Hey there, Fashion Bombers! Danielle here giving you a trip down Black History Beauty memory lane.
Ahhh…the 90s. The music, the fashion, the makeup. OMG, the makeup. Remember the super-matte foundation? Or the super sculpted eye makeup where it seemed no one had a MAC #224 blending brush to blend out the harsh lines? And who could ever forget black lip liner. Though we wish we could, it was definitely a defining (no pun intended) look in the black community in the 1990s.
It’s unclear as to when and how this trend first hit the scenes, but it was popularized by supermodel Naomi Campbell (shown above in Michael Jackson’s “In the Closet” video) who traced her lips with the ebony shade. Funny thing was there wasn’t really an actual black lip pencil, folks were using black eyeliner to line their lips.
Nowadays you’ll get a fine and a six month jail sentence should you lose your mind for a second and try to rock this look (unless you’re a chola/chonga–as Sandra Bullock is fashioned above by George Lopez on his late night talk). Ms. Campbell now sports a more conservative and modern version of the look every now and then these days with her MAC Chestnut-looking dark brown lip liner (see below).
Now confess—did you wear black lip liner? Spill it in the comments!
~Danielle
February 18, 2010 11:04 am
No, but my aunt did. I didn’t think it was cute, even then.
February 18, 2010 11:10 am
…And did! Couldn’t tell me nuthin about my black lip (eye) liner…especially when I filled it in with the burgundy Wet-n-Wild lip stick! Oh, the HORRAH!
February 18, 2010 12:16 pm
lol. this had me cracking up in my office, as my friends & I just left Macdonald and the cashier was soo sporty the black lip/eye liner…….
lol…
Danielle, it is still around!!!
February 18, 2010 1:20 pm
One look that I’m glad to say is history! But yeah, I do still see people doing the eyeliner thing. My sister only stopped doing the lip liner two years ago – and we begged her to let it go!
February 18, 2010 2:22 pm
I really enjoy these black history flashbacks. My mom still wears black lip liner.
February 18, 2010 3:53 pm
the shade is- the young rican girls on the westside of cleveland still rock this look like it nevah went out of style! Love this site!
February 18, 2010 4:55 pm
I wore Chesnut liner to no end!!! Ah, the 90s…those ladies at the top pic remind me of those colored glasses we had to match our outfits!
February 19, 2010 9:16 am
Oh so sad, but so true! I rocked the black lined lips and had the nerve to put Carmax lip balm on top of it…Not even gloss but Carmax! lol Lawd have mercy!
February 19, 2010 5:38 pm
I remember sneaking into the bathroom in junior high school to put on my black lip liner before homeroom. Oh the memories…
February 21, 2010 9:21 pm
Noooo! I was just looking at photo on Facebook and some of my fellower Detroiters still wear the visible lipline look.
I used to do the black eyeliner look and fill it with a frosty pastel lipstick