Take a look at photos from the ‘80s and ‘90s and you’re likely to see frosted makeup all over the place. We aren’t talking about just a frosty lipstick here or a frosty eyeshadow there. No, an accurate depiction of the times would show people decked out with frosted lips, eyes, cheeks—and even hair. Eventually, of course, this trend faded away. People started to forget that their love of frosted lips and frosty blue eye makeup was gradually ditched in favor of neutral eyeshadows. And the truth is, most haven’t missed frosted makeup one bit—until now, anyway. While matte makeup has been all the rage for the past few years, frosted makeup, like many ‘90s beauty trends, is back. If you’re under the impression that a frosted face should be left in the past, think again. With a few tips—and the right products—anyone can pull off frosted makeup.
TIP #1: PICK A SINGLE FROSTED FEATURE
Trends are cyclical. They come and go and then they come again, which is why it wasn’t 100 percent crazy when you insisted you needed to hang on to your old bell bottoms or platform sandals until they came back into style. But—and this is a big but—when trends return, chances are they won’t be exactly the same. That means despite the fact that frosted makeup is absolutely back, you won’t be wearing your makeup exactly as you did 20 years ago. Gone are the days of coating your whole face in frosty products. Instead, if you want to be on-trend, you’ll need to pick one feature to play up with frosted makeup.
TIP #2: DON’T OVERDO IT
When it comes to frosted makeup, there’s no reason to be heavy handed. Frosted lip colors and eyeshadows stand out on their own, you don’t need to pack on the pigment. That’s a surefire way to look like you’re wearing stage makeup. Apply with a light hand, and remember to start small—you can always add more product later if you’re convinced you aren’t quite frosty enough.
TIP #3: CHOOSE CREAMS OVER POWDERS
Despite frosted makeup being full of a special kind of shimmer, frosty powders can end up appearing heavy and flat. If creams pair well with your skin type, try swapping powders for creams when possible. A cream is more likely to give a softer, illuminated look.
TIP #4: HIGHLIGHT HIGH POINTS
If you’ve chosen to focus your frosted makeup on your face—rather than your eyes or lips—reach for a frosty highlighter and apply it to key points. Blend the frosty shade of your choosing above your cheekbones, down the bridge of your nose, and on your cupid’s bow.
TIP #5: LIGHT UP YOUR LIPS
Pulling a frosted lipstick from your backpack purse and swiping it on was a ‘90s rite of passage for many, so it’s fair if you feel a tad nostalgic when you pick up a frosted lip color again. What you shouldn’t do is let that nostalgia inspire you to apply your lipstick exactly as you used to. The “new” way to apply frosted lipstick is to apply the color to the center of your lips. Not only will this stop your pout from looking outdated, but it can also make your lips look bigger.
TIP #6: KEEP EYESHADOWS SCARCE
If you grew up in the ‘80s or ‘90s, there’s a solid chance that a frosty, pastel blue eyeshadow was your first foray into eye makeup. And despite popular opinion, you don’t have to leave that look in the past—all you need to do is make a little update to your former favorite. Don’t sweep a frosted eyeshadow from your lid to your brow bone. To keep the look current, apply frosted eyeshadow only to the inner corners of your eyes and below your brow bones or along your lower lash line.
