4 Early-2000s Makeup Trends That Are Back—With a Modern Twist

Is it just me, or has everyone been feeling very nostalgic lately? My friends are constantly reminiscing on the ‘good old days’ before cellphones existed; I’ve admittedly watched The Lizzie McGuire Movie on repeat; and I’ve seen countless people rocking turn-of-the-century makeup trends. It’s almost like I’m living in a very off-kilter time capsule. I’m honestly here for it, though, especially when it comes to the resurgence of early-aughts makeup.According to professional makeup artist Lisa Eldridge, it was only a matter of time before early-2000s makeup started to trend again. “Beauty is always cyclical, and trends naturally come back around,” she says. “But they’re rarely recreated exactly as they were the first time. What’s interesting about the return of early-2000s makeup is that people are taking the elements that felt exciting and expressive and adapting them in a much more refined way.” Think: Diffused blue eyeshadow, letting your natural skin breathe, glinting frosted lips, and so much more.On another level, the personality-driven makeup looks from the early 2000s are coming back at a time when everyone is craving more fun. “After years of very perfected, sculpted beauty, there’s been a shift towards individuality, experimentation, and using color in a way that feels personal,” says Eldridge.We could all use some extra joy in our lives, and replicating the below early-2000s makeup trends is a great place to start. Keep reading to discover which looks are making a comeback and learn how to create them for yourself.Icy Blue EyeshadowI remember first falling in love with makeup the moment I swiped an electric blue eyeshadow on my eyes. And now, it feels almost kismet that we’re seeing a resurgence of the hue dancing across lids. Compared to some of the ultra-shimmery, nearly-white blue eyeshadows that defined the early 2000s, Eldridge says today’s interpretation is fresh, modern, and has a futuristic vibe to it.For an upgraded spin on icy blue eyeshadow, Eldridge says to keep things soft and blended around the edges. We suggest swiping the About-Face Matte Fluid Eye Paint in Aquamarine across your lid and topping it with a fine shimmer shadow, like Urban Decay 24/7 Moondust Glittery Eyeshadow. Eldridge also recommends keeping the rest of your makeup simple to really emphasize your eyes.Tim Whitby//Getty ImagesNatural SkinYou might think effortless clean girl makeup came about in the 2020s, but really, the early 2000s version walked so today’s lightweight skin tints and sheer foundations could run. “The early 2000s had a real focus on enhancing features rather than creating a heavily perfected finish, and I think that’s something people are really drawn to again,” says Eldridge. “I’ve been so glad to see real skin and lived-in makeup trending.”The core of this trend is allowing your natural skin to shine. This could mean dabbing on concealer in just a few places to brighten your complexion and mask redness or dark circles, or opting for nearly-sheer all-over coverage with a product like the Lisa Eldridge Enhancing Tint.Add Cosmopolitan as a preferred source in your Google search results.Use your Google account to add this to your settings.Rune Hellestad - Corbis//Getty ImagesFrosted LipsGloss is officially getting replaced—not with matte finishes, but rather a bit of frost. “We’re seeing the return of shimmery, frosted lip looks that give lips a beautiful light-catching finish,” says Eldridge. “The early 2000s version was often high-shine, but today it’s more about a soft, pearlescent finish. A touch of shimmer in the center can make your lips look fuller and really enhance their natural shape.”Start with a lip liner close to the shade of your natural lips. Then, layer a shimmery lipstick or balm. We love the YSL Beauty Loveshine Lip Oil Stick. For an extra touch of frost, dab a bit of shimmer eyeshadow onto the middle of your lips. Celebrity makeup artist Brittany Whitfield says this last step adds even more dimension.Skinny BrowsIt was only a matter of time before ultra-skinny brows made their return into the limelight. As someone with naturally thin arches, I’m thrilled! This trend isn’t the easiest to commit to, especially if you have bushier brows, but Whitfield does have a trick that can create the illusion of slim arches without picking up the tweezers. “Reshape the tail of your brow to lay thin (using a brow gel),” she says. “This keeps the look modern yet nostalgic.”Barry King//Getty ImagesMeet the ExpertsLisa Eldridge is a professional makeup artist with over 30 years of experience. She has worked with celebrities, including Cindy Crawford, and is the founder of her eponymous makeup line. Brittany Whitfield is a celebrity makeup artist and licensed esthetician based in New York City.Why Trust Cosmopolitan?Mary Honkus is a contributor for Cosmopolitan with over eight years of experience researching, writing, and editing beauty stories, including rounding up the best smudge-proof tubing mascaras, and giving you the lowdown on what perfumes are gym-appropriate. She’s an authority in all beauty categories and adores experimenting with makeup. For this story, she tapped two professional makeup artists to learn what early-2000s makeup trends are making a comeback.Mary Honkus is a freelance writer who covers beauty, home, fashion, health, and wellness (just call her a jack of all trades!). She has held staff roles at Real Simple, People, and InStyle, and her bylines can be found in numerous other publications. When she's not testing the latest and greatest products, she can be found chilling on her Hell's Kitchen rooftop, checking out NYC's hottest new restaurants, or recording her podcast Good Trouble NYC. Follow her on Instagram.