The 90s It Girl is a State of Mind
The 90s It Girl is a term we often see floating around on social media; but what does it mean? To be an “it” girl is to curate your own style and interests. To trust your gut and divest into your passions. The 90s It Girl is someone who has a favourite album, a daily lipstick that’s been moulded over time to fit the shape of the wearer’s lips; she is confident in herself, not because of appearance or figure, but because she is a human being. She lives her life with confidence because we only live once. That being said, let’s break down specifics on how to replicate the look…
Skincare: The most crucial step is having a good skincare routine. This doesn’t mean having to buy the most expensive products, or even having 10+ step daily routine. It only means finding products that work best for you. I would recommend a standard 4-step routine: 1) Makeup Removing Cleanser, 2) Second Cleanser, 3) Serum, and 4) Moisturizer. It is soooo important to double cleanse (using two cleansers), because often one cleanser doesn’t take off all of our makeup. You should always go in with an oil-based cleanser first to break down your makeup (since most makeup products are oil-based). My favourite is the Skinfix Barrier+ Foaming Hydrating Oil Cleanser. Afterwards, I go in with La Roche Posay’s Gel Cleanser, which makes sure to finalize the cleanse. Serums vary based on your skin needs. If you want to target fine lines and aging, try a retinol-based serum; if your focus is hydration, try a serum with niacinamide and plant extracts. If your issue is hyperpigmentation, try a serum with Vitamin C. Skincare is very much a trial and error process. A piece of advice, if you find a skincare brand that really works with your skin, look into their other products. Most brands formulate their products to be complimentary with each other. Lastly, moisturizer depends on how dry your skin is. If your skin is not dry, and is in-fact oily, look into a gel-based moisturizer. If your skin is very dry, look into a heavier, creamier formula. CeraVe and Cetaphil have great options that are relatively affordable.
(photo credit: Laroche-posay.ca)
Links:
La Roche Posay: https://www.laroche-posay.ca/en_CA/effaclar-purifying-foaming-gel-200ml/3337875891707.html
Cetaphil:https://www.cetaphil.ca/en/moisturizers/moisturizing-cream/772618080956.html
Makeup: Build a routine and find staple products. The best foundation for you is dependent on your skin type. If you have dry skin, a matte finish may accentuate dryness; if you have oily skin, a glowy foundation may not wear well throughout the day. A solid option for foundation is Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk. It offers a natural finish and can be built up to be full coverage or sheered out to be a tint, depending on how much you use. A more affordable option is L’Oréal True Match. Both foundations have a variety of shades for different skintones. If you want a cruelty-free (CF) option, try the Rare Beauty Liquid Touch foundation; a heads up, the Rare Beauty foundation is a bit difficult to build up, but if you apply a sheer layer, it looks gorgeous.
For blush, look at dusty rose/reddened berry colours. Glossier’s Cloud Paint in Storm is perfect, or Merit Flush Balm in Mood. You could also use a powder formula like MAC blushes in Blushbaby or Ginger. A neutral bronzer (not super orange or super cool-toned) would align best with the makeup look. However, your bronzer undertone is also dependent on your skin tone and undertone; if you are extremely fair and cool-toned, a contour colour like Elf’s Halo Glow Wand in Fair/Light is best. If you are more warm, try the Light/Medium colour. There are a variety of shades depending on how fair/deep you are.
(photo credit: e.l.f. cosmetics)
Links:
Elf: https://www.elfcosmetics.com/en_CA/halo-glow-contour-beauty-wand/300221.html
Rare Beauty: https://www.rarebeauty.com/products/liquid-touch-weightless-foundation-1?variant=40242055479431
The Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder is also a fantastic option, and one many used in the 90s. It is still a beloved product and available today to purchase at their website.
(Photo credit: Kevyn Aucoin Beauty website)
Kevyn Aucoin: https://kevynaucoinbeauty.com/products/the-sculpting-contour-powder?variant=42824937292
The most important step to complete a 90s look is the lipstick. Many iconic 90s shades are still on the market today. For example, MAC lipsticks in ‘Spice it Up’ and ‘Paramount’ were used by many celebrities. Revlon also had many notable shades, such as ‘Coffee Bean’ and ‘Rum Raisin.’ Revlon has a whopping 84 shades in their Super Lustrous formula, filled with browns, nudes, mauve-purples, and reds. Having a daily lipstick that you can throw in your bag and bring along with you to all your daily excursions is the epitome of the 90s It Girl. To be on the go, have a little pouch with your essentials, be on public transit, headphones in, book in hand, she is an it girl.
Links:
Revlon: https://www.revlon.com/lips/lipstick/super-lustrous-lipstick
