Early 2000s Victoria's Secret Makeup Is Trending—How to Modernize It for 2023

Don't even think about applying makeup before skincare. In fact, with this look, DiSabatino says prepping your skin is of the utmost importance. "Skincare always comes first. You want to hydrate and prime the skin to help your application go on smoothly and evenly." 
We like this hydrating primer from Milk Makeup, which includes hyaluronic acid and niacinamide for soft, smooth, and plump skin. Plus, the makeup-gripping formula is perfect for runway-level longevity. 

"I typically opt for a medium-coverage foundation that will cover imperfections while still allowing your natural beauty to shine through," DiSabatino says. To us, there's no better option for a medium-coverage foundation than this iconic formula. It gives us smooth, filter-level skin. 

"When creating this look, you want to bring light toward the center of the face," DiSabatino says. She recommends adding concealer under the eyes, on the bridge of the nose, a little to the forehead, and maybe a dab above the Cupid's bow. This will give the effect of concentrated light on the skin. 

"Contour is always necessary when creating a supermodel look. We want to add definition to the cheekbones and the nose to create a more defined shape," says DiSabatino. This one is an editor favorite because it doesn't lean too cool or too warm and as such creates natural-looking definition. 

"Next is your bronzer," DiSabatino says. "I love applying it to the cheek, a little on the nose, and around the brim of the face, while always bringing it down the neck line." For this step, we're reaching for a drugstore classic—Physicians Formula Murumuru Butter Bronzer. Its silky powder formula makes for easy blending. Did we mention it's also a favorite of TikTok queen Sofia Richie Grainge? 

DiSabatino recommends using a cream highlighter to modernize the look. We think this one is perfect for a Victoria's Secret makeup look; it provides the prettiest shimmer and a hint of rose-gold color too. "You want to apply anywhere the light will hit naturally, such as the top of the cheekbone, bridge of the nose, maybe a little on the top corners of the forehead as well," she says. 

The placement of your blush is just as important as the color. DiSabatino recommends applying a peachy-pink color to the apples of your cheek and gradually let it fade upward toward your temple. "This will really give that sun-kissed appeal for your VS look." 

Once your complexion makeup is complete, it's time to move on to eye makeup. "When tackling the eye, you want to be gentle," she says. "Earth tones like taupe and light browns as your base and a golden shimmer for your overlay. Don't be afraid to take some of that shadow and smudge it on your bottom lash line. Also a little tip is to apply that shimmer to the inner corners of your eye, along with the brow bone." 

As for shimmer, we can't recommend these eye shadow toppers enough. Whether placed over another eye shadow or worn alone, they give a stunning shimmer effect. And don't worry, they don't look glittery on the skin; it's quite the opposite actually. The shimmer particles are so small they almost provide a wet-look effect. They also come in three colors. There's Quartz, which is a sheer white-silver; Citrine, which is a golden yellow; and Bronzite, which is a shimmer cocoa-brown. 

Even though this mascara only costs as much as a morning latte, it creates the prettiest fluttery lash look. This kind of "flirtatious" lash is exactly what you want for this look, according to DiSabatino. "You definitely want to apply a generous amount of mascara to both top and bottom lashes," she says. 

For a Victoria's Secret makeup look, the brows should be defined, but they shouldn't be the start of the show. That's why DiSabatino recommends reaching for a clear brow gel (we like this one because it keeps our brow hairs locked in place for a laminated look). "I love to use a clear brow gel to groom the hair and naturally accentuate the shape with a brow pencil while filling in any gaps," she says. 

As for a brow pencil, we like this one from Refy. With its super-fine tip, you get a natural, hairlike effect every time. 

The final step is to create a VS model lip look using a neutral-pink lipstick and a super-shiny gloss. Or you can opt for a two-in-one product, like this one from Dior. It provides color and shine in one swipe. 

However, if you want to dial up the shine even more, or you're working with a matte lipstick as a base, we have a gloss recommendation for you. It's this one from Glossier. Thanks to a shiny—not sticky—formula, it's actually a delight to wear.