Put simply, the 1990s were a magnificent time for beauty. Yes, there were some regrettable moments (pencil-thin eyebrows, endless body glitter), but many '90s makeup trends hold up today: matte lipstick, bold eyeshadow, natural curls, and lip gloss with lip liner, just to name a few. We even had some cool new beauty aesthetics to draw from, like the beach blonde (Pamela Anderson) and the mob wife (Sharon Stone).
Now that we're firmly in our '90s renaissance era, it's only right to reflect on the '90s beauty trends that hold up in 2024 (...with a few tweaks here and there).
Pieces Coming Out of Your Updo
The "messy" updo (by which I mean very carefully styled updo with some front pieces pulled out and left to dangle in front of your face) was a popular trend. It was beloved among high school prom-goers, but our celebs also liked it: see also, this pretty braided bun on Gwyneth Paltrow.
Crystals Everywhere
Leave it to Cher to find ever-evolving ways to bring glitter into her looks. Since the majority of the hair crystals are clustered around the crown of her head, it almost looks like glittery dandruff. Spacing them out towards the front and throughout the hair strands would (and did!) work better.
Braid Buns
Brandy's micro-braids were hugely influential for Black women in the '90s, and she styled them in myriad different ways. I particularly loved when she styled them in buns (either in character for Moesha or at awards ceremonies like this one), as a gorgeous and architectural 'do.
Cool Glasses
I grant you that the shape of the lenses is very '90s in a way that feels dated today. But Scary Spice is showing off a trend that still holds up (pastel accessories). Make the lenses a bit more circular, and make the frames slightly thicker, and you'll be in business.
Pink-Red Cheeks and Lips
Princess Diana defined the '80s and '90s with her classic yet deeply individual fashion. By this decade, she was leaning in on her naturally stylish instincts, which meant bolder lip colors with a touch of shine and rosy cheeks—matching with her outfit, in true royal fashion.
Lots of Bronzer
The erstwhile Ginger Spice would go blonde and debut a choppy bob as a way to evolve her persona even while she was a Spice Girls member. The bronzed skin complemented the lighter hair color, and we could achieve a similar look with some spray tan today.
Blonde Front Highlights
"Skunk hair" wouldn't hit the mainstream until the '00s, but you could see its origins in the prior decade. I actually really love these front blonde highlights on Kirstie Alley, although today I would probably carry the blonde through the rest of the hair.
The Half-Up, Half-Down 'Do
Many a middle schooler (including myself) tried to emulate this seemingly effortless hairdo with less success—it can create a distressing "hair triangle" shape if you do it wrong. The key is to pin the side pieces lower on the scalp and not make the hair too voluminous.
Big Braids
Angela Bassett: an icon since the '90s! I love this beauty look top to bottom. We've got the classic matte lipstick (very '90s in a good way), minimal and matching blush, teeny tiny cat-eye, and then the glorious updo as the star of the show. Bonus: thicker brows!
Matchy, Matchy
Wearing a beanie to the red carpet was a very '90s-'00s thing, but here I don't actually mind it. On Rachel Leigh Cook, it lends itself nicely to a dark, matching red lip color that really leans in on maximalism. The pastel eyeshadow is a bit tougher to pull off, but more on that in a moment.
Crunchy Waves
Curls and hair gel—it was a fine line in the '90s. Too much, and you run the risk of having "crunchy" looking hair. Too little, and you wouldn't get enough shape and definition. Naturally, Michelle Pfeiffer gives that exact perfect balance on her soft waves.
Soft, Short Hair
Demi Moore made short hair look so good (and I guarantee many people got a similar pixie cut, hoping to look exactly the same). It's simultaneously soft and very, very cropped. The top is long and has a deep side part, which helps give the illusion of more hair.
Extremely Angled Front Layers
The front pieces on Melissa Joan Hart's hair are even shorter than I remembered—if you're unfamiliar, this was taken while she was starring in the ultra-popular Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and her style was highly envied by people of a certain age. Today, I would make the shortest pieces longer and connect it to the rest of the front fringe.
Light Eyeshadow
Granted, some trends can only be pulled off by celebrities (hi, Cameron Diaz!). But I would argue that the light, pastel eyeshadow is more universal than at first glance. The light pink color is just on her eyelid and not on her eye bone or towards her brow—and she has a glittery clip in her hair to match.
The "Glistening" Look
It's quite tricky to pull of a "I look like I was just out in the sun, but somehow I'm not dripping with sweat" look. Naturally, J. Lo pulls it off to perfection. A modern iteration of this makeup would involve using a highlighter, blending your foundation and moisturizer together, and some lip gloss.
