9 Nostalgic ‘90s Lipsticks You Can Still Shop Today (And All the Famous Celebs Who Wore Them)
I found Jennifer Aniston, Cindy Crawford, and Selena’s iconic shades.
We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we love. Promise.
Why look for dupes when you can just get the real thing? Turns out, many of the most iconic ‘90s lipstick shades are still available now (and many of them are in updated formulas that are even more moisturizing and long-lasting). I dug into the makeup archives and found our favorite celebs from the 1990s—Jennifer Aniston, Cindy Crawford, Tyra Banks, Selena, and more—go-to lipstick shades. Because we all know the truth: ‘90s makeup was just better.
One thing that surprised me? A lot of them are from the drugstore. Sure, high-end makeup existed back then, but no one was afraid to pull a Revlon or Rimmel lipstick from their bag. Just goes to show drugstore makeup has always been some of the best.
Keep scrolling for nine of the most legendary ‘90s lipsticks to try now, from rosey browns to deep reds to sheer berries.
Revlon’s Super Lustrous Lipstick is easily the most iconic lipstick formula of the ‘90s. It’s smoothing and hydrating, with vitamin E and aloe vera, and glides on lips evenly in just a swipe. And Rum Raisin is easily one of the most loved shades from the decade. It’s a reddish, pinky brown with teeny-tiny shimmers that reflect light and looks good on practically every skin tone.
Lest we forget that the ‘90s weren’t all about supermodel nudes and pinks. It was also the time of grunge, hence why this deep, brownish red color from MAC became so popular. It was actually the shade Rachel Green, played by Jennifer Aniston, wore in Friends (could it get more ‘90s than that?). This is in MAC’s satin lipstick range: A smooth finish that glides easily onto lips with a natural lip finish that’s extremely hydrating and comfortable.
Although Clinique’s Black Honey has had a resurgence on TikTok, it was initially a favorite for its universally flattering sheer color. It was even loved far before the ‘90s when it was used by Molly Ringwald’s character in The Breakfast Club. Now, Clinique offers Nude Honey (a soft, brown shade) and Pink Honey (a rose hue), but for a classic ‘90s look, Black Honey can be worn with one subtle swipe or built up for stronger opacity.
When you think of the 1990s, you probably think of Cindy Crawford. And while she wore a handful of lipsticks back then, one of her most notable was Revlon’s Toast of NY, this cinnamon brown with fiery orange undertones.
Red lipstick in the ‘90s was powerful and a statement, and most importantly, almost always in this deep shade. It’s not vampy or plum, per se, but Russian Red is a timeless, blue-based red. A power red, some might say. It was famously worn by Selena (and Jennifer Lopez when she played Selena in the 1997 biopic), as well as Madonna on her “Blonde Ambition tour.”
Heather Shimmer is so classic ‘90s. This frosty mauve lip was worn most famously by Kate Moss (so much so, she went on to create her own line of lipsticks with the brand). This budget-friendly formula is surprisingly moisturizing and long-lasting, a combo that can be difficult to achieve with lipsticks quadruple the price.
So, this is the lipstick my mom wore in the ‘90s (and well into the 2000s), and I used to constantly steal it out of her makeup bag (shhh, don’t tell). It’s a frosty plum-brown with cool undertones and looked the best paired with a dark-brown lip liner, of course. Along with Revlon and Rimmel, the classic Colour Riche lipstick range from L’Oréal Paris was equally loved for its affordable price and hydrating formula.
Why did we stop wearing frosty brown lipsticks? Coffee Bean by Revlon is a neutral-toned coffee brown with gold shimmers, and it immediately turns any look into a ‘90s dream. Tyra Banks was known for wearing a similar (now discontinued, womp) shade throughout the decade.
Originally released in the ‘90s to honor the supermodels of the 1960s, MAC Twig became one of the best-selling lipsticks by the brand in the 1990s. It was later discontinued and often duped, so the brand brought it back in this new, modern form a few years ago with the revamp of the MAC matte lipstick collection. Twig Twist is a muted, mauvey pink shade that’s slightly deeper than the original from the ‘90s, but still feels of-the-time.
Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with eight years of experience researching, writing, and editing stories on hair, makeup, and nails.
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you "have to try." Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months.
I Got My Golden, Summer Glow for Only $6
Cosmo HQ Review: Is Tarte’s New CC Serum Worth It?
Got a Hickey? Here’s How to Get Rid of It—Fast
Why Everyone Is Suddenly Obsessed With Blonzer
