As trends tend to come full circle every 20 to 30 years, it’s no wonder that '90s beauty looks are making a comeback. The makeup styles we once idolized in glossy magazine pages have returned, and nowhere is this more apparent than in the iconic '90s lip combos.
Known for their bold lip liners and glossy finishes, the '90s lip trends have become a go-to once again. Teens who grew up in that era know the power of a well-applied gloss and liner, and with a wide array of lip colors available now, the trend is easy to reinvent. Watching people experiment with these bold combinations is a beauty lover’s dream.
From dark brown liners with a glossy finish to frosty pink lips, let’s take a look at 10 of the most memorable '90s lip combos that are perfect to recreate in 2024.
1. Glossy Cinnamon
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In the '90s, Posh Spice set a trend with her signature cinnamon-toned lip look. She lined her lips with a rich brown liner and layered on a nude, super-shiny gloss, a look that’s become iconic of that era. While we don’t know the exact products she used back then, you can recreate the vibe today with Victoria Beckham's own makeup line, using the Lip Definer and Posh Gloss.
2. Supermodel Brown
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No list of iconic '90s lip combos would be complete without Naomi Campbell. The supermodel helped solidify the brown lip liner trend that’s still going strong. For deeper skin tones, makeup pros suggest using a liner that contrasts with your natural complexion. Add a coat of clear gloss to complete this timeless look.
3. Muted Pink
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Pamela Anderson's '90s beauty legacy started with her Baywatch days and is still influential today. According to makeup artist Erin Parsons, Anderson’s matte pink lip look is created using a multi-step process. Start by applying a lip stain to the bottom lip, press your lips together to transfer color to the top, then overline your lips with a pencil. Use a touch of foundation to mute the color, set it with powder, and finish with a pinkish-nude lipstick.
4. Liner Only
Halle Berry perfected the "liner-only" look, outlining her lips with a soft brown pencil and leaving the center bare. The satin finish of the liner gives her lips just enough sheen without needing gloss or lipstick.
5. Golden Gloss
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Gold lips may not have been as popular as their brown and nude counterparts, but Mary J. Blige rocked a high-shine golden gloss in 1995. She paired it with a light brown lip liner to create a neutral yet striking look.
6. Two-Toned Berry
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Brandy’s two-toned lip look from the '90s paired a deep berry lip liner with a baby pink gloss, making her lips stand out. The contrast adds depth and dimension, proving that the color combinations are endless.
7. Baby Pink
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Penelope Cruz’s take on the '90s lip combo gives us “no-makeup makeup” vibes before it was even a trend. She often lined her lips in a shade just slightly darker than her natural lip color, letting the center remain bare for a soft, natural look. To try it in 2024, grab your favorite baby pink lip liner and a sheer tinted balm.
8. High-Shine Red
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Though most '90s lip trends leaned neutral, Nia Long turned heads with her bright red lips. She paired her bold red lip liner with a high-shine gloss, proving that bold colors are just as timeless as neutrals.
9. Shiny Spice
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Cindy Crawford was a trendsetter throughout the '90s. Her go-to lip combo featured a sharp brown liner and glossy lips. While it’s hard to pinpoint the exact product she used, MAC Cosmetics’ Lip Pencil in Spice is a dead ringer for the look.
10. Frosty and Glossy
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Christina Aguilera embraced frosty, glossy lips during her "Genie in a Bottle" days. She lined her lips with a pencil slightly deeper than her natural color and topped it with an icy gloss for a super high-shine look that was quintessentially '90s.
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