‘90s Makeup Trends That Are Perfect For Fall

Many of our favorite 1990s singers, actresses, and pop stars performed on stage and walked red carpets making bold statements with their hair and makeup. Stars like Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, the members of Destiny’s Child and Spice Girls, Cameron Diaz, and so many others rocked everything from over-tweezed eyebrows to butterfly hair clips, glittery eyeshadow, and bold lips.

The ‘90s were not only a decade of iconic makeup looks but a defining time for the beauty industry as we know it. Think bold brown or deep nude lipstick paired with little face makeup and precise brows. Well, you can thank supermodel Naomi Campbell for that.

And because here at Evie, we absolutely love the ‘90s, ahead, we've rounded up our favorite makeup trends and how you can make them work this fall.

1. Rock a Matte Complexion

Glass skin might be all the rage these days, but the ‘90s were a decade that's famous for matte faces and zero skin oil in sight.

Much like during the ‘80s, celebs in the ‘90s constantly powdered their faces. This is why matte foundations, concealers, and powders, usually in lighter shades than the natural skin tone, were the "it" thing.

And even though we've learned to embrace a more natural look, that's not to say that the matte trend is going away. On the contrary, matte will always be the preferred fall and winter makeup trend because it makes the face appear more put together and makes imperfections such as breakouts and texture appear less visible.

Product to try: Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish ($45)

2. Pick a Pastel Eyeshadow

As a change from neutral hues, celebs in the ‘90s wore pastels all over the lid – from the lash line to just below the brow.

When it comes to pastels like violet or blue, just a swipe of mascara is needed to complete the eye without overpowering the light, airy hue.

Surprisingly, these pastel colors can work amazingly well for fall, even though you wouldn't think they’re a typical fall shade. It all depends on what you combine the look with, but you can definitely pull off a beautiful and warm fall look with a soft pastel eyelid.

Product to try: MAC Cosmetics Powder Kiss Soft Matte Eyeshadow in Ripened ($21)

3. Do Grungy Eyeliner

Grunge eyeliner was everything back in the ‘90s, and although it varied throughout the decades and turned into what we now know as a smokey eye, it will never fully go out of fashion. 

To revive this messy, ‘90s grunge makeup style with smudged eyeliner, you will need to get your kohl pencil and smudge brush out and go absolutely crazy, lining along your top and bottom lash lines and smudging your creation with the brush to blend it out to your taste.

To add a little bit of spice to the matte eye look, apply a layer of shimmery eyeshadow or a shimmery eye pencil to the inner corner of the eyes and along the lash lines, as this will truly make your eyes pop.

Product to try: Charlotte Tilbury Matte & Metallic Double Ended Eyeliner ($30); Eye Smudger Brush ($34)

4. Add Spider Lashes

Spider lashes may be a controversial trend, but I find it’s been given a bad name unjustly.

Nowadays, we associate the term "spider lashes" with the awful result of applying too much expired mascara that makes your lashes stick together and look clumpy and horrendous. But the "spider lash" from the ‘90s is a completely different thing, and it describes an ultra-long lash look beloved by '90s girls who lived for long, thin, and somewhat messy lashes.

Nowadays, you can easily replicate the spider lash look sans-mascara by simply attaching a set of faux lashes that are clumped together at the root but separate at the tips for a beautifully messy finish.

Product to try: Huda Beauty Easy Lash Collection in Harmony ($18).

5. Draw Glossy Overlined Lips

By now, we’re all well aware that applying lip liner just outside our natural lip line creates the illusion of fuller lips.

But our favorite Spice Girl, Victoria Beckham, and the queen of R&B, Mary J. Blige, are the two icons who pioneered this trick back in the 1990s.

To recreate this iconic look, start by overlining your lips with a dark nude or brown pencil. But instead of adding a matching lipstick on top, layer on a nude gloss for the ultimate ‘90s pout.

Product to try: L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Lip Liner ($9) in a shade slightly darker than your skin tone; NARS Lip Gloss ($24).

6. Wear Matte Brown Lips

Can you say you want to channel your inner ‘90s nostalgia this fall if you aren't prepared to go wild with a matte brown lip? Browns and beiges often dominated the ‘90s girl aesthetic – and lips were certainly no exception.

Product to try: Huda Beauty Liquid Matte Lipstick in Spice Girl ($20).

7. Or Wear Deep-Shaded Lips

Another lip color indicative of the ‘90s is cherry-red, a bitten red lip that can be worn in matte and glossy, and was especially beloved by celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow, Gwen Stefani, and Reese Witherspoon.

In true '90s girl fashion, keep your base bright with a wash of pink blush.

Product to try: Lime Crime Wet Cherry Lipgloss in Diet Cherry ($20)

8. Style Your Brows Precisely

Not only were thin, perfectly plucked eyebrows a must in the ‘90s but defined, precise arches were also a necessity.

To clean up and define your arch, you first need to comb through your eyebrows with an eyebrow brush before using the pencil to outline your brow shape and gently fill in the gap with very light strokes. Another quick swipe of brush at the end will complete the entire brow look.

Product to try: L’Oréal Paris Brow Stylist Definer Waterproof Eyebrow Mechanical Pencil ($9).

9. Choose a Barely There Makeup Look

Baby-faced Kate Moss in the ‘90s shows us a very different picture from the general, heavy makeup look that was shaking the decade.

Back then, models like Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell were famous for wearing the bare minimum when it comes to complexion products and just looking stunningly beautiful with a little bit of blush, soft eyeshadow, and a lipstick shade that complemented their natural lip color.

To replicate the look, you'll most definitely need cream blush as this is how you will create that natural youthful flush of color without looking too caked up, a soft pastel eyeshadow, a little bit of mascara, and a natural lipstick color.

Closing Thoughts

Trends go and come back, and luckily, we live in such a time that whatever trend you decide to bring back, chances are that many are going to find it beautiful and will praise you for thinking of that in the first place.

So, which ‘90s makeup trend are you rocking this fall?