The Y2K beauty trend guide — frosted lids, spiky buns and more

Warm browns and neutral have held reign for the past few years, but the cool not-so-new kid on the block has returned in the form of frosted eyes. Popularised by ’90s stars like Brandy and Christina Aguilera, it slowly vanished into obsolescence in favour of more muted looks. But after two decades, its been modernised and revamped, with new colours like lilac and white joining the party.

Pro-tip: Instead of full-on frost lids, use it to accentuate your eyes by adding it on the inner corner or lightly swipe it across the lids for a touch of pizzazz.

Probably the most controversial trend of the early aughts – skinny brows. Icons like Pamela Anderson rocked the look, though there seems to be quite a divide when it comes to skinny brows – some may say its a trend best left behind, while others are all for it, a la Miss Bella Hadid.

“I feel like the resurgence of this trend can be attributed to two factors: everyone’s general love for Y2K trends and TikTok,” says makeup artist Sarah Tan. “The craze over the 2000’s nostalgia the past few years really just proves the statement that trends repeat every 20 to 30 years, so it was inevitable that this iconic staple of the 2000s would resurface.”

According to Tan,  you can achieve the look “without actually committing”. “You can gel your eyebrows down with wax or brow gel, then conceal with a shade close to your skin tone. Set the base with powder and draw over however you please. If you want to go all the way, I would recommend getting it professionally done to avoid the trauma of overplucking that most millennials went through back in the 2000s.”

She adds that most neighbourhood threading places (especially the ones run by Indian ladies) can get you right back on the razor-thin brow trend. The best way to achieve the thinnest lines? A fine point pencil like the Benefit Cosmetics Precisely, My Brow pencil.

The spiky bun is like the edgier, more spunky cousin of the sleek mode-off-duty bun, and a great alternative to the messy buns most of us tend to gravitate towards. It might seem daunting, but it’s actually relatively easy to create, with the proper tools, of course.

“Start of by straightening your hair, then apply a mousse all over to ensure you’ve got a secure base. I personally love the Keune Style Strong Mousse,” shares beauty guru Sha Shamsi who is the go-to choice among luxury labels and local celebrities for her light hand and versatility when it comes to makeup and hair.

“Then create a soft bun and secure it with bobby pins and hair spray. Apply a little hair clay to shape the ends of your hair. To ensure the ends stay up all day, use a hairdryer with a cold setting and finish it off with more hairspray for extra hold,” she says.

Much like the craze around frosted eyes, blue was quite the rage back in the day. The ’60s saw pastels with Twiggy-esque lashes, while the 2000s had Britney to thank for everyone grabbing any frosty blue shadow they could get their hands on. And now, we’ve seen the colour, and all its various hues, appear on runways and the eyes of celebs like J.Lo and Dua Lipa.

“When using blue for your eyeshadow, you need to be mindful of the hue of blue, placement and blending. I would apply black kohl on the rim of the eyes and add a touch of blue slightly above it for a rock and roll feel. For a more lasting effect, use a cream-based eye pencil and set it with powder,” says Sha.

Also known as baby braids (we know, totes cute), this hairstyle was popular in the 2000s but actually got its influence from the boho energy of the ’70s. It flatters any face shape, works well on every hairy texture and is just such a fun way to spice up any look. Plus, it’s a great way to keep your mane off your face, especially in this heat.

Hairstylist Junz Loke, who is known for his experimental cuts and styling, guides us on how to create this summery look: “Section your hair from behind your ears to form a messy bun so the braids stand out (use a claw clip to make the styling process easier). Grab a small section and braid it, finishing with hairspray for the ultimate relaxed effect.”

A far cry from the nude lips so many of us have grown accustomed to, bright and bold lips are finally making their return to our lives. Seen on celebs like Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Aniston and Kelly Rowland, the vampy lip look is now becoming a mainstay even on the runways and red carpets.

“I’ve always been a fan of bold dark lips in general, so I love, love, love the trend!” says makeup artist Sarah Tan. “The Y2K way of pairing this sort of lip is to just go clean on the eyes (no eyeshadow, minimal eyeliner, mascara) or even go sans eye makeup altogether and really just let the lips shine. I find this way of wearing dark lips to be quite chic and makes the wearer look super cool.”

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This article was first published in Female.