Y2K Makeup Is Back—Here’s How to Get the Look
A celebrity makeup artist reveals his secrets to wearing ultra-glossy lips and frosted eyes in 2025.
Whether you were born in 1989, 2001, or even 2010, one thing is certain: the Y2K aesthetic is instantly recognizable. Made iconic in the Philippines by actresses like Jolina Magdangal and Angel Locsin, this makeup trend keeps making a comeback. To bring Y2K beauty into 2025, Allure Philippines turned to the expert: Mickey See, a Manila-based celebrity makeup artist with over two decades of experience.
Having worked with some of the biggest stars of the early aughts—including Magdangal herself—and witnessed countless beauty trends come and go, See believes Y2K makeup remains a classic. So, if you’re ready to channel your inner early 2000s pop star (minus the beauty mishaps of the past), here’s how to recreate Y2K makeup with a modern twist.
Step 1: The base
The early 2000s were all about full-coverage foundation, but See advises keeping it skin-like and seamless today. “No matter what the trend [is], your base needs to be natural,” he reminds. “It needs to be skin-like, undetectable and seamless, like you’re not wearing foundation at all.”
To recreate the look, See recommends opting for MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation, a staple from the nineties up until the early 2000s that still holds up today for its buildable coverage. Pair it with NARS Laguna Bronzing Powder for that soft, sun-kissed warmth and finish with NARS Blush in Orgasm—a cult-favorite peachy-pink shade with a subtle shimmer that gives that fresh, radiant flush.
Step 2: The brows
Thin, over-plucked brows were a Y2K signature, but See warns against making them too skinny, as this style may not suit everyone (plus, the brows can be challenging to regrow too!). “Keep your natural brow shape. Add definition if you have to, but do not make it thinner than it needs to be,” he says.
For this step, See suggests using a brow pencil like the classic Shu Uemura Hard Formula Brow Pencil, which delivers natural, hair-like strokes, and seamless color payoff.
Step 3: The eyes
If there’s one thing Y2K makeup is known for, it’s shimmer—especially on the eyes. “We had the ubiquitous pale blue shimmer eyeshadow swiped across the lids, topped with thick mascara,” See recalls.
To modernize this, the makeup artist suggests picking one focal point for shimmer. “If you want a shimmer on the eyes, keep the rest of the face matte to keep it balanced,” he says. For an authentic Y2K feel, See recommends trying Shu Uemura Pressed Eyeshadows and finishing with the iconic Shu Uemura Lash Curler and Maybelline Great Lash Mascara for voluminous lashes. For the signature frosted effect, go for icy blue or metallic eyeshadow shades.
Step 4: The undereyes
One of the biggest beauty mishaps of the early 2000s was the infamous undereye white cast from concealer. “That’s what happens when you put concealer directly onto [dark circles],” See explains. “You need to use a peach-based corrector before you apply concealer to neutralize the shadows.” This step also helps temper how much concealer you actually need to apply.
Step 5: The lips
No Y2K look is complete without ultra-glossy lips. See recommends MAC Lip Glass, which was—and is— a staple and topping that over Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey. For a modern take, you can line your lips with MAC Lip Pencil for definition.
A trend that keeps shining
Trends have a funny way of coming back around. Some make us smile, others make us cringe. But that’s the beauty of it. Looking back, these makeup moments feel like little time capsules, capturing who we were and what we loved (or thought we did). It’s that perfect mix of nostalgia and What were we thinking? energy that makes revisiting them so fun.
See shares this sentiment: “It’s definitely nostalgic, and sometimes cringy in a funny way, to revisit how I did things back then—and to see how much I’ve evolved since.”
But Y2K makeup is more than just a nostalgic throwback—it’s proof that some beauty trends never really fade, they just evolve. With the right tweaks, the frosted lids, glossy lips, and seamless skin of the early 2000s can feel fresh and modern in 2025. So whether you’re embracing the trend for the first time or reliving your teenage beauty era, one thing’s for sure: a little shimmer and shine never go out of style.
