5 Best And 5 Worst Makeup Trends In History
Makeup has transformed our faces and defined eras throughout history.
From ancient Egypt to today’s Instagram influencers, beauty standards have evolved dramatically, bringing both stunning innovations and cringe-worthy mistakes.
I’ve always been fascinated by how makeup shapes our perception of beauty, and after years of experimenting with countless trends myself, I’ve compiled this list of the absolute best and worst makeup moments that have graced (or sometimes cursed) our faces.
1. The Timeless Red Lip
Red lipstick isn’t just makeup—it’s a power move. Ancient Egyptians crushed beetles and ants to create their crimson shades, while Cleopatra famously used crushed carmine beetles mixed with beeswax for her signature pout. Talk about commitment to beauty!
During World War II, red lips became a symbol of patriotism and strength when women wore it to boost morale. Even when cosmetics were rationed, many saved their points specifically for this confidence-boosting staple. The perfect red lip has survived centuries because it instantly transforms any look.
From Marilyn Monroe’s iconic Ruby Woo to Taylor Swift’s classic red, this trend has never truly disappeared. No matter what shape, size, or color your lips are, there’s a perfect red shade waiting to make you feel unstoppable.
2. Winged Eyeliner That Never Goes Out of Style
Ancient Egyptians pioneered winged eyeliner thousands of years ago, using kohl to create dramatic eye looks that protected from the sun and supposedly warded off evil spirits. Queen Nefertiti and Cleopatra weren’t just political powerhouses—they were beauty influencers before Instagram existed!
Fast forward to the 1950s and 60s, when Audrey Hepburn and Sophia Loren made cat-eye flicks the ultimate symbol of feminine sophistication. The beauty of winged liner lies in its adaptability. Whether subtle for daytime or dramatically extended for evening glamour, it frames eyes beautifully while lifting the face.
Modern techniques have made this look more accessible with felt-tip liners, stencils, and stamps. I’ve watched friends who could barely hold an eyeliner pencil transform into winged liner experts with a bit of practice and the right tools.
3. The Natural ‘No-Makeup’ Makeup Revolution
Bare-faced beauty took center stage in the 1970s when the hippie movement rejected artificial beauty standards. Then came the 90s minimalism with Kate Moss and her seemingly effortless glow. Funny thing is, achieving that “I woke up like this” look often requires more products than a full-glam face!
The genius of no-makeup makeup lies in its focus on skin health rather than coverage. Tinted moisturizers, cream blushes, and subtle mascara enhance natural features instead of masking them. My own journey with this trend began after years of heavy foundation that left my skin begging for air.
Today’s version embraces imperfections—freckles, beauty marks, and natural skin texture are celebrated rather than concealed. When done right, this approach boosts confidence by making you feel like the most radiant version of yourself, not someone else entirely.
4. Glowy Highlighter That Brings Dimension
Remember when matte skin reigned supreme? Me neither—that ship sailed once highlighter entered our makeup bags! The ancient Greeks actually started this trend by applying mica particles to achieve luminous skin that mimicked divine glow in sculptures and art.
Hollywood’s golden age saw stars like Marilyn Monroe using Vaseline on cheekbones for that camera-catching gleam. But highlighter truly exploded around 2016 when that perfect cheekbone catch-light became social media gold. Suddenly everyone wanted their face to be visible from space!
Modern formulas come in liquid, cream, and powder—each creating different effects from subtle dewiness to full-on glazed donut. The best part? Highlighter works on every skin tone when chosen correctly. Golden shades for warmer complexions, icy tones for cool, and champagne for those in between. Nothing wakes up a tired face faster than strategic light placement.
5. Feathered Brows That Frame the Face
Brooke Shields changed the eyebrow game forever in the 1980s with her naturally thick, feathered brows. After surviving the pencil-thin 90s trend, our brows finally got the respect they deserve! Natural, fluffy brows frame the face and can take years off your appearance without any other makeup.
Soap brows—using glycerin soap to set hairs upward—actually originated with drag performers who needed their brows to stay put through energetic performances. Now this technique has gone mainstream with specialized brow soaps and gels that create that coveted feathered look.
The beauty of this trend is its emphasis on working with what you have. Unlike other brow trends that force everyone into the same shape, feathered brows celebrate your natural arch and fullness. For those of us who survived over-plucking (guilty!), products like castor oil and growth serums have become bathroom staples in the quest for fuller, healthier brows.
