The alternative era has resurfaced, friends — and our inner teens and tweens are giving the beauty industry snaps for this epic revival. Break out the glitter-packed gloss, illuminating shadows, and bolder-than-bold lipsticks, because grunge is gaining traction, and these products are keeping us on-trend.
From when Miss Aguilera was just a genie in a bottle to that time Kendall Jenner sported mermaid lids on Diane Von Furstenberg's SS16 runway, the blues are back and we're not sulking about it. This intense sapphire hue from NARS pairs well with every skin tone, providing the perfect color pop for attention-seekers.
If, back in the day, you weren't too busy embracing the bare-lip trend, you were probably all about shimmering gloss. A total 180 from the gothic front, all the cool girls flaunted a frosted pout and stored their sacred lip candy in their preppy (oftentimes very pink) backpacks.
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Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Intense Color Lipstick in Satin Black
That's right, friends — black is back, and suddenly gothic vibes are très chic. Weird, but it works in a brooding, starving-artist kind of way. Add an espresso to the look and you're good to go (but we'd suggest avoiding this color during office hours).
If bright colors and obnoxious sparkles aren't your thing, it wasn't uncommon to see a bare face or two. Put eyeshadow on hold and swap out foundation for this bareMinerals gem, a new innovative formula made with an intuitive mineral moisture technology to rebalance your complexion. The airy lotion smooths skin and reduces signs of aging, so your natural beauty can shine through sans cosmetics.
The modern brow is all natural, whether that be big and bushy or thin and sleek. The '90s brow was teeny-tiny; best to pluck at the sight of a stray hair. Save a couple waxing dollars and instead tweeze to stay on trend.
Just in case the glitter specs in your lipgloss and iridescent eyeshadow across your lids weren't enough, body glitter was one of the best — and maybe one of the worst — beauty trends of this unique 10-year span. Luckily for us, NYX has kept the glitter coming, with12 shades of endless sparkle for your face and body. Good luck washing it off!
Lipstick seems so modern compared to the era-long trend of lining lips. There was something so alluring about outlining your pout with a shade 10 times darker than your flesh that everyone was doing it, from the Spice Girls to J. Lo, Cher Horowitz to Buffy the vampire slayer. Flash forward to November 2015 when Demi Lovato was spotted rocking the trend on the AMAs red carpet. We suppose anything Demi's willing to try, we are too.
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Charlotte Tilbury The Luxury Palette in The Rock Chick
Bright (almost blinding) silver was a staple eyeshadow shade in the '90s because, let's be honest, you couldn't have sparkling lips without lids to match, right? We guess the idea of balance was on the back burner around this time. Charlotte Tilbury's starstruck palette puts a contemporary spin on the iridescent hue, with four iconic shades that fit every occasion.
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Smashbox Always Sharp Waterproof Kohl Liner in Raven
Whether you prefer a gel, liquid, pencil, or felt-tip pen, black eyeliner is a go-to for every beauty buff, and apparently kohl liner was the kind to covet in the '90s. The inky hue is sure to offset that pop of color layered over your lids — but hey, when in the '90s, eh?
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Smashbox Be Legendary Cream Lipstick in Coffee Run
Berry shades are always lingering in and out of beauty trends, but brown lipsticks are almost always overlooked. Considering there is a flattering hue for every skin shade, this is definitely one '90s trend we're fully embracing.
Julia Horniacek is the former fashion and beauty editor for BestProducts.com. When she's not resisting the “add to cart” button on e-commerce sites or chocolate everything, she's a fitness fanatic you’ll find at the gym, sipping an array of seasonal decaffeinated beverages or documenting her life via Insta pics.