I’m going to mention a few celebrity names to see if you can go ahead and guess my favorite makeup decade…are you ready?? Jennifer, Sarah Jessica, Cindy, Kate, Julia, Naomi.
Last names now – Jennifer Aniston, Sarah Jessica Parker, Cindy Crawford, Kate Moss, Julia Roberts, and Naomi Campbell. Oh, and all of the Spice Girls – Posh was my favorite, aka makeup mogul now, Victoria Beckham.
All of these names defined what I loved about the 1990s vibe. The overall style was sometimes edgy, grungy, black leather, white fitted t-shirts, or oversized white button-ups. But also could go girly with slip dresses, camis with baggier pants or high-waisted mom jeans, and of course pencil skirts.
But in terms of BEAUTY – the queen of the ’90s in my mind, will ALWAYS be that of supermodel Cindy Crawford. Immediately, visions of her Revlon magazine ads come to mind (remember her “Raisin Rage” lipstick ad?? You know you had a tube!), her multiple sultry red carpet looks with then-boyfriend Richard Gere, and then her iconic Pepsi commercial from 1992, are my big inspirations.
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When I think of Cindy, I also think of the master makeup artist of that time, Kevyn Aucoin. I own a couple of his makeup books and grabbed a few tips from them on what defined the ’90s look…
What defined ’90s makeup:
- Matte skin
- washes of matte eyeshadows
- nudes and soft tones on cheeks
- statement lip liner
- brick-brown-toned lipsticks and glosses
- occasional pearl or frost lip finishes
What you did NOT see in the ’90s makeup looks:
- Defined cut creases and overcomplicated eye makeup
- Fake lashes
- Overdone contouring
Therefore, today, I’m going to pay homage to the 1990s and add my little spin on how we can all recreate the look for 2026! So if you’re curious about the exact products that make it effortlessly wearable today, you’ll find my must-haves linked throughout this post that I’m actually wearing on my face. It always helps to see beauty recommendations in action, right??
Matte Skin
I nailed it with >> Maybelline SuperStay Lumi Matte foundation, $15, shade 125, and Laura Mercier Real Flawless weightless perfecting concealer, $34, shade 2C2. I can’t do SUPER matte with my mega dry skin, so this foundation and concealer are the perfect go-betweens after I’ve applied my Clarins multi-active day cream with niacinimide, $62.
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Washes of Matte Eyeshadow
I nailed it with >> Colourpop Stone Cold Fox palette, $35. I’m sure you all are TIRED of hearing me gush all over this palette I’ve used for a couple of years now. They keep bringing it back in stock, so you KNOW it’s a good one! It’s seriously a phenomenal price for neutrals that every face can benefit from. I mixed browns with a hint of gray to them here and lined my eyes on top and bottom with just a liner brush and a mix of the black and dark brown eyeshadow! No traditional liner.
Nudes + Soft Tones on Cheeks
I nailed it with >> Charlotte Tilbury Cheek to Chic blush in “Pillow Talk,” $42. We didn’t see a ton of bright pink, coral, or red blushes in the ’90s like we do nowadays. The vibe was definitely more muted, and blush was used almost like we use a contour product today. Just to define the cheekbones in a striped motion. I can’t think of a better blush shade than this one to recommend for anyone scared of bright blush. This “Pillow Talk” shade provides just a bit of warm-nude-pink and radiance. This blush is AMAZING.
Statement Lip Liner + Lipstick
I nailed it with >> MAC Cosmetics lip liner in “Spice,” $25, and MAC Lustreglass sheershine lipstick in “Thanks, it’s MAC,” $27. First of all, it’s been widely published that Cindy herself actually loved this exact liner color – just like the rest of us did in the ’90s! And clearly, it’s still an amazingly popular shade because I continue to buy it now after all these years.
The iconic liner is described as “pink cinnamon stick,” which literally works on just about everyone. Hint – if you’ve never tried this shade, here’s your chance. And this lipcolor is described as a “taupey-pink-nude-with silver pearl,” which I deem a delightful spin on muted brown lips of the past. Just enough color and complements perfectly with the Pillow Talk blush!
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Now for my best Cindy and Pepsi ad impression…but with a Ginger Ale (not a Pepsi fan)! What do you think?
The Rest of My Look…
The rest of my ’90s look: These retro oval skinny sunnies that I borrowed from my teenage daughter, but now I want a pair! Similar grown-up ones here on Nordstrom, $44. // My white square neck top is such a flattering style! Similar ones from WHBM here, $36 or Amazon here, $18. This is a must-have staple for spring/summer that anyone can pull off and looks more chic than a traditional tank top.
My mini zip card case with chain and ID window from Coach is 42% off and comes in many colors. I bought one for my teen daughter also, who is starting to drive but doesn’t like carrying a purse, but needs her learner’s license handy! It’s a cool gift for any girl starting to drive. And remember when the Coach brand was huge in the ’90s?? Now it has made a resurgence// My gold chunky bangles are from Amazon, $18.
Here’s what beautiful 60-year-old Cindy looks like now with her hubby, Randy. I’d say she’s doing a super job at aging and looks as good as ever!
Now, I need to hear which decade of makeup was your favorite? Or maybe today is your favorite! Let me know in the comments section. Even though the Amazon big spring sale is over, last week’s post gave you a glimpse into my morning + evening skincare steps and go-to products, so check it out if you’re needing some product or routine inspiration!
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