You may have plucked your eyebrows so thin in the ’90s that they haven’t grown back yet.
But this isn’t the old-fashioned beauty trend that gives away your age, TikTokers say.
Despite bringing back many styles from the 90s and 2000s, today’s youth have abandoned a makeup step that was an absolute necessity 20 years ago.
There are over 90 million Gen Z posts compared to Millennials on TikTok.
Hot topics of debate include jeans style, sock length and how to tuck a shirt into pants.
But now, teens are fighting over whether EYE SHADOW is for “old ladies.”
Among younger TikTok users, the general consensus is that the humble smoky eye is a surefire way to give away your age.
A 45-year-old mother took to the video-sharing platform to reveal what her pre-teen had brought to the speech.
Jennifer Latch is an expert on all things beauty and aging gracefully. Her social media motto is, “Aging is cool.”
Jennifer, a 12-year-old mother of three, was told by her youngest daughter that eyeshadow is a “Gen X and Millennial thing.”
“Also known as an old lady thing,” she told the camera.
“That’s right?”
The video, which has since gone viral on TikTok, sparked a fresh debate in the comments section.
“My 13-year-old son told me to stop wearing eyeshadow, so I think it’s (an old lady thing),” said his mother, Jazmina Pashima.
“I agree with her,” said another social media user. “Eyeshadow makes people look a lot older, especially if it’s intense.”
“I’m an older Gen Z person and that’s true,” joked a third. “Most girls only wear it for special occasions now.”
A fashion editor reveals the 90s trends that should be left behind
Trends from the 1990s and 2000s have become a hit with Gen Z, probably because they didn’t wear them the first time around. Below, Deputy Fashion Editor Abby McHale gives a rundown of some of the trends that have made a comeback—and that we wish wouldn’t.
Disc belts
“A hit with celebrities including Victoria Beckham and Blake Lively, the belt itself did nothing that a belt should do: it was a mere fashion statement, not a piece to hold something together.
“And it seems it’s not just me who’s furious about its return, many have taken to TikTok to give their opinion and say: ‘Oh no, not the disco belt! I don’t think I have the energy for a second go-round.’ I feel you.”
jelly shoes
“After not being seen on the shelves for decades, they have reappeared and this time they are not just for children.
“They come in a variety of colorful patterns and you can find them all over the streets, both in flat and heeled versions.
“Not only will you look very childish wearing those shoes, but people will also have to learn that they are not the most comfortable – blister plasters will come in handy.”
Pedal pushers
“Cropped knee-length pants were all the rage in the 1990s and 2000s, but this time around, models have them in abundance: both Bella Hadid and Emily Ratajkowski have recently sported them.
“The original IT girls, Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn and Brigitte Bardot helped make pants, also called Capri pants, look effortlessly modern and glamorous.
“Somehow, this time they don’t seem to be having the same effect.”
However, some TikTok users (even older Gen Zers) were keen to defend eyeshadow, assuring their millennial peers that it’s not an “old lady thing.”
“I use it almost every day,” wrote one.
“I’m an older Gen Zer born in 1997 and I’m an eyeshadow junkie and hate the clean look,” said another.
“As a Gen Zer, trends come and go with the wind,” said a third.
Eyeshadows make people look much older, especially if they are intense.
Generation Z beauty enthusiasts
“Minimal and natural looks have been in fashion for a while, but that will soon change.
“Wear what you want, confidence accomplishes everything.”
Inspired by the grunge music scene, dark, smoky eyes were a popular makeup choice in the 1990s.
Black and dark grey tones were commonly used to create a blurred, imperfect look, while matte finishes added to the striking style.
Angelina Jolie was a fan of grunge shadows that extended to her eyebrows, and celebrities such as Reese Witherspoon, Cameron Diaz and Gwyneth Paltrow preferred a blue look.
Frosted eyeshadows in pastel shades, especially white, silver and light blue, also had their moment in the nineties, paired with a matching frosted lipstick.
Fast forward to the 2000s, and bright colors like neon green, pink, blue, and purple were popular thanks to the rise of pop stars like Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera.
Shimmering, metallic and glittery eyeshadows became common for evening looks as well.
But according to TikTok users, these trends are already out of fashion.
Instead, a simple coat of bronzer is all you need for fashionable lids, they say.
