Makeup Trends That Are Making A Comeback

Just like in fashion, makeup trends come and go. And then they show up again, years later. And then in 15 years, we’re going to see our daughters with the same bright-colored eyeshadow, body shimmer, or brown lips that are on trend right now and that were on trend 15 years ago. Seriously, blue eyeshadow has shown up in every decade, from the psychedelic ’60s to the disco ’70s through the ’80s, ’90s, and 2000s. But it isn’t just bright eyeshadow, many makeup trends have come and gone and come back again. While the size and bushiness of our eyebrows may change, the makeup trends that highlight these brows do not.

Body Shimmer

Body shimmer has (and always will) be on trend. Body shimmer comes in a variety of forms from highlighter to bronzer, to literal, all-over body shimmer. But no matter which way we use it, it serves the same purpose: to draw attention to our major assets. Whether it’s our cheekbones or our shoulders and chest, body shimmer is the perfect tool to highlight our favorite areas (and distract from our not so favorite areas). In the 2000s, JLo wore this reflective outfit. She shines from head to toe, including under her brows, on the apples of her cheeks, and her shoulders. The all-over shimmer continues today as Rosie Huntington Whiteley uses it to highlight the inner corners of her eyes and her cheekbones.

Bright Blue Eyeshadow

It’s already been made clear that blue eyeshadow has been on trend for decades. And with all the designer eyeshadow palettes that have come out, the colored eyeshadow trend is becoming more popular than ever. Bright blue (or pink or green or red) eyeshadow can be a total confidence boost–you can’t help but feel your sexiest when you know your makeup looks fierce. Both Kate Moss and Millie Bobby Brown are fashion inspirations in their own right. And since they’ve both been on board with the blue eyeshadow trend, we know it’s worth a try.

Winged Liner

Winged liner is as classic as Audrey Hepburn, herself. The winged liner look is a makeup trend that has come and never really gone. As early as the 1950s, women were using the winged liner look to make their lashes look lush. But women’s obsession with eyeliner actually began as early as ancient Egypt. The ancient Egyptians and Mesopotamians wore eyeliner for aesthetic purposes but also to protect against the desert sun and to ward off evil. Women today rock this makeup trend to flatter their eye shape and to add drama to their overall look. Today, winged liner comes in different colors, glitter liners, and different shapes, too.

Brick Red Lips

The 1990s were all about grunge: the music, the fashion, and the makeup. One of the biggest makeup trends of the ’90s was the brick red lipstick that was totally omnipresent. Celebs like Drew Barrymore and Julia Roberts put this trend on the map, and today’s makeup gurus continue to use brown and dark red lipsticks in their looks. Brick red lips accentuate the natural color of your lips a little more than, say, a bright red or pink. And the color looks great on everyone, from ’90s queen Julie Roberts to today’s It-Girl, Gigi Hadid. Not to mention, in most episodes of Friends, Rachel Green is wearing this fabulous shade.

Enhanced Lashes

If the history of makeup has taught us anything, it’s that it is all about the eyes. From winged liner to faux lashes, women are always trying to create the illusion of wider eyes and thicker lashes. The 1960s were an important time for the evolution of falsies. Twiggy made the enhanced lashes look mainstream. Not only were false lashes used in this look, but eyeliner was used on her bottom lash line to further enhance her lashes. Va-va-voom! Obviously, this trend is more popular (and mainstream) than ever because it seems like your makeup look isn’t complete until you apply false lashes, heavy coats of mascara, or lash extensions. If your eyes are the windows to your soul, then your amazing, thick lashes are the shutters.

Lipliner

Lip liner has always been a look. Lip liner’s purpose is obvious: to make your lips look bigger, fuller, and more defined. And while lined lips don’t ward off evil, they do make your lipstick last longer. In the 1990s, iconic women of color used lip liner as part of their everyday look. JLo, Maya, and the ladies of Destiny’s Child all rocked lined lips. And today, lip liner is as commonplace as ever. Kylie Jenner, known for her overdrawn lips, has released a line of lip liners that make finding your shade and matching your liner super easy. But it isn’t just Kylie. Celebrities like Halsey, Rihanna, and all the off-duty models rock the lined look, too. Sidenote: I would also like to point out that Maya was about 15 years ahead of the acrylic, chrome nails that are oh-so-popular today.

Full Brows

It seems like brows have gone through as much of an evolution as any makeup trend. Eyebrows have gone from being over-plucked and super thin to being bushy and natural. I think it’s safe to say we all went through the tiny-eyebrow phrase. There are pictures from my sixteenth birthday party that I can never again look at because of the shape my eyebrows are in. Ten years later, and with the help of professional grooming, I’ve grown to appreciate and love (and often obsess over) my natural brows. The ’90s were not exactly a great time for eyebrows, but just a decade before, women were rocking totally natural eyebrows. Brooke Shields’ eyebrows are obviously #goals, as are Taylor Hill’s.

Makeup trends come and go. When we run out of ideas or inspiration, we can recycle old trends and make them brand new. We’ll be seeing bright blue eyeshadow for the next 100 years! Comment below, letting us know your favorite recycled makeup trend!