Short Bangs
Micro-bangs are not for everyone; they certainly don't work for me. But Winona Ryder's spiky pixie cut benefited from the short layers at the front to highlight her tiny, angular face. Consult a skilled hairstylist before you attempt this, but when it works it works.
Messy Parts
We loved a zig-zag part in the '90s. Sometimes, when it looked too zig-zag, it ended up looking strange, but when it's just messy and wild like on Denise Richards, it gives off bedhead in the chicest way. Seriously, give this one a try—it's so low-stakes.
Mini-Braids
Braids at the front of the face—sometimes interspersed throughout the hair as well—was a cutesy but cute '90s beauty trend. Monica's makeup is dark and dramatic, thanks to the matte lip and smokey eye, so the braids help bring back some youthfulness.
Thick(er) Brows
Phew! Thank you, Brooke Shields, for keeping your brows thick (unless the rest of us). As most people know, thick brows had a major resurgence after the '90s, and it was difficult for those of us with thin brows to grow ours back. This natural but bushy look is probably the ideal brow.
The "Bixie"
If you didn't know, Meg Ryan popularized the bixie (bob plus pixie). It's got the length of a pixie in the front, but the back has longer layers—meaning it's the best of both cuts. The whole thing looks uneven thanks to some strategic layering, but not in a sloppy way.
Fun Flowers
Drew Barrymore's signature '90s look was throwing some daisies in her hair and waltzing onto the red carpet looking carefree as heck. Add in some glitter eyeshadow and a very dark red lip, and you've got peak '90s. Minus the copious body glitter, this could be a very nice casual look.
Lots of Lip Liner
As with other celebrities on this list, Destiny's Child is demonstrating one of the most popular '90s beauty trends: visibly lined lips plus shiny gloss. When done correctly, like this, it gives an ombre effect, with the darker hue on the outside and the lighter shine on the inside.
Beyond Nude Lips
Taking matte lipstick and lightening it gives us a color that is juuuuust a couple hues off from skin color. Sandra Bullock has chosen one that's dark enough to distinguish her lips from her face, which is what you need to do if you want a similar vibe in your makeup.
Long, Layered Hair
While Janet Jackson's braids are usually what we remember from this time period, I'm also a fan of her curls worn loose, with a deep side part and some product for extra volume. While we collectively eschewed the "big hair" of the '80s in this decade, a voluminous 'do was still very welcome.
Long, Minimally Dyed Hair
Bless you, Alicia Silverstone, for letting us dirty blonde girls know that it was okay to rock your natural hair color. (If you don't know, a darker blonde sometimes gets labeled "dull" and "dirty.") But when it's healthy and long and luscious like this, it's stunning.
A Bright Red Lip
The late Whitney Houston had a joyful style that matched her ebullient personality and epic voice; this look is from her "I Will Always Love You" era and gives us her trademark soft red lip and a gentle smokey eye. It's a subtle, underrated classic.
Purple Makeup
The late Aaliyah had incredible style that always set her apart from everyone else. While she wasn't the first to go bold with a purple lip and matching eye makeup, she makes it looks edgy, not costume-y, thanks to a sleek cascading hairdo and minimal blush.
Messy, Beachy Texture
Pamela Anderson basically perfected the "beach blonde hairdo"—after all, she basically lived in a bathing suit on the set of Baywatch. It's actually easy to make this look messy instead of casual, but some texture spray will help add volume and dimension without weight.
Surprise Brunette
There was nothing more fun or surprising than when an actor you knew as a blonde went brunette for a more dramatic role (Sarah Jessica Parker did this well as Carrie from Sex and the City in the '00s). But no surprise brunette will ever be more iconic to me than Sarah Michelle Gellar in Cruel Intentions.
Almost Frosted Tips
Halle Berry's pixie cut was already pretty iconic in the '90s, but then when she dyed it bleach blonde and left some visible roots (a much classier version of frosted tips), the crowd went wild. This is probably a black belt-level beauty look to pull off, but she's doing it.
Loose, Messy Curls
This is a still from the movie Eyes Wide Shut, and it's a perfect example of Nicole Kidman wearing her hair in its natural (or nearly natural) curly hair texture. For us curly girls, '90s-era Nicole Kidman is a wealth of Pinterest-worthy looks. And this updo is perfection.
The Mob Wife
Slow claps for Sharon Stone! Before the trend even had a name, Stone was rocking the mob wife aesthetic: dark eyeshadow, eye-catching scarf in her hair, incredibly over-the-top jewelry (both on her body and on the bed). Don't forget the (faux) fur coat to complete the look!
