“That’s Hot!”: Y2K Makeup Trends For Your 2000s Party
Digital Content Manager | Pop Culture Nerd | Cosplay & Musical Theatre Enthusiast
Vanessa is a Sydney-based content specialist who is passionate about all things pop culture. When she isn't creating content or cosplaying, you can find her rehearsing for the next musical she's in.
The year 2000, Y2K, the new millennium.
The decade that saw questionable choices in fashion and makeup but brought us iconic music and saw the rise of influencers in a time when social media was practically non-existent.
There was no Instagram, or TikTok - you had Myspace quiz chains and Facebook was all about the pokes.
Fame and trends were harder to come by which made it all the more iconic when you made it to mainstream media.
Like me, you may have lived through this iconic era, though I must admit to blocking most of it out of my memory.
I made some questionable fashion choices and went through some hilarious phases (scene queens, anyone?) but ultimately I am who I am today because I lived through this era.
Take a trip with me and unlock those mems and recreate some fabulous 2000s makeup looks for your next Y2K themed event.
And if you get to the end, you’ll get to see me relive my glory days in true scene queen form.
Flat foundation
What the heck is contouring? Contouring was barely a thing in the early 00’s. Most celebs graced red carpets with a flat foundation and rosy pink blush on their cheeks (apart from the bold eye makeup of course).
If anyone did anything, it was almost surely just some bronzer or shimmer dashed on here and there.
Lipgloss
Of course, no look was complete without glossy lips. From tinted lipgloss to clear plump gloss, every look had juicy-looking lips.
Lined Lips
If you opted for lipstick, you were certainly seen with a lined lip slightly darker than your lipstick choice. Then maybe you also added that iconic gloss over the top too.
Blue Mascara
Remember this? Particularly for those with brown eyes, the blue mascara really emphasised the earthy tones in your irises.
Clumped Lashes
Not only was blue mascara a trend, but HOW you applied the mascara. No matter the colour, the mascara should be applied using the tip of the brush to clump the eyelashes together for an almost anime look.
Striking Eyeshadow Hues
Popping blue or purple eyeshadow or a thick white shimmer was a must-have eyeshadow trend of the early 2000s.
Skinny Eyebrows
This one is one I’d rather not recreate for the ‘gram. I was lucky enough not to fall into this trend so I was ready for the full-brow look of recent years.
Regardless, skinny, almost non-existent brows with a high arch were a trend and I am glad this one didn’t stick. If you regularly plucked your brows for this one, I’m sorry.
Emo Eyeliner
The early 00’s saw the rise of the ‘Emo’ phase and the lesser-known ‘Scene Queen’ phase.
These looks saw a heavy and smudged eyeliner application with a dark eyeshadow.
And if you were a Scene Queen wannabe, your eyeliner was very thick, precise and often in an exaggerated cat-eye style.
That said, I took this opportunity to let out my inner scene queen (aka veeveeVENGEANCE) just for lols. Enjoy! RAWR xD