6. Foundation Lips That Erased Natural Beauty
The late 90s and early 2000s brought us foundation lips—possibly the most unflattering trend to ever hit our pouts. Celebrities like Christina Aguilera and Paris Hilton covered their natural lip color with foundation or concealer before applying neutral lipstick or clear gloss. The result? A weird, corpse-like look that flattened facial features.
My high school photos still haunt me with memories of carefully applying concealer to my lips, thinking I looked sophisticated. Instead, I looked like I’d just emerged from a freezer! This trend ignored the beauty of natural lip colors and undertones that actually complement our faces.
Beyond the unflattering appearance, foundation lips were uncomfortable—the product would crack, dry out lips, and transfer onto everything. Plus, it tasted horrible! This trend thankfully died out as we collectively realized that enhancing our natural features works better than erasing them. Modern neutral lips focus on finding your perfect shade rather than obliterating all color.
7. Over-Plucked Eyebrows That Defined a Generation
The 90s and early 2000s declared war on eyebrows, and many of us are still recovering from the casualties. Drew Barrymore, Gwen Stefani, and Christina Aguilera sported brows so thin they practically disappeared—and we all followed suit, armed with tweezers and zero foresight.
My own brow journey included that fateful day in 1998 when I plucked them into oblivion while watching Friends. Little did I know that some of those hairs would never return! Dermatologists confirm that after years of over-plucking, follicles can become permanently damaged, leaving sparse patches forever.
This trend ignored how crucial eyebrows are to facial balance and expression. Without proper brows, faces look perpetually surprised or older than their years. The aftermath created an entire industry of brow restoration—microblading, growth serums, and transplants now help repair the damage done by this devastating trend that many of us wish we could erase from our beauty history.
8. Clumpy Spider Lashes That Scared Everyone
The early 2000s brought us Twiggy-inspired spider lashes, but without the mod charm of the 60s version. Celebrities like Avril Lavigne embraced mascara so thick it looked like arachnids had taken up residence on their eyelids. I distinctly remember applying coat after coat, then using a safety pin to separate clumps—a dangerous game I’m lucky didn’t end in an eye injury!
Unlike today’s false lashes that add volume while maintaining separation, spider lashes were all about clumping. The trend ignored basic mascara principles: building volume should never sacrifice definition. These sticky, flaky messes would often crumble throughout the day, leaving black specks on cheeks.
The worst part was how they drew attention to the makeup rather than enhancing natural beauty. Eyes looked weighted down instead of opened up. Modern mascara formulas focus on separation and length while adding volume, proving we’ve learned from this sticky mistake. Today’s lash trends celebrate fullness without the tarantula effect.
9. Extreme Contouring That Created Mask-Like Faces
Kim Kardashian’s makeup artist revealed her heavily contoured face in 2012, launching a trend that turned everyday makeup into architectural projects. Suddenly, everyone was drawing brown stripes and white triangles across their faces before blending—or sometimes not blending enough, resulting in tiger-stripe selfies across social media.
I fell victim to this trend myself, spending an hour each morning carving cheekbones where nature hadn’t provided them. The result looked great in photos but terrifying in daylight! This technique, borrowed from drag and theater makeup designed for stage lighting, wasn’t meant for everyday wear under natural light.
Beyond the time-consuming application, extreme contouring promoted unrealistic beauty standards by suggesting everyone needed to reshape their natural features. The heavy products often caused breakouts and looked cakey as the day progressed. Today’s softer approach uses cream products for subtle dimension rather than complete face reconstruction—a welcome evolution that celebrates natural bone structure.
10. Instagram Brows That Took Over Faces
Around 2016, eyebrows weren’t just eyebrows—they were geometric statements that dominated faces everywhere. These unnaturally blocky, gradient brows with sharp “tails” and faded “heads” looked like they were drawn with architectural software rather than makeup. The infamous “Instagram brow” often started with completely concealing natural brows before redrawing them entirely.
My brief experiment with this trend left me looking perpetually surprised and slightly angry. Friends didn’t recognize me! The problem wasn’t just their artificial appearance—these brows required massive maintenance. Touch-ups throughout the day were necessary as product settled into creases, creating odd patches.
These exaggerated brows threw off facial proportions by drawing attention away from other features. Their uniform shape ignored how eyebrows naturally complement different face shapes. The trend mercifully evolved into more natural styles that enhance rather than replace our brows. Today’s approach focuses on filling sparse areas while maintaining the natural arch and texture that make our faces uniquely ours.