Picture this: It's 2006, you're in the club toilets, Justin Timberlake's 'SexyBack' is booming in the distance and you're in need of a lipstick top-up. Naturally, you reach into your studded denim shoulder bag and pull out a tube of your go-to concealer (or even the drabs of a highly-used pot of Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse) and of course, apply it all over your lips. You're now ready to hit the dance floor.
War flashbacks? Yeah, us too but scarily enough, Sofia Richie Grainge is bringing back this very Y2K makeup trend. I know, I know, it may be spooky szn but I promise, friends, this is *not* a Halloween prank...
OK, despite my initial horror, the Cosmo Beauty Desk is all for giving credit where credit is due and in a recent TikTok video that Sofia shared, although she is wearing concealer on her lips, her makeup looks immaculate.
Watch and learn:
After applying the nude lip combo that she is currently "obsessed" with, the model finishes her look with a touch of concealer to highlight the centre of her pout. It's the "cherry on top," as Sofia puts it herself.
I mean, admittedly we do love this entire glam but I must pose the question: Why revert back to the early 00s when we have lip products galore at our every beck and call?! Basically, what I'm trying to say is, just pop down to your local drugstore and we're sure you'll face an inundation of nude lippies.
Though old habits do die hard, I suppose.
Now, if you're Gen Z or even Gen Alpha (now I feel old) and are none-the-wiser to 'concealer lips' – as Millennials like to call it, – firstly congratulations and secondly, allow the following TikTok video by Isabel Clancy to explain.
Ahhh a time to be alive.
So, could Sofia, thee IT girl of this generation, single-handedly bring back a trend that most of us have erased from memory and time?
I guess only time will tell but for now, don't mind me as I dust off my business casual club 'fits in preparation for a night with concealer lips...
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Lia Mappoura (she/her) is the Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK, with over four years of experience reporting across the brand's print, social, video and digital platforms. Lia covers everything from emerging trend analysis to viral celebrity hair and makeup moments, making her an expert at spotting the season’s next big beauty look (before it takes over social media feeds).
In 2025, she was named The Rising Media Star at the Love Perfume Awards with The Perfume Shop, recognised for her outstanding digital fragrance content and for building genuine authority within the space. She is passionate about challenging outdated beauty stereotypes, championing inclusive representation in beauty, and educating readers on the trends, products and conversations shaping the industry today. Follow her on Instagram or find her on LinkedIn.
