Trends are one of the many ways that society defines itself over time.
When it comes to makeup trends, one thing is consistent: they’re ever-changing.
Beauty and wellness writer Kari Molvar notes that social media has shattered the old trajectory of beauty trends.
“Usually beauty trends and ideals take centuries to change,” Molvar toldCNN.
Thanks to the change, there’s more authenticity in the beauty world than ever before.
1984
Every decade has an It girl.
In the 1980’s, Brooke Shields with her thick, feathery eyebrows was the undeniable queen of glam.
Nonetheless, the beauty world was absolutely taken with the teen’s lush, natural brows.
Shields never meant to start a revolution with her brow hairs.
She practically threatened to break the fingers of any makeup artist who approached me with tweezers.
She didn’t have the foresight to think the eyebrows were going to be iconic."
The 1980s had women filling in their brows with pencils and powders to achieve Shields' billowy-browed look.
But surprisingly, the icon revealed viaInstagramthat she uses a simple graphite drawing pencil to bolden her iconic arches.
For this decade, no makeup look was too bold.
And no 80s eye look was complete without a hefty swash of colorful mascara.
1986
The 1980s proved that color blocking wasn’t just for fashion.
Eyeshadow color blocking incorporated soft pastels, electrifying neons, and even bold black.
Pop legend Cyndi Lauper was a color blocking queen of the 1980s.
Her lids were often adorned with carefree swipes of various hues.
In 2016, Lauper toldVoguethat she discovered her iconic makeup style after lots of experimentation.
“In the ’80s I used to go to the bookstore …
I found a lot of makeup that matched the shape of my face,” she revealed.
Lauper’s beauty philosophy is simple.
“See what you look like, and see what matches your face.
Then, one night, practice,” advised the singer.
For those who want to get seriously playful with their eye makeup, color blocking is the trend.
Beauty expert Elena Miglino toldPopSugarthat deep blue and silver are ideal colors to get you started.
If you’re feeling a little more bold, throw on some coral lipstick to complete the look!"
1987
Today, the trend of skincare-packed makeup rages on.
But as celebrity hair and makeup artistMeredith Boydexplained, some of those ingredients require a little bit of demystifying.
The late princess started a medley of trends, but blue eyeliner was one of her most iconic.
She never took it up to her eyelid, which would create an entirely different effect altogether.
I think her wearing it in that way made it wearable for so many."
It all started in 1989 with Clinique’s Black Honey Almost Lipstick.
People wanted to put in less effort than in the ’80s.
The cool thing was to find one product that was simple and elegant."
The lipstick instantly went from cult classic to viral sensation, causing it to sell out in stores nationwide.
According toClinique’s website, the company sells one tube of Black Honey every three minutes.
1990
From neon fashionistas to glam punk rebels, the 1980s were an era of exuberant styles.
But as the 1990s took hold, there was a collective yearning for more minimalism in fashion and cosmetics.
Thus, the no-makeup makeup trend was born.
Celebrity makeup artist Dick Page was one of the visionaries who first introduced no-makeup makeup to the world.
But at the time, everyone from Foxy Brown to Drew Barrymore was rocking ultra-thin arches.
According to makeup artist Kali Kennedy, this trend has undergone a major evolution since the nineties.
1992
In the early 1990s, makeup lovers were obsessed with dark lip liner.
When this trend hit the mainstream, some considered it to be avant-garde.
However, dark lip liner had actually originated years earlier in Black and Latinx communities.
The look was popularized by rock icons like Courtney Love, and it quickly spread.
Before long, smudgy grunge-inspired makeup was embraced by superstars like Christina Applegate and Wynona Ryder.
“you’re able to even add a little gloss over the lids for an undone eye.
According to celebrity manicurist Jenni Draper, Vamp’s enormous success is totally justified.
“It was a kit must-have then and still is to this day!”
Draper raved toWho What Wear.
“It’s such a statement colour you mean business when you wear it.
It looks incredible on everyone, all skin tones, and oozes luxury.
1995
Fashionistas of the mid-nineties set their sights on dark, matte lip shades.
Mauve, brown, and burgundy kissers were all on the menu for this edgy makeup trend.
For maximum drama, deep red lips otherwise known as bitten-red lips were also in demand.
Given their sultry appeal, it’s no surprise that dark lip shades are having a modern-day revival.
Vampy lips are the essence of chic, and they can also add fullness and definition to your pucker.
Dark lip shades work best on lips that are freshly exfoliated, moisturized, and primed.
In the late nineties, makeup lovers couldn’t resist this trend.
In 2018, NYU students tracked the evolution of mascara and eyeliner fads over the past century.
For those who are dying to try these arachnid-inspired lashes, we have one word for you: falsies.
This look is a must-try for those who want to dial up the drama on their eye makeup.
Shimmering makeup became the gold standard, and every fashionista was armed with a tube of frosted lipstick.
The sweet, icy glimmer of frosted lips was an all-out obsession in the late 1990s.
They’ve also been adapted to be hydrating on lips, long-lasting, and smudge proof.”
When pastel eyeshadow hit the scene, makeup lovers couldn’t get enough.
Today, pastel eyeshadow is anything but retro.
Stars like Dua Lipa and Bella Hadid adore this versatile beauty trend.
To wear this trend like a pro, you could also try pairing pastels together with neon eyeshadow colors.
It’s easy to see why lip gloss was so beloved in the late 1990s.
For starters, it’s the ultimate product for everyday wear.
And with an endless variety of styles and flavors, collecting them was half the fun.
Lip glosses of the nineties had one toxic trait: they could be quite sticky and goopy.
Thanks to updated formulas, modern lip glosses offer the perfect amount of sheen with none of the stick.
This high-glitz, incredibly low-maintenance beauty trend is a must try for modern-day makeup enthusiasts.
2000
As the year 2000 approached, imaginations ran wild with dreams of a space-aged future.
Like an alien space rocket, the Y2K aesthetic had taken full flight.
It was an era of shiny black clothing, rhinestones, and shoes that resembled space boots.
Metallic eyeshadow has a gold or silver sheen that gives it a metal-like appearance.
For inspiration, think Britney Spears in her “Stronger” music video.
According toBustle, a monochrome look is the perfect way to dip your toes into wearing metallic shadow.
2001
Where the nineties were a bit more modest, the 2000s were all about showing skin.
Cropped baby tees and ultra-mini skirts also had a moment during this era.
Body glitter is a legendary relic of the early aughts.
Ideally, you’d keep rolling it on until you resembled a human disco ball.
The era of body glitter was truly an illuminating time to be alive.
According toRefinery 29, glistening skin is making a low-key comeback in the form of radiant sprays and creams.
In 2002, nearly every purse contained a tube of this delicious lip salve.
“Lip Smackers were about being in a secret club with your girlfriends,” Weingarten toldAllure.
However, Dr. Pepper Lip Smacker was cruelly discontinued in 2020.
