It’s official: We’ve finally started to say goodbye to the ultra-clean, airbrushed makeup looks of the past few years and return to our more colorful and playful roots of grunge, boho, and futurism (all of which flourished in the 2000s). Frosted makeup, in particular, is gaining popularity on TikTok among Gen Z with celebrities from Zara Larsson to Rhea Raj and the Catseye members jumping on the trend with a penchant for the dramatic and all things colorful. As a 20-year-old who was lucky enough to experience such Y2K beauty trends through a kid’s eyes, I’m very excited to revisit it in my adult years.
Below, I explore the roots of frosted makeup with the guidance of a makeup artist who has created countless looks that became the trend. Keep reading for intel on where this trend came from, tips and tricks for making it work, and the best products for the job.
Why is the frosted makeup look on the rise?
According to celebrity makeup artist Christian BrisenoThe sudden interest in frosted makeup looks reflects beauty trend cycles and is a reaction to the minimalist clean beauty trends that have dominated the beauty market and social media platforms over the past few years. “People want something more playful, and the frosted texture captures this mood very well,” begins Briceño. “They reflect light, photograph beautifully, and don’t require complicated techniques.”
While the trend is inspired by Y2K influences, he points out that today’s take on frosted makeup, “is more sophisticated and offers a more inclusive understanding of skin tones.” He also highlighted the fact that younger generations of consumers did not experience that era firsthand, making frosted colors and textures feel new again (which he says is especially attractive in today’s visual culture).
How can I give frosted makeup a modern look?
Wondering what’s the best way to create a frosted makeup look? Briceño likes to find his balance. He starts with skin that looks fresh and breathable, so the frosted effect, “feels more intentional and modern rather than dated.” To create a memorable, icy-eyed look, Briseno likes to apply a sheer press Add metallic and pearl shadow to the center or inner corner of the lid to create an icy, Y2K effect without overwhelming the eye. “Shade choice matters – cool taupes, rose golds, soft bronzes and iridescent lavenders work on many skin tones because they have depth,” he says.
For lips, Briseno recommends using frosted glass layered over a neutral lip color for a modern appearance, rather than the more opaque, pastel frosts that were so popular in the 2000s. “For highlighter, keep placement sophisticated on the cheekbones, bridge of the nose, and perhaps the high points of the brow bone,” says Briseno. He shares that the finished frosted makeup look should be glittery rather than glittery.
What’s the best way to take advantage of Y2K makeup inspiration?
Now that you know how to create the frosted makeup look embraced by the fashion crowd, Briseno recommends thinking of Y2K references as inspiration, not a strict recreation. Target? A modern reinterpretation using deliberate, recognizable details. He adds, “The original era often had many cool elements present in full intensity: icy eyes, metallic lips and heavy lashes.” “In today’s modern version, I usually choose a frosted element as the focus.” For example, if the eyes are icy and reflective, he likes to keep the lips soft and shiny. Alternatively, if the lips are frosted, it simplifies the eyes.
Briseno also encourages paying attention to the texture of the products you choose, as frosting works best when the skin underneath is prepared so it’s smooth and hydrated to receive the makeup. “Proper skin preparation and thin layers of makeup make the reflective finish look intentional rather than powdery,” he says. Additionally, applying shimmer to the eyelid with fingers or a dense brush adds sophistication to finished, frosted makeup.
Shop This Year’s Frosted Makeup Essentials
mac cosmetics
Dazzleshadow Extreme Eyeshadow in Incinerated
This long-wear eye shadow from MAC Cosmetics is designed to provide a dewy-like metallic appearance with a lightweight texture that glides onto the skin. Its unique formula is enhanced with light-appealing pearlescent pigments. “These shadows have a very sophisticated, reflective texture that gives them an icy, Y2K glow without looking heavy or glittery. They catch the light beautifully and can be applied or built up transparently for greater impact,” says Briseno.
anastasia beverly hills
Glider Shadow Stick in Star
Available in 25 metallic, shimmer and matte finishes, this eye shadow from Anastasia Beverly Hills offers bold color that can be used to define and sculpt the eyes. Its long-wear formula with high-impact pigments provides up to 12 hours of water-resistant, smudge-proof and non-flaking wear. I’m already planning to wear it to every event this year.
urban Decay
24/7 Moondust Eyeshadow in Solstice
This Urban Decay favorite is a must-have for creating a Y2K-inspired, frosted makeup look. It delivers maximum shine with buildable intensity and a long-lasting wet-finish look that can be applied with a finger or a brush. “[It]works well for cool eyes because it creates a luminous, icy dimension while remaining light on the eyelid,” shares Briceño.
loreal paris
Color Riche Original Satin Lipstick in Ballerina Shoes
TikTok introduced me to L’Oréal’s collection of frosted lipsticks, and I couldn’t be more impressed with their glossy effect. Although I don’t believe that this specific viral shade matches deeper skin tones, I do like how it looks on others. Its luxurious, creamy formula is also good for me because it contains ingredients like vitamin E and argan oil to support skin health.
mineral fusion
Hydro-shine lip gloss in santorini
Briseno’s Lip Gloss by Mineral Fusion brings shine and shine using a nourishing, non-sticky formula infused with nourishing Vitamin E to help lock in moisture. “This kind of gloss works perfect for modern frosted lips because the glitter is suspended in a translucent base,” says Briseno. “This reflector adds a Y2K glow while still allowing the natural lip color to show through.”
idem
Le Chuochow Lip Softening Balm in Chateau Rose
Idem’s Viral Le Chauchou Lip Softening Balm is a three-in-one treatment that gently exfoliates the lips while providing the moisture of an intense lip balm and gives lips a beautiful shine. Now available in eight versatile shades (including Chateau Rose, a pearly pink), its hibiscus enzymes soften lip lines and soothe dryness, while lactic acid boosts collagen and pyruvic acid brightens.
make forever
Wherever Artist Color Pencil in Walnut
According to Briseno, using a neutral lip pencil like the Make Up For Ever Artist Pencil in White Walnut under a frosted gloss can help pull off a Y2K-inspired frosted makeup look. “It shapes the lips and keeps the lips from looking flat or overly pale,” says Briseno. This best-selling lip liner shapes and contours lips with a creamy, soft-matte texture that feels weightless on the lips and blends like a dream without feathering.
prestigious london
prep set glow
This best-selling shimmer spray preps, sets, and brightens your makeup while refreshing skin for a luminous finish. Its 100% vegan formula uses cucumber and chamomile for shine, while a blend of green tea, vitamin E and antioxidants brighten the complexion. It also contains caffeine content which helps in dealing with dark circles and rejuvenating the skin.
danessa myricks beauty
Delicious skin blurring balm powder without any hassle
Briseno recommends using this tinted, light-reflecting balm-to-powder product for an ethereal base. “(Danessa Myrick’s) formulas create a very dimensional glow that looks luminous rather than metallic. They’re excellent for achieving that frosted highlight effect that still looks editorial and skin-like,” says Briseno. It highlights the eyes, lips and cheeks, while creating a soft focus effect using hyaluronic acid and vegan squalane to plump the skin and crushed pearl pigments for radiance.
hourglass
Unreal Liquid Highlighter in Evoke
Hourglass’s new Liquid Highlighter uses a serum-like, weightless texture to hydrate, lift and firm skin while providing an all-day glow. Its feather-light formula is infused with the brand’s skin-living Unreal Lifting Complex, which supports skin barrier health, as well as upcycled white lupine seed extract and hyaluronic acid to firm and hydrate over time.
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