TikTok has a way of recycling old beauty trends and making them fresh for a modern (i.e., Gen Z) audience. Knowing that, we weren't all that surprised to see matte foundations make a return thanks to the "cloud skin" trend. We weren't even all that surprised to see short nails come back in style after years of long-nail dominance. Sure, it helped that It girls like Olivia Rodrigo, Selena Gomez, and Sofia Richie Grainge cosigned the trend, but still. Some TikTok trends just aren't all that shocking.
With that being said, there is one that we never saw coming—Victoria's Secret makeup. Yep, we're talking about the makeup looks that early to mid-2000s supermodels such as Gisele Bündchen, Adriana Lima, and Alessandra Ambrosio made iconic. Celebrity makeup artist Andrea DiSabatino knows the look well. "In the early 2000s, the Victoria's Secret allure was defined by voluminous wavy hair, sultry smoky and shimmering eyes, a sun-kissed radiance, glossy lips, and fluttering lashes," she says. "This aesthetic was a blend of natural allure and sexy glamour."
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♬ original sound - 2000smodels
At first, we despaired that this look (and time period) were already old enough to recycle, but then we reminded ourselves that TikTok loves to reference the 2000s. Early to mid-aughts trends like frosted eye shadow and body shimmer are proof. This is just the latest obsession, and honestly, we get it. As burgeoning beauty editors who grew up watching Victoria's Secret fashion shows, we remember marveling at all the models' glowing makeup looks. Luckily, re-creating these looks (and modernizing them) is actually quite simple.
The Original References
The Modern Iterations
The modern iterations of this look pay homage to the original references without looking, well, dated. The secret is putting the skin first, using cream highlighter, and being precise with product placement. "When creating a Victoria's Secret–inspired makeup look, you want to aim for a radiant glow," DiSabatino says. "In an era where makeup standards are evolving from heavy applications to fresher, flirtier looks, Victoria's Secret makeup offers the perfect blend."
Step 1: Prep Your Skin With a Hydrating Primer
Don't even think about applying makeup before skincare. In fact, with this look, DiSabatino says prepping your skin is of the utmost importance. "Skincare always comes first. You want to hydrate and prime the skin to help your application go on smoothly and evenly."
We like this hydrating primer from Milk Makeup, which includes hyaluronic acid and niacinamide for soft, smooth, and plump skin. Plus, the makeup-gripping formula is perfect for runway-level longevity.
Step 2: Apply a Medium-Coverage Foundation
"I typically opt for a medium-coverage foundation that will cover imperfections while still allowing your natural beauty to shine through," DiSabatino says. To us, there's no better option for a medium-coverage foundation than this iconic formula. It gives us smooth, filter-level skin.
Step 3: Use Concealer to Bring Light to the Center of the Face
"When creating this look, you want to bring light toward the center of the face," DiSabatino says. She recommends adding concealer under the eyes, on the bridge of the nose, a little to the forehead, and maybe a dab above the Cupid's bow. This will give the effect of concentrated light on the skin.
Step 4: Contour for Definition
"Contour is always necessary when creating a supermodel look. We want to add definition to the cheekbones and the nose to create a more defined shape," says DiSabatino. This one is an editor favorite because it doesn't lean too cool or too warm and as such creates natural-looking definition.
Step 5: Bronze Your Skin
"Next is your bronzer," DiSabatino says. "I love applying it to the cheek, a little on the nose, and around the brim of the face, while always bringing it down the neck line." For this step, we're reaching for a drugstore classic—Physicians Formula Murumuru Butter Bronzer. Its silky powder formula makes for easy blending. Did we mention it's also a favorite of TikTok queen Sofia Richie Grainge?
Step 6: Use a Cream Highlighter
DiSabatino recommends using a cream highlighter to modernize the look. We think this one is perfect for a Victoria's Secret makeup look; it provides the prettiest shimmer and a hint of rose-gold color too. "You want to apply anywhere the light will hit naturally, such as the top of the cheekbone, bridge of the nose, maybe a little on the top corners of the forehead as well," she says.
Step 7: Apply a Peachy-Pink Blush to the Apples of Your Cheeks
The placement of your blush is just as important as the color. DiSabatino recommends applying a peachy-pink color to the apples of your cheek and gradually let it fade upward toward your temple. "This will really give that sun-kissed appeal for your VS look."
Step 8: Apply Neutral Eye Shadow Overlayed With Shimmer
Once your complexion makeup is complete, it's time to move on to eye makeup. "When tackling the eye, you want to be gentle," she says. "Earth tones like taupe and light browns as your base and a golden shimmer for your overlay. Don't be afraid to take some of that shadow and smudge it on your bottom lash line. Also a little tip is to apply that shimmer to the inner corners of your eye, along with the brow bone."
As for shimmer, we can't recommend these eye shadow toppers enough. Whether placed over another eye shadow or worn alone, they give a stunning shimmer effect. And don't worry, they don't look glittery on the skin; it's quite the opposite actually. The shimmer particles are so small they almost provide a wet-look effect. They also come in three colors. There's Quartz, which is a sheer white-silver; Citrine, which is a golden yellow; and Bronzite, which is a shimmer cocoa-brown.
Step 9: Create "Flirtatious" Lashes
Even though this mascara only costs as much as a morning latte, it creates the prettiest fluttery lash look. This kind of "flirtatious" lash is exactly what you want for this look, according to DiSabatino. "You definitely want to apply a generous amount of mascara to both top and bottom lashes," she says.
Step 10: Subtly Define the Brows
For a Victoria's Secret makeup look, the brows should be defined, but they shouldn't be the start of the show. That's why DiSabatino recommends reaching for a clear brow gel (we like this one because it keeps our brow hairs locked in place for a laminated look). "I love to use a clear brow gel to groom the hair and naturally accentuate the shape with a brow pencil while filling in any gaps," she says.
We like this Refy brow pencil. Its super-fine tip creates a natural, hairlike effect.
Step 11: Apply a Shiny, Neutral-Pink Lip Color
The final step is to create a VS model lip look using a neutral-pink lipstick and a super-shiny gloss. Or you can opt for a two-in-one product, like this one from Dior. It provides color and shine in one swipe.
However, if you want to dial up the shine even more, or you're working with a matte lipstick as a base, we have a gloss recommendation for you. It's this one from Glossier. Thanks to a shiny—not sticky—formula, it's actually a delight to wear.
This article was published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
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