Beyond making us look and feel good, beauty products have the powerful ability to conjure up many a memory. Fragrance, for instance, taps into the same area of the brain that processes mood and memory, and thus can transport us to a totally different space and time with a single sniff.
For some of us, it's the distinctive freshness of CK One that - once upon a time - made us feel like we were finally 'adulting'. For others, the waft of Abercrombie & Fitch takes us straight back to the classroom crush. Whatever your chosen bottle was, scent can capture a moment in time. Its not only fragrance that hits rewind - make-up, skincare and hair 'dos all evoke teenage flashbacks (and maybe one too many beauty faux pas).
The spotlight is currently shining on Rimmel London's Lasting Finish Lipstick in the shade Heather Shimmer - consider it the ultimate nostalgic favourite among beauty enthusiasts. This iconic lipstick is well known for its creamy texture and its promise of a high-colour impact. The remarkable comeback is all thanks to beauty creator Erin Dugan Jurchak and her TikTok video, which garnered a whopping 3.6 million views. And we can't pretend we're not delighted that this classic lipstick is back in the limelight - it really is a reminder of its timeless charm.
Watch: Erin Dugan Jurchak Rimmel London's Lasting Finish Lipstick
'This was the lipstick all the 'It girls' had in the nineties,' she said. 'It's still made today, I found it on Amazon. It's a very nineties-sounding lipstick, a deep burgundy rose with a little bit of shimmer. So pretty!'
So, if you’re in need of a little pick-me-up and some feel-good nostalgia, read on to discover Team Grazia’s most memorable beauty #throwbacks from the 90s and noughties…
Shop: The Most Nostalgic Beauty Products Of All Time
www.superdrug.com
Whether you were once a fan or think you'd like to get in on the action pronto, the famous 90s lipstick is available at Superdrug now.
www.notino.co.uk
If you're a 90s baby, there's a high chance that this whipped up mousse was your first foray into foundation. Top marks for coverage and staying power, this matte formula wasn't so forgiving on dry skin.
www.boots.com
This primer was so ahead of its time. It smoothed pores, made your skin feel supple, and all the makeup girlies on Youtube had this.
www.lookfantastic.com
The biggest beauty hit of the '90s? These squeezy tubes of high-shine gloss that made it on to every teenage birthday wish-list.
www.lookfantastic.com
Going 'out out'? For many of us, that required a decent layer of Rimmels instant tan. It didn't matter if it was shimmer or matte, it just had to be liberally applied - so much so, hands were stained too.
www.lookfantastic.com
The first 'unisex' fragrance, CK One became the scent of the 90s with twenty bottles selling every minute at its peak. Fresh and vibrant, it's still a popular choice today and really captures that teenage spirit.
www.boots.com
The scent of school corridors, Impulse was a great choice for a quick freshen up mid-afternoon when you wanted to really impress. And picking your flavour in boots was always a fun trip out!
www.thebodyshop.com
Ah body butter, how we love thee! Sweetly scented, this mango moisturiser became the go-to for many of us. Smells like a sorbet and hydrates like a hero.
9.
MAC Lipglass
www.boots.com
MAC lipglass - oh how we've missed you! Thankfully gloss has seen a revival, so we're firmly back on the lipglass hype.
www.superdrug.com
So much more then a complexion corrector, this concealer also made for a wonderful lipstick when you wanted to really make your eyes pop...
www.sephora.co.uk
If he smelt of Abercrombie & Fitch, he was a catch - even if he didn't look like the model that we embarrassingly queued up to be pictured with.
www.boots.com
If you didn't continuously wear your hair in a doughnut bun at one point, were you even an It girl?
www.claires.com
These babies would come out during lunchtime, my favourite flavour was Fanta.
www.boots.com
After Rimmel's instant tan, many of us graduated onto St Moriz. Powerful stuff, this mousse transformed the colour of our limbs in hours and stayed put for days (along with the tale-tale streaks and orange hands).
READ MORE: The French Manicure Is Back – But It’s Come A Long Way Since Its 90s Heyday