Beauty

'90s makeup is back: Get the look

'90s makeup is back: Get the look

Author: Canadian Living

Beauty

'90s makeup is back: Get the look

This season, sumptuous chocolate and caramel shades are taking over the runways and the beauty aisles. The trend is best exemplified by celebrities such as Drew Barrymore and Jennifer Aniston, who, in the '90s, paired matte skin with brown tones on the eyes, lips and nails. "Drew Barrymore wore dark-brown lipstick, and it looked incredible against her light skin," says Genevieve Meneyan, Estée Lauder national makeup artist.

Modernize today's neutral palettes by focusing on your skin. CoverGirl makeup pro Veronica Chu recommends skipping bronzer and, instead, "strobing" by softly highlighting your face with luminizer on the cheekbones, the bridge of the nose and the Cupid's bow of the lip. The result? Flawless skin and a softly glowing complexion. Add taupe eyeshadow and umber lipstick to make the earth-tone trend feel brand new again for 2015.


Photography by Marie Rainville; Makeup by Aniya Nandy

Eyes
Chestnut eyeshadows are a staple in many makeup bags for good reason: They accentuate eye colour (especially blue) and complement all skin tones, as long as those with cool skin tones stick to grey or rosy browns and those with warm skin opt for copper or golden-brown shades. Apply a satin shadow on your lid, then place a dark brown in the crease and blend upward onto the orbital bone. Brush a lighter, shimmery colour on the brow bone and into the inner corner. To look more alert and to keep your peepers from appearing red, define your eyes with black mascara and eyeliner. "Smudge a dark pencil at the roots of the lashes," says Meneyan, "or use a thin line of liquid or gel liner to create a sharp, clean line."

(From left to right)  Benefit They're Real! Push-Up Liner in Beyond Brown, $31, sephora.ca. Annabelle Stay Sharp Metallic Waterproof Kohl Eyeliner in Bronzy, $10, annabelle.com. Bourjois Paris Smoky Eyes Trio in Mordoré Chic, $27, shoppersdrugmart.ca. Estée Lauder Pure Color Envy Eye, Defining Singles in Brash Bronze and Amber Intrigue, $28 each, esteelauder.ca.

Lips
Anyone can wear brown lipstick—yes, even you! It's just a matter of finding the shade that works best with your skin tone. If your skin has cool undertones, choose a rosy brown; if you have golden skin, try a colour that mimics your complexion. Dark lipstick is easier to pull off when you have full lips or dark skin, so if your lips are thin or surrounded by fine lines, stick to light or medium shades. "Dark lipstick is like wearing black," warns Meneyan. "It's very slimming and can look severe." To make lips appear plump and prevent dryness, apply gloss or balm before lipstick.

(From left to right) Lise Watier Rouge Sublime Lipstick in Ginger, $23, lisewatier.com. Marc Jacobs Beauty Enamored Hi-Shine Lip Lacquer in Taboo, $34, sephora.ca. M.A.C Cosmetics Lipstick in Antique Velvet, $20, maccosmetics.ca. Bobbi Brown Lip Pencil in Bobbi, $27, bobbibrown.ca.

Nails
Instead of a classic red or pinkish nude polish, try medium-brown or chocolate shades. Though earth tones can look beautiful and flattering on the hands, it's important to keep a couple of things in mind. "The brown has to contrast with the skin," says Chu. "Choosing a shade that's an exact match will make your hands look too neutral and washed out." Try a polish that's two shades lighter or darker than your skin tone. Meneyan also suggests creamy or shiny finishes. "Matte-brown polish isn't flattering, especially if you're not in your 20s and don't have perfect hands," she says. Elevate earthtone nails further by adding shimmer with a sheer gold topcoat.
Brown nail polishes
(Clockwise from bottom left)  CoverGirl Outlast Stay Brilliant Nail Gloss in Toasted Almond, $8.50, covergirl.ca. CND Vinylux Weekly Polish in Field Fox, $12, cnd.com. Essie Nail Polish in Partner in Crime, $10, essie.ca.

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Read more:
How to wear brown makeup from day to night
The best makeup for brown eyes

This article was originally published in the November 2015 issue of Canadian Living magazine.


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Beauty

'90s makeup is back: Get the look

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