Allow me to paint a perfect picture: your hair is decorated in colourful clips, your body is laced with a fruity mist and your lips have just been plumped with a generous layer of glossy lacquer. No, you haven't just hitched a ride to the good old days with Marty McFly. It may be 2025 but '90s beauty trends are having a major revival and millennials (myself included) are unapologetically rejoicing.
Admittedly, the du jour beauty relics from our teenage years have had an upgrade. Those same butterfly clips have evolved into It-girl-approved flower clips you can pick up at Selfridges. The sugary mists we overused post-P.E have been given a grown-up makeover - even The Body Shop is on board having just launched a new gourmand-led collection of vibrant perfume sprays. And the original squeeze gloss – Lancôme's Juicy Tubes, recently marked the return of Y2K with an iconic new campaign starring an equally iconic cast.
The '90s biggest stars, including (but certainly not limited to) Paris Hilton, Kelly Rowland, Hilary Duff, Chad Murray (screaming), and Gabrielle Union-Wade, joined forces to inject life back into the cult classic buy, our lips and our appetite for nostalgia simultaneously.
Brands far and wide are capitalising on the selling power of the feel-good, care-free era. Our first-ever flat iron, the ghd original hair straightener, now boasts upgraded technology, and the Urban Decay OG Naked Palette that emerged as the archetype of YouTube's golden beauty influencer era has made a valiant return to our vanities. Even Herbal Essences brought back its old-school floral motif packaging, the type you can smell before cracking a bottle open. The latest to make a play for the past is ethical beauty brand Lush.
But as with most of Lush's offerings, this move is a considered on. 'I think with the return of Britpop and 30 years of Clueless, we're definitely seeing a 90s revival! It's also Lush's 30th birthday this year so the 90's nostalgia feels extra relevant for us,' says Lush's representative.
It's the reason why Lush has chosen to mark the trend with new Halloween collection (yes, I know it's still August) with another reimagined classic 90s icon: alien eggs. If your mind doesn't quickly conjure images of a hard plastic egg shell that encases a squishy alien and it's baby suspended in gooey putty, you're likely too young to be reading this article, but fret not because Lush has managed to adapt the stretchy, bouncy toy for your everything shower - something all beauty obsessed Gen-Zers will be familiar with.
Lush's Alien Egg Farm, £10, is just one in a series of ghoulish innovations primed to welcome spooky season, including glow-in-the-dark soaps, pumpkin skincare, and ghost-shaped eye pads. But the Alien Egg Farm is a true commitment to the nostalgic cause. The shower jelly may look like a extraterrestrial USO (unidentified shower object), but it's got the markings of a modern shower essential. Jellified by carrageenan - the dried, powdered mucilage of Irish moss - it leaves skin hydrated, softened and soothed, while and uplifting cocktail of sweet lychee juice, lime peel, and neroli does much to invigorate the senses. You can keep it in the fridge like you did with your childhood egg, too, but instead of worrying over whether it would hatch another alien, you can rest assured knowing Lush's new-age iteration will just help you scrub up nicely.
Shop: The best nostalgic '90s beauty products
www.lush.com
The alien egg you used to keep in the fridge as a child in the hopes that it would produce a baby is back, but not as you know it. While the urban legend about the stretchy, gooey toy remains unfounded, one thing you can be sure of is that Lush's Alien Egg Farm will inject some extraterrestrial everything shower.
Sameeha Shaikh, beauty writer, says: 'It's not necessarily easy on the eye, but which alien egg was? Jellified by carrageenan - the dried, powdered mucilage of Irish moss - this shower jelly leaves skin hydrated, softened and soothed, while and uplifting cocktail of sweet lychee juice, lime peel, and neroli does much to invigorate the senses.'
Pros
- Uplifting scent
- Skin conditioning formula
Cons
- Limited edition for Halloween
www.lookfantastic.com
Meet the formula that's so good, it remains unchanged since its original launch. Each of the shades available come equipped with up to four hours of hydration, three different types of finishes and an impressive, long-lasting shine that remains comfortable throughout the day.
Sameeha Shaikh, beauty writer, says: 'Still reigning supreme in 2025, the sheer, shimmery juice imparts mega shine while leaving lips moisturised and fuller-looking. They are scented just as deliciously as they were in my teens and the subtle shades on offer hug lips in mood-boosting candy-coloured hues. Being more holographic, than glittery, its multi-dimensional finish brings all the futuristic feels of the noughties but in totally wearable, sophisticated formula. It's hard to pick a favourite shade but Dreamsicle, a sugar-sweet pale pink, is as other-worldly as it sounds.'
Pros
- Comfortable shine
- Easy to apply on-the-go
Cons
- Has some tackiness in comparison to modern formulas
LookFantasticwww.lookfantastic.com
Seven tubes of Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey is sells every minute, according to the brand's website. TikTok can't get enough of this viral lip phenomenon. A transparent pigment merges with the unique, natural tone of your lips to create something yours alone. Sheer, glossy, lightweight.
Samantha Price, beauty, fashion & wellness product writer, says: 'Clinique's Almost Lipstick in Black Honey truly has become an everyday staple in my make-up bag. Subtle enough to be worn throughout the day, but pigmented enough to transition to the night. It has a balm-like texture that nourishes the lips as you wear it, keeping chapped lips at bay. If you've always wanted to give the bestselling lip shade a try, now is your chance.'
Pros
- Buildable formula
- Adapts to all skin tones
- Glossy texture
Cons
- May be underwhelming for some
www.ghdhair.com
The original hair straightener with upgraded hair care credentials. Its new generation single zone™ ceramic technology means the tool will maintain optimum styling temperatures without the risk of damaging your hair.
Sameeha Shaikh, beauty writer, says: 'My hair, and the rest of my household's, changed the day my sister decided to invest in a ghd straightener in 2001. Leaving the days of ironing our hair with an actual iron (yes, really) behind us, the OG ghd revolutionised our hair routine and hair quality in tandem. Many, many years on, I still go back to these iconic straighteners whenever I'm in the mood for a super sleek style.'
Pros
- No damage to hair
- Used by professionals
Cons
- Does not use dual-zone technology
| Technology type: | Single-zone |
| Max temperature: | 185ºC |
| Cable length : | 2.7m |
| Heat-up time: | 30 seconds |
| Weight: | 828g |
| Dimensions : | H7 x W13 x D32 cm |
www.thebodyshop.com
The Body Shop's take on nostalgia (as a brand well verses in the art of it) comes byway of its new summer-ready Sweet On You Mists. Focused on all that is edible, the gourmand perfume mists come in four scents: Cotton Candy Kiss, You’re My Jam, You, Me & Bubble Tea, and Butter Me Up.
Sameeha Shaikh, beauty writer, says: 'Of the four new body mists available, The Body Shop's Butter Me Up Fragrance Mist takes the top spot IMO. It hits the brief on delivering a hit of sweet, yes, but is perfectly balanced with warmth and comfort thanks to creamy additional notes of of milk, cashew nuts and chantilly. Yum.'
Pros
- Affordable
- Perfect for those who love gourmand scents
Cons
- Packaging not as high quality as the brand's older mists
Main image: TikTok @haileybieber, @lancome.official, and @alejayofficial
Sameeha Shaikh is Grazia's beauty writer, covering all categories to bring you insights on the latest trends, industry news and the products you need to know about, viral or not (most probably viral).
