Do you recall being enthralled with glittery lips, frosted eyelids, and whimsical butterfly clips when you were perusing teen magazines in the early 2000s? Gen Z and millennials who yearn for that nostalgic yet contemporary flair are being enchanted by the resurgence of the classic Y2K aesthetic makeup.
The possibilities for creativity are endless, whether you’re experimenting with the aesthetic solely through beauty or matching your makeup to fashionable Y2K outfits. Are you prepared to become an expert in this alluring style? Explore this comprehensive, step-by-step guide to the best makeup look for Y2K!
Y2K Makeup Kit & Must-Have Products
Eyeshadow & Palette Essentials
All Y2K makeup lovers need a go-to eyeshadow palette that helps them find their way into the glittery shades, bright blues, shimmery pastels, and foily finishes. If you really want to capture the bright color and playful energy that Y2K makeup embodied, I’d lean into brands like Urban Decay with the Naked Ultraviolet palette and ColourPop with their Baby Got Peach collection. Find versatility in your palette. The ability to go from daytime slight shimmer to more dramatic nighttime looks sounds ideal!
Lip Gloss & Glitter Musts
Glossy, shiny lips were the signature of Y2K style, and frosted lip gloss is still a classic. High-shine glosses with fine particles of glitter, such as NYX’s Butter Gloss and Fenty Beauty’s Gloss Bomb are back to give you all of the Y2K shine. These glossy and frosted lip looks are trendy enhanced with a matching frosted lip liner to get the perfect pout like pop-divas of the early 2000s, like Britany Spears and Paris Hilton.
Face Gems, Clips & Accessories
It’s so easy to add rhinestone face gems and butterfly hair clips to your look for an instant Y2K upgrade. Brands like Colour Pop and Amazon have both rhinestone face gems and butterfly hair clips for reasonable prices! You can apply the gems around your eyes or (temple) and clip tiny butterflies throughout your hair for an instant playful vibe.
Prepping Your Canvas: Base & Glow
Skin Prep & Dew Finish
To get the glowy skin that is crucial for an authentic Y2K makeup look, start by fully hydrating your skin using moisturizers like Glow Recipe’s Watermelon Glow Pink Juice, or a hyaluronic acid serum. Next, apply a luminous primer, such as Charlotte Tilbury’s Hollywood Flawless Filter, to keep your look bright, dewy, and camera-ready all day.
Blush & Highlight Technique
The placement of your blush will make all the difference between the Y2K look and merely the early 2000s look. I’d go with very pigmented cream blushes, since they retain more color and are much easier to blend on the cheeks. Start by applying a good amount of cream blush to the apples of your cheeks and blend upwards towards your temples for an instant face-lift look. If you want to intensify the glow of your face, apply a holographic or iridescent highlighter on the highest parts of your face.I really like the Anastasia Beverly Hills’ Moonchild Glow Kit for a multi-shade hint of glow.
Statement Eyes: Frost, Sparkle & Rhinestones
Frosted & Pastel Lids
The Y2K eye make-up style distinctly demonstrates bold, pastel, and frosted eyelids. Lavenders, baby blues, mint greens, and icy pinks make excellent color choices for entertaining make-up looks. Don’t be afraid to use multiple shades to create dimension within your make-up look, and finish off the look with a fine glitter pigment at the center of your eyelids to give the look added sparkle.
E-Girl Graphic Lines
Update your Y2K makeup look with graphic eyeliners reminiscent of the modern E-girl look. White eyeliners are particularly striking with pastel colored shadows and white graphic or geometric designs are even better. Explore adding bold, sharp white lines, and even delicate curves to exhibit creativity.
Rhinestone & Butterfly Details
Rhinestoning your eyes automatically adds some glamour. You could line your lash line or place gems around your brows, or even in the inner-corners of your eyes. There are molds with butterfly shape gems or even tiny diamond butterflies that you can place on your eyes or close to your outer eyes or cheekbones highlight over your foundation for whimsy.
Glossy Lips That Pop
Sparkly, frosted lips scream Y2K! To create this look, line and fill your lips with a frosted nude or very pale pink lipstick, and layer a sparkly and super shiny gloss on top, like MAC’s Lipglass or Maybelline’s Lifter Gloss, to give your lips a juicy reflective finish.
Finishing Touches: Glitter, Gems & Tattoos
Finish your outfit with some body glitter, face gems and, of course, temporary tattoos- classic Y2K touches. Use some fine body glitter on your collar bones, shoulders, and on your cheeks to add a luminous sheen. You can also wear temporary butterfly tattoos or some understated metallic flash tattoos that will complement, not compete, with your gems.
Tailoring the Look
Eye Color & Shape Variations
Select eyeshadow shades that are fitting for your eye color and eye shape to help personalize your Y2K makeup. Outstanding colors that enhance brown eyes are bright purples, gold, and shades of bronze. While blue or green eyes pop with pinks, lavenders, and silvers. If you have hooded eyes, always go for lighter shadows and the liner can help to open up your eyes when placed the right way.
Skin Tone Considerations
For darker complexions, deep pigments and bright colors are the best way to make your Y2K makeup pop! Darker complexions look stunning with eyeshadows that are highly pigmented, especially in metallics and frost-like finishes. We also love bold blush colors like a deep magenta or coral in combination with a bright, glowy highlight! Otherwise, your makeup looks bare and not camera-ready.
Occasion Looks & Time-Savers
Products like multi-use glitter gels and cream eyeshadow sticks can save time while still looking stylish, whether you are trying to get ready for prom or simply want easy everyday options. Quick-dry liners, multipurpose tints, and shimmer sticks from brands like Stila and Milk Makeup can make achieving a perfectly effortless Y2K look a breeze in minutes.
Product Picks & Where to Buy
Curate your perfect Y2K aesthetic makeup kit by browsing affordable and versatile picks available from popular retailers like Ulta, Sephora, and Amazon. Look for Y2K-themed makeup bundles, budget-friendly glitter liners, and trendy glosses to complete your collection.
Now you’re fully prepared to embody the iconic Y2K aesthetic! Which trend excites you most? Comment below with your favorites or tag us on social media—we can’t wait to see your stunning Y2K transformations!
##
