2010s Maximal Makeup Returns as 90s Minimalism Fades

Forbes published a beauty feature on October 7, 2026, declaring that 1990s minimal makeup has fallen out of favor while 2010s maximal makeup has returned to prominence. The article, filed under the byline Caroline Reilly, points to the iconic smokey eyes and the inception of the contour craze as defining elements of 2010s beauty. According to the piece, that decade was brimming with iconic makeup looks. The feature states that a set of essentials has been compiled to help readers achieve the 2010s look and to adapt it for the modern age. No specific products, brands, makeup artists, or retail details are named in the source material. The article frames the shift as a generational reversal in beauty preferences, moving away from the understated approach associated with the 1990s toward the heavier, more sculpted aesthetic that defined the following decade. The source does not specify the location of the trend, the individuals driving it, or any market data supporting the claim. It also does not identify which looks, beyond smokey eyes and contouring, are considered essential to the revival. The piece is presented as a practical guide rather than a reported trend analysis, offering readers direction on recreating and updating 2010s-style makeup for current use.