The frosted eyeshadow Y2K look is back for 2025 and we’re so excited for this trend! In this post, we’re sharing our easy frosted eyeshadow tutorial, as well as tips on how to wear this frosted eyeshadow makeup look.
Over the past few years, we’ve seen a resurgence of many nostalgic fashion and makeup trends. Especially Y2K fashion and makeup trends. In case you’ve been wondering what Y2K means, simply put Y2K stands for anything related to the 2000s. In comparison to today’s perfect aesthetic and high maintenance looks, the 90s and Y2K trends are the anecdote to heavy makeup and Instagram filters. The makeup and fashion trends of the 90s and 2000s are more casual, easy to wear and easily attainable for all. This is just one of the factors as to why social media like Pinterest is full of nostalgic 90s and Y2K makeup and fashion looks. The Y2K era in particular was the last period in fashion before social media existed. The frosted eyeshadow look is yet another style trend that has made a resurgence in fashion and is now trending again.
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What is the frosted eyeshadow trend?
The frosted eyeshadow trend is a nostalgic beauty look that features shimmery, icy, or metallic eyeshadow shades, often in cool-toned colors like silvers, whites, baby blues, lavenders, and soft pinks. It draws inspiration from the makeup styles popular in the late 1990s and early 2000s, often associated with Y2K fashion.
The Frosted Eyeshadow Trend
The frosted eyeshadow look is made up of a few key elements. In order to recreate the frosted eyeshadow trend yourself, you will need include a:
Shimmery Finish: The hallmark of frosted eyeshadow is its high-shine, reflective quality that creates a glowing or glassy effect on the eyelids.
Light and Cool Tones: While silvers and whites dominate, some variations include pastel colors or even frosty golds.
Minimalist Approach: The look is often kept simple, with a single color applied across the lid, paired with clean skin or glossy lips.
Layering: Frosted eyeshadow can be built up for a more intense metallic finish or blended for a soft, ethereal glow.
Modern Twists: Some people combine frosted shadows with sharp eyeliner or pomade, bold brows, or even glitter to give the trend a contemporary feel.
This trend has seen a revival recently as part of the resurgence of Y2K aesthetics in fashion and beauty, embraced by celebrities and beauty influencers alike. It’s a playful, eye-catching look that adds a touch of nostalgia and glamour.
Is the frosted eyeshadow 2000s look different to the frosted eyeshadow 90s makeup look?
The frosted eyeshadow look of the 2000s has some differences compared to its 1990s counterpart, even though they share similarities. Both emphasize shimmer and icy tones, but their application and overall vibe differ due to the broader makeup trends of each decade.
1990s Frosted Eyeshadow Look
Muted Colors: The 1990s frosted look often featured more subdued or neutral tones like silvery taupes, champagne, and frosty whites, along with soft blues and lavenders. The focus was more on a natural, effortless vibe.
Matte Skin: Frosted eyeshadow in the 90s was usually paired with matte foundation and minimal blush, creating a clean, understated base.
Thin Brows: Thin, arched eyebrows were a defining feature of 90s makeup, which balanced the shimmer of frosted eyeshadow.
Soft Application: The eyeshadow was typically blended softly over the lids without sharp lines, creating a more diffused, dreamy effect.
Muted Lips: Frosted eyeshadow was often paired with brown or nude lips, sometimes with a slight shimmer or gloss.
2000s Frosted Eyeshadow Look
Bolder Colors: The 2000s leaned into more vibrant and playful shades, like baby blue, icy pink, frosted lilac, and pearly white, with more intense shimmer or metallic finishes.
Glossy Skin: The overall makeup was glossier and more radiant. Dewy foundations or face shimmer were often used to enhance the frosted effect.
Defined Brows: Brows in the 2000s became slightly thicker and more defined than the pencil-thin 90s style, creating a polished frame for the eyes.
Pop of Drama: Frosted eyeshadow was sometimes layered with glitter, rhinestones, or bold eyeliner to give it a more eye-catching, glamorous edge.
Glossy Lips: Lip gloss—especially in frosted or high-shine finishes—was a key pairing for frosted eyeshadow, often in shades like pale pink, peach, or icy clear tones.
Difference Between 90 Frosted Eyeshadow Trend vs. Frosted Eyeshadow 2000s
The 1990s frosted look is more minimalist and understated, while the 2000s version is bolder, shinier, and more playful, reflecting the maximalist trends of the Y2K era. Both are iconic, but the 2000s look tends to have a more polished and experimental edge compared to the subtle, grunge-influenced aesthetic of the 90s.
The Easy Frosted Eyeshadow Tutorial
- Step 1: Prep your lids with eyeshadow primer to create the perfect base for applying eyeshadow and eye makeup products.
- Step 2: Curl your eyelashes and then apply your eyeshadow or frosted eyeshadow liquid shimmer using a brush or your fingers.
- Step 3: Blend your frosted eyeshadow and eye shimmer to neaten up the look and create an even finish.
- Step 4: Depending on whether you're adopting the frosted eyeshadow 1990s trend or the frosted eyeshadow 2000s look, wear your frosted eyes with a hint of blush, lip gloss, lip liner and use an eyebrow brush and pencil to neaten up your brows.
Modern Frosted Eyeshadow Looks to Try
For a modern frosted eyeshadow look, why not try out our liquid shimmer for face and body. It's available in 4 bright and bold shades, so they're perfect for every skin tone! Depending on the shade of eye shimmer you choose, you can easily recreate the frosted eyeshadow trend quickly and easily, by simply swiping on our bestselling frosted eye shimmer whenever you want to recreate this look yourself. Our eye shimmer doesn't crease like other cream eyeshadow products and by using the applicator that comes included with each bottle of shimmer, you can apply as much or as little product as you like, depending on whether you want a more subtle look - perhaps for daytime, or a more dramatic eye makeup style for evening or for a party.