Stephen Meisel’s Lily Cole, Vogue, May 2004
Remember when lip gloss was a serious accessory? I literally wore one of those little lippies as a keychain! Can a butterfly clip reign at its peak and frosted eyeshadow solve fashion-related problems? Buttercup, buckle up if your inner tween is screaming for revival. Today we are the first to jump into the glorious, stunningly grumpy world of Y2K makeup. Why “trashy”? Well, honestly, some of these looks have a certain fun cakeness. But on the other hand, we love them seriously, right?
What are the main characteristics of Y2K makeup?
The defining feature of Y2K makeup was a playful, overpowering, bold, non-apology embrace. Think of it as a glittering, matte finish painted with heavy hands. There, icy blues and pinks reigned at their peak on their eyelids and lips. The often flavorful and sticky sheen was an unnegotiable accessory, creating an almost wet look at the high altitudes.
The rhinestones and glitter were freely applied, turning the face into a sparkling canvas, but the thin, drawn eyebrows often combined with dark clip liners and bright lipstick created a striking contrast. It brought a clear aesthetic that prioritized the youthful, almost doll-like look, supported by the pop music of the era and technology-driven optimism, and celebrated the “trash” touch of artificiality and self-awareness.
As seen by Pam Anderson and countless early models and celebrities! Beige-tuned, almost concealer-like lips were reigned best, often combined with the sheen of high-shines, and produced an intentionally washed-out, yet creepy effect. This lip appearance is usually combined with a Coal Black Eyeliner on the inner waterline.
The sparkling, icy shades, especially silver, lavender and pale blue, are heavy hand-applied throughout the lid and are designed to capture and reflect light with a distinctly synthetic sparkle. Don’t be embarrassed by raising your brow bones. Complete the look with raspberry pink lips.
To tell the truth, I’m still hooked on this look. It was my jewel to embrace animal patterns and meticulously draw miniature leopard spots around my eyes. Want to trash more? Look for pink spots all over your eye lid.
It abandons classic smoky eyes, deep crimson, and burgundy shades to convey dirt, raw sharp strength. I loved her “complex” times the most. Therefore, I can’t get enough of this gorgeous look. What do you think?
Naked lipstick and raccoon eyes? anytime! Paris Hilton seems to have gone further and added a pair of bright circle lenses to this 2000s look. The thick, dark eyeliner and muted black eyeshadow surrounded the entire eye, both at the top and below, up to the brow bones. This look is really something…
Rather than hiding, the under-eye area became a canvas for intentional emphasis, with dark lines and shadows creating an almost dramatic depth of shadows, challenging the traditional notion of “bright” under-eye. This appearance focused on drawing attention to the lower eye area, creating a heavy, sometimes very dark look.
Do you remember Rihanna from the early to mid-00’s? Her style was very different back then, but she remains a fashion and style icon for many of us. What do you think about the appearance of these bright pink lips? Vibrant, bubble gum, or hot pink lip colors always offer a pop of playful femininity, as opposed to the more neutral or minimalist eye look. Of course, it’s not here. Here, Rihanna blended navy blue with black pencil eyeliner and I looooove it!
Dark purple, bright yellow or electric blue? It’s not really important! This 00’s trend certainly is a bold start from traditional black mascara-coated eyelashes, adding a striking, unexpected flash of colours that stood out to the point of being noticeably.
