The world keeps returning to Pamela Anderson, Tyra Banks, and Kate Moss for beauty inspiration. This time around, the internet is after their lipsticks—specifically the pearlescent shades they often wore in the ’90s and early 2000s. Social media has unanimously declared that frosty lips are back, whether in icy pinks or warm golds.
RELATED: Beauty Trends that Defined the F/W26 Fashion Month
The resurgence didn’t happen overnight, though. It cascaded shortly after the viral return of L’Oréal’s Ballerina Shoes lipstick, a pale, shimmering pink that served as a cultural touchstone for an entire generation. Since then, beauty enthusiasts have been encouraging makeup brands to bring back their frost lines. What was once dismissed as a relic of a bygone era is now being recognized for what it always was: unapologetic shine and confidence.
Part of the appeal is the pure, playful fun of it, too. The frost lip doesn’t take itself too seriously; it’s the lipstick equivalent of turning up the car stereo on a summer evening. Whether worn alone or paired with a dark lip liner, it’s ready to make a statement.
Photos: 90S (via Reddit)
Frequently Asked Questions
Frosty lips refer to a pearlescent, high-shine lip finish in shades like icy pink, nude, and warm gold — a signature beauty look of the 1990s and early 2000s. The trend has resurfaced in 2026, driven by nostalgia for icons like Pamela Anderson, Kate Moss, and Tyra Banks, and accelerated by the viral return of L’Oréal’s Ballerina Shoes lipstick.
L’Oréal’s Ballerina Shoes lipstick — a pale, shimmering pink shade — played a significant role in reigniting the frosty lip trend. Its viral resurgence reminded beauty communities of the pearlescent lipstick aesthetic that defined 1990s and early 2000s makeup culture, prompting widespread calls for brands to revive their original frost lipstick lines.
Frosty lips in 2026 can be worn alone as a standalone statement or paired with a dark lip liner for contrast and definition — a technique that nods directly to the 90s aesthetic that originally defined the look. The trend is intentionally playful and low-commitment, working across icy pink, warm gold, and nude pearlescent shades.
Pamela Anderson, Kate Moss, and Tyra Banks are among the most frequently cited beauty icons associated with the frosty lip aesthetic of the 1990s and early 2000s. Their pearlescent, often pale lipstick looks have become touchstone references for the trend’s current revival across social media and beauty editorial.
Pearlescent and frosty lipsticks share a high-shine, light-reflective finish but differ slightly in intensity. Frosty lipsticks tend toward an icy, almost metallic sheen in pale or cool-toned shades, while pearlescent formulas can span a broader color range with a softer shimmer. Both finishes are central to the 90s-inspired lip trend currently circulating across beauty social media in 2026.
Recommended Video
Latest Posts
Latest Issue
