Y2k Fever: The Modernization of Early 2000's Beauty Trends
Image Courtesy: Pinterest
Beauty trends live and die, but space buns are forever. Padme, Paris, and Destiny’s Child created the blueprint, and 2021 ran with it.
Catapult yourself 20 years into the past. “Toxic” by Britney Spears is playing in the background of your bathroom while you're completing your daily beauty regime. Your look consists of razor-thin eyebrows, braided pigtails, and LipSmackers of course. You would find yourself enveloped in a beautiful climate of butterfly clips, clear, shiny gloss, and glowing eyeshadow. The list could go on. This era, which is commonly referred to as Y2K, is defined by a plethora of things. In my best effort to define the breadth of this aesthetic, I would say Y2K embodies the concept of futuristic-retroism with an emphasis on the never-ending expansion of the tech world.
Image Courtesy: 34th Street
With confidence I can say that penciled-in, thin eyebrows have not re-emerged (and hopefully never will), but the daunting low-rise jeans have survived the test of time. Starting in 2020 and cruising through 2021, beauty and fashion trends popularized by 2000s pop culture icons have found footing in today’s world. These nostalgic beauty throwbacks have become modernized and revamped to fit the desires of today’s society. Eyes dart towards Bella Hadid, beauty companies, and even TikTok to see how Y2K will be interpreted. Thanks to them our nostalgic beauty memories and obsessions have been reborn.
This past holiday season, Ulta released a “throwback” collection that included some of the most infamous products of the ‘90s and early 2000s. Arguably the most successful item launch was the Retro BoomBox Lip Smacker gift set. Open-hearted Millennials rushed to snatch this memory-induced lip gloss that gifted its buyers with shine and a sense of comfort during the holidays.
Photo Courtesy: Pop Sugar
Possibly the most exciting and most reminiscent modernization of the Y2K aesthetic is the collaboration between Lisa Frank and makeup company Morphe. Lisa Frank has transcended into more than a psychedelic school supplies brand and has pivoted into the beauty realm. Due to extreme brand loyalty and the evoking of childhood memories, Millennials have gravitated towards their makeup products in heaps. This collab of our dreams includes vibrant eyeshadow palettes, eyes brush sets, and even lip crayons. The whimsical design of the brand is still present in the collaboration with the makeup boxes being a canvas for stars, cheetah print, and rainbow galore.
Photo Courtesy: Morphe
They say distance makes the heart grow fonder, and maybe this is true. The years of Y2K beauty trends remaining dormant, and then suddenly remerging in the turn of the has evoked strong emotions from young millennials and gen-Xers. In simpler terms: We. Can’t. Get. Enough. This aesthetic does not only influence our beauty choices, but also our lifestyle and fashion choices. Velour suits, baby tees, and pleated skirts are as popular as ever.
Unlike most trends that are relevant for one season and then are soon forgotten, Y2K has surpassed the one-year mark and is quickly approaching a year and a half of belovedness. Only time will tell how long we bask in the creations of the early 2000s trendsetters, but for now, let us embrace the moment.
Strike Out,
Isabella Patel
Athens
