There’s an enduring allure to the ‘90s supermodel hair and makeup. Decades later, the supers’ glam continues to inspire, appearing on mood boards and TikTok feeds alike. Naomi’s statement lip, Cindy’s voluminous blowout, Linda’s sleek chin-length bob, and Christy’s fresh, flawless skin each epitomize the era’s iconic beauty.

No, it’s not just fleeting nostalgia fueling the enduring fascination. Every few years, like clockwork, media trends proclaim that the ‘90s aesthetic is back. In reality, the appeal of the decade never truly disappeared—my own ever-growing Pinterest boards, which I’ve had since my teen years, are a testament to its lasting influence.

According to pro makeup artist Ash K. Holm, “overall, the look was all about a balance between bold and natural, emphasizing certain features while maintaining an air of effortless elegance” that, in many ways, still holds true in 2026. Here, we’re breaking down the essential tenets of the supermodel beauty look, and why it offers timeless appeal. From bombshell blowouts to matte finish makeup, here’s how to recreate the look for yourself.

“’90s glam was an interesting time for makeup, having just exited the era of “more is more” in the ’80s featuring heavy blush and bold neon colors, ’90s makeup evolved into fresh, lightweight skin, with more subtle but impactful lined lips, frosted colors, and a wearable playfulness that makeup prior to this time didn’t have,” celebrity makeup artist Taylour Chanel says of the era. The look was sophisticated and impactful, yet neutral, as makeup artist Sean Harris puts it. Fresh-faced simplicity, warmed up by a bronze sculpt, was contrasted with vibrant colors and dazzling shimmers. Kevyn Aucoin, Mathu Andersen, Sam Fine, Pat McGrath, Bobbi Brown, and François Nars were the artists leading the trends here—creating memorable looks that graced countless runways, campaigns, and super’s faces.

To modernize the look for the 21st century, Holm recommends leaning first into browns and smokey tones (hello latte makeup!) then infusing a touch of drama. “There’s an indescribable quality to this look that consistently evokes a sense of allure, capturing the true enchantment of this makeup era,” she says.

The pros say sculpted cheeks are most important—and contour can help to create the illusion of, or emphasize a chiseled cheekbone. “A defined bone structure characterizes this era,” says celebrity makeup artist Valeria Ferreira, adding that flawless skin plus a few freckles can make it more current. Pro tip: “Use a soft fluffy brush and warm bronzer to sculpt the cheeks and warm the forehead,” Harris instructs.

“[The] classic ‘90s supermodel eye utilizes cool-toned browns and lighter neutral tones to enhance the eye shape,” Chanel says. To create this, Harris recommends using a rich brown or smokey grey shadow along the lash line. Pro makeup artist Emily Gray is keen on palettes with a variety of brown shades, to simplify creating the ‘90s glam smoky eye at home. Otherwise, a matte single shadow across the lid does the trick.

To juxtapose an otherwise simple base makeup, frosted accents are a quintessential ‘90s way to add oomph to a look. “Frosted glitter in blue, periwinkle, pink, steel, or copper shades” are a must, per Chanel. The pigments can be placed on the lips or eyes with a soft handed application, to avoid teetering into full blown maximalism.

“Fresh (never heavy), velvety skin with a diffused natural sculpt” is how Chanel describes the ’90s supermodel complexion. This barely-there finish can be achieved with natural, satin formulas like by Armani Beauty’s Luminous Silk foundation (a cult-favorite since 2000) or Outside—In’s serum foundation. The former “has a hint of radiance, so that the skin doesn’t look too dull,” says Gray. Then, veil dark circles and spot conceal before diving into contour and blush.

There’s no question that matte is making a comeback in 2026, albeit with a softer focus. The pendulum shift comes after the 2010s and early-2020s dewy skin obsession. It’s another ode to ‘90s makeup, which was all about a your-skin-but-polished matte look. To achieve this, blurring setting powder formulas help to keep shine under control, and diffuse the appearance of imperfections.

It’s hard to talk about ‘90s glam without mentioning brows. Celebrity makeup artist Robert Sesnek remembers supermodels preferring a very thin brow by the mid ‘90s—filling them in with pencil or powder. “To keep it modern, you do not have to fill them in—just use a brow gel to shape them,” pro makeup artist Robert Rumsey notes.

“When it comes to lipstick, both browns in light nude shades to really deep browns and [reds] were very of the time,” Sesnek explains. “Most of these tend to be matte and sometimes you would have a satin finish.” Holm notes that lips were always lined in a darker shade for dimension with contoured corners.

“Eyeliner on the eyes and [lip liner] always,” Ferreira says. The liners were typically some shade of brown or espresso. On the lips, it was “a little overdrawn but blended through the lip to create an undetectable finish.” Meanwhile, the eyes could be accentuated with a smoky wing.

“Don’t forget a thick coat of mascara,” says Harris. Though, take the term thick with grain of salt. Lashes were lifted, lengthened, and defined without appearing spidery. The idea is to create a wispy flutter. Formulas like Hourglass Cosmetics’s viral tubing mascara and YSL Beauty’s new sculpting formula does just that. If you want to take your natural lashes up a notch, Holm says adding on cluster lashes will do the trick.

For celebrity hairstylist Ricky Fraser, ‘90s glam has always been a huge inspiration. The pro names the aforementioned supers plus Claudia Schiffer, Yasmeen Ghauri, Helena Christensen,Nadja Auermann, Stephanie Seymour, Tyra Banks as hair goals. “It was an era that exuded confidence and power, while still owning your femininity,” he says. “The women of this era personified strength while still being the ultimate pillars of glamour.”

Celebrity stylist and eponymous brand founder Andrew Fitzsimons explains that the ‘90s look—coiffed to perfection by the likes of Oribe Canales, Kevin Mancuso, Sam McKnight, Oscar James, Frederic Fekkai, Guido Palau, and Kim Kimble—was about being bold and blunt. “Highlights were chunky and more pronounced versus wispy and blended, ponytails were sleek and sharp, and loads of people were wearing their hair straight with blunt bangs,” Fitzsimons says. Even the softer styles were big—voluminous blowouts and messy updos à la Pamela Anderson.

“To bring the essence of ‘90s glam to 2026, it’s about infusing classic hairstyling with modern sensibilities,” celebrity hairstylist Sami Knight details. “Start with sleek, well-defined hair that embraces symmetry, as seen in the era’s middle parts. Modernizing this look involves striking the right balance–polished yet not overly rigid, with a hint of contemporary texture and movement.”

“One tip, when trying to achieve bold voluminous hair, is to start with clean wet hair, as trying to add volume to already dry hair may make your look weighed down,” Fitzsimons says. “For a powerful sexy voluminous look, you should round brush your hair from damp and set each section in rollers or pins so the volume and wave lasts over time,” Fraser explains.

Of course, managing both a brush and a dryer isn’t an easy task for many when doing at-home styling. Instead, the pro-approved solution for at-home styling is opting for a multistyler tool. The key is keeping the barrel horizontal when styling to achieve rounded ends rather than curls. “Streamlining what’s in your hand makes the entire styling process smoother and much more achievable at home,” celebrity stylist Yusef told Vogue in our easy ‘90s blowout guide. To amp up the body and bounce, root-lifting sprays add major volume.

An undone updo begins fresh out the shower. “[To start], I would free hand blow dry the hair with a heat protectant, then pop a few natural curls with the curling iron,” says pro hairstylist Mideyah Parker, finishing the look with shine spray. Fraser shares a tip to achieve that messy, yet polished style: “pull hair up, and twist into loose buns or knots, securing with chic hairpins; don’t forget to leave some tendrils hanging for that sultry finish.”

“‘90s symmetry” is another tell-tale tenant of this era’s glam, according to Knight. “Give a good round brush blowout with mousse as your primer and use a shine-enhancing serum or hair oil for a glossy effect,” she explains. “For flyaway free middle parts, use a little pomade or hair balm along that part, to keep them at bay.” Alternatively, a flyaway wand helps streamline slicking.

“Incorporate scrunchies, hairpins, and headbands for a playful touch,” says Knight. “I find the best place for this is your local drugstore. Anything from barrettes to butterfly clips can be found within.” Per Parker, glitter, clips, and hair jewels are all fair game. There’s luxe options for hair accessories too—like tortoise shell headbands, an ode to CBK’s favorite hair accessory.

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As it relates to 90’s beauty staples, we selected the best based on the following characteristics: colors, finish, and the styles they create. To do this, we paired our own personal tests of each formula with expert guidance and reviewer insights to determine which we would recommend to you.

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