The 90s Cool Girls Who Defined A Decade
90s Beauty Icons: From Kate Moss to Drew Barrymore and Liv Tyler, Lisa Bonet and Sarah Michelle Geller, revisit some of the most iconic beauties from the 90s
90s Beauty Icons: From Kate Moss to Drew Barrymore and Liv Tyler, Lisa Bonet and Sarah Michelle Geller, revisit some of the most iconic beauties from the 90s
With all things 90s making a huge comeback of late, it's little surprise to see the world of beauty taking its cue from the decade too. In honour of this, we've rounded up the most memorable beauty icons from the minimalistic (for the most part) 90s.
From the rise of the supermodel - enter stage left, Cindy Crawford, Claudia Schiffer, Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell and Linda Evangelista - to the bad girls who rocked a less glossy, more grungy aesthetic like Drew Barrymore, Kate Moss and Courtney Love, we've covered the whole spectrum of brilliant 90s beauty.
And who could forget the much copied looks from the stars of film and TV in the 90s, too? Jennifer Aniston's 'The Rachel' haircut which debuted in the mid-Nineties on Friends, was pretty much the most asked-for hairstyle circa 1995. Whilst who doesn't remember being totally inspired by The Craft and wanting to don thick black eyeliner and blood red vampy lips at all times of the day?
Gwyneth Paltrow
First up though, Gwynnie. From her brilliant films through to her healthy lifestyle (hey, everyone loves Goop, admit it) and her comedic appearances on Glee, Gwyneth Paltrow with all her blue eyeshadow, perfect skin and twist-updo is the 90s gal you'd want to really be mates with.
Gwyneth Paltrow
First up though, Gwynnie. From her brilliant films through to her healthy lifestyle (hey, everyone loves Goop, admit it) and her comedic appearances on Glee, Gwyneth Paltrow with all her blue eyeshadow, perfect skin and twist-updo is the 90s gal you'd want to really be mates with.
Drew Barrymore
Although she basically plays the same role in every film she's ever done, we love Drew and her ever-changing looks. Nobody rocked a dark lip in the 90s quite like her and whilst she's constantly updated her look, she's remained a firm beauty icon for Team Marie Claire.
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Lisa Bonet
Here's a list of Lisa Bonet facts: she's not done much in the public eye since The Cosby Show ended in 1992, she eloped with Lenny Kravitz in 1987 when she was 20, they have an insanely beautiful daughter Zoe Kravitz, she changed her name to Lilakoi Moon soon after she divorced Kravitz, she then married the hunk that is Jason Momoa (Khal Drogo in Game Of Thrones) and she's had two more children. Did we mention she also seems to have become more beautiful as the years have gone by? Props to you Lilakoi/Lisa!
Courtney Love
Whether you love or hate her, Love is the ultimate 90s beauty icon. She added a tough of femininity to the grunge look, made tiaras and red lipstick an alternative must-have and used to play many shows without her underoos on. Lucky front row, eh?
Kate Moss
Mossy is everyone's favourite. Her angelic looks and fierce bone structure has made her an enduring beauty icon and one of the most-loved models of all time. What we love most is Kate's ballsy attitude to life, love and beauty.
Tyra Banks
From her early modelling days through to her current work presenting America's Next Top Model (who doesn't secretly want to get 'TYRA MAIL') Banks is a 'fierce' formidable woman who has owned and defended every look she's had - from slightly ill-advised haircuts through to some serious make-up looks. That's why she's still a modern-day beauty icon and hasn't seemed to age a single day - damn her!
Fairuza Balk
Any former teenage witches out there? The Craft was probably the film that turned you to the dark side. Fairuza Balk plays the terrifying and unpredictable meanie Nancy Downs in this seminal 90s teen-goth flick that spawned many copy cats all sporting her blood-red lips and ringed black eyeliner. We wanted to be her then and so enduring this look is, we want to be her now too.
Naomi Campbell
Love or hate her, Naomi Campbell is still one of the most iconic and beautiful women in the world. Her incredible physique and perfectly symmetrical face have made her a global icon. Although she's made some questionable choices in her life, she's always brought her A-game in the beauty stakes.
Linda Evangelista
The 90s supers were so incredible because they all had supremely individual looks. Case in point, Linda Evangelista. A beauty of the highest order, she may not have had classic model-esque features but she rose to become one of the biggest models on the planet. Famous for her achingly 90s, glossy chestnut crop with plenty of volume at the roots, Linda's since changed her look numerous times but forever stays at the forefront.
Cindy Crawford
If you don't admit to having drawn on a CIndy Crawford-inspired mole in the 90s your basically lying. Crawford's mega-glamour and distinctive looks have made her one of the world's most famous supermodels and what's still endured is her big hair - we want ours like that!
Winona Ryder
Before her brief foray into criminal enterprises, Winona's pixie crops, burgundy lips and doe eyes cemented her as a seminal 90s beauty icon and without a doubt, her best beauty moment was in Tim Burton's creepy love story Edward Scissorhands.
Jennifer Aniston
She's the girl next door that both men and women adore. But we all know Jen for her haircuts - that we love and admire. What we DIDN'T love was trying to grow out all those layers after getting our obligatory 'Rachel' cuts in the 90's.
Liv Tyler
Liv Tyler does that 90s innocent thing beautifully - from Stealing Beauty through to the ultimate 90s music-geek film Empire Records - she's a true 90's beauty icon, and still rocks her red lips and silky mane with pride.
Claudia Schiffer
Her delicate features and beautiful hair have made Claudia Schiffer a true beauty icon for decades - we loved her slightly darker blonde look (coupled with lashings of blue eyeliner) the most.
Alicia Silverstone
She might be a vegan eco-warrior now, but Alicia Silverstone (aka Cher in Clueless - as if you didn't know!) was pretty much everyone's icon in the 90s for her girlish looks and subtly highlighted, all-American perfect hair.
Gwen Stefani
Gwen's always been a style chameleon. Though she's all high-fashion now, her ska-punk looks were her most experimental and fun - we loved her most with pink hair and bindis.
Sarah Michelle Geller
Sarah Michelle Geller has basically disappeared? WHERE ARE YOU SMG? But, we can forgive her because she was Buffy The Vampire Slayer - one part girl next door and one part fearless demon slayer. And we wanted to be her so badly, especially when she married 90s heartthrob Freddie Prinze Jr.
Claire Danes
Angela Chase (aka Claire Danes) was the angst-ridden teenage girl that felt all our pain. And we were with her every step of the way when she hooked up with the beautiful Jordan Catalano (Jared Leto) and when she beefed with her bestie Rayanne Graff. But her finest beauty moment was when she dyed her hair red and really annoyed her mother.
Christy Turlington
Christy Turlington is another of the original 90s supers who (if it's possible) seems to have become more beautiful with age. She's always know herself and her style - you've got to admire that.
Janet Jackson
The curls, the brown lipstick, the insane body and the dance moves. JJ was a 90s icon of the first order and a talented one, too. She's made bold choices with hey style and appearances (remember the JT boob-gate?) with aplomb - and that's why we love her.
Sarah Jessica Parker
So many of us poured over SATC idolising Carrie's beautiful (mostly) wardrobe and shock of curls. SJP has remained a true fashion icon to this day - which is why we love her so.
Helena Christensen
As she writhed around on a beach in Chris Isaaks's Wicked Game video, Helena Christensen's piercing blue eyes and glowing skin made her a world-famous beauty icon and model to fall in love with, repeatedly.
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