Quantcast

Beauty trends of the late '90s and early 2000s are back, and I'm here for the full-circle nostalgia. Growing up, I was entranced by the Black women who graced the covers of magazines, walked runways, and served on red carpets with a goddess-like persona from head to toe.


From fashion models to video vixens, Black women have always set the tone when inspiring generations. In today's market, beauty brands have widened their scope when it comes to inclusive colors and matching tones for Black skin but that wasn't always the case back in the day. Even then, leave it to Black women to make do by leading creativity and style even when excluded from the beauty industry.

Looks of the '90s are projected to lead Fall 2021's top makeup trends, with a range of easily recognizable trends that defined beauty more than 20 years ago.

Highlighting pronounced features and fully lined lips, this was the decade of both sultry-sexy neutrals and over-the-top everyday glam. Inspired to create a fresh take on throwback makeup trends this season? Keep scrolling for my take on the iconic looks inspired by my childhood. Dark and sultry, or fun and flirty: Which '90s sweetheart are you?

Dark And Sultry

Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole

When the '90s supermodel ruled the world, there was a mix of both sexy-sultry with an ultra cool-girl exterior. Two of my favorite icons, Naomi Campbell and Tyra Banks, were the leading ladies of beauty and makeup trends during the decade.

Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole

Never shying away from a beat face and stunning looks to match, I was inspired to recreate a combination of two looks using a glossy lined lip and dark undereye pair.

Along with the '90s lip and undereye liner, I went for a sultry shadow for more of a neutral fall vibe. Perfect for an evening out, I absolutely loved this look.

Fun And Flirty

Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole

This dreamy '90s-inspired makeup look is a fun and flirty combination when going for a bit of drama. With a pop of pink lips and eyeshadow to match, the iconic combination, inspired by Clueless, is a super fashion-forward look that should be worn sparingly.

Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole

Although impressing myself, there is such a thing as overdoing it. Wearing brighter colors felt a bit out of my comfort zone, but I still loved it. In my opinion, go for both a lighter lip and eyeshadow for a daytime look.

Of the two looks, I gravitated toward dark and sultry. Confident and chic, I truly felt like a '90s bombshell.

To get your beauty fix and to stay up to date with the latest trends, check out the xoNecole Beauty section here.

Featured image by Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole

 

RELATED

 
ALSO ON XONECOLE
Aries-April-2025-monthly-horoscopes

April is a month to slow down and to fully grasp what has been. The month starts in fiery Aries Season, but we are also in the thick of Retrograde Season as we begin the month as well. Thankfully, Mercury finally goes direct on April 7, after being retrograde mid-March, and communication matters are clearing up. This is a month of mental clarity, a fresh start, and not being afraid to dream a little bigger.

On April 12, there is a Full Moon in Libra, and this Full Moon brings relationship and financial matters full circle. This is the time to let go of what doesn’t make you feel balanced or in harmony and to create space for more peace to enter your life. Venus goes direct in Pisces on the same day, after being retrograde since March 1, and love is healing. With Venus now direct, there are more opportunities for commitment and longevity in love, and there is overall a greater feeling of romance, receptivity, and compassion in the air now.

KEEP READINGShow less
Accountability Time: Let's Stop Calling It A 'Mistake' When It Was A 'Choice'

Several months ago, I literally stumbled across a video where someone who I’ve known for years (and have had to distance myself from due to the topic for today) was conducting a seminar on relational healing. I honestly could only stomach about five minutes of what they were saying because one of the things that they continued to mention was the harm that they had done to others was a “mistake” — although many of their same “mistakes” took place over years…decades even.

Y’all, I’ve gotta admit that I found their words to be a bit triggering — not so much because I was surprised that they were still like a broken record when it comes to refusing to take real accountability for their actions; it was more that I hear people say often, especially when they are called out on some of their continual poor habits and patterns, that what they did was a mistake when actually it was a choice — a conscious choice.

KEEP READINGShow less
LATEST POSTS