How to Do 90s Inspired Makeup

90s makeup is about matte brown lips, thin brows, and either grunge-dark eyes or barely-there everything else.

90s makeup only works if you commit completely—half-hearted brown lips just look like you applied lipstick in the dark.

1. Start with matte skin. Use a full-coverage foundation and set with powder everywhere. The 90s were anti-glow—think flat, poreless finish. Skip highlighter completely.
2. Thin out your brows. Use concealer to carve out a thin, arched shape following your natural brow line. The goal is pencil-thin, not nonexistent. Set with clear gel.
3. Choose your eye direction. Go minimal with just mascara and maybe brown liner, or commit fully to dark, smoky eyes with black liner rimming the entire eye. No middle ground exists in 90s logic.
4. Perfect the brown lip. Line lips with a brown liner slightly darker than your chosen lipstick, then fill in with matte brown lipstick. Blot and reapply for that flat, opaque finish.
5. Add strategic darkness. Dust matte brown eyeshadow in the crease and line eyes with dark brown or black pencil. Keep it slightly smudged—precision wasn't the point.