nude, cool-toned pinks, clear glosses with sparkles, frosty champagne tones, and light peachy shades.
Q: How Does 2000s Makeup Differ From Other Trends?
A: The makeup styles of the 2000s differs dramatically from other trends in several key ways. While modern makeup emphasizes natural, fluffy brows and dewy skin, the 2000s favored ultra-thin eyebrows and heavily frosted, shimmery finishes. Today's trend of subtle, cream-based products and "clean girl" aesthetics contrasts sharply with the 2000s love for sparkly shadows and frosty lip finishes. Another major difference is that current makeup trends focus on enhancing natural features, while 2000’s makeup was more about creating a more “made-up” look with products like roll-on body glitter and metallic eyeshadows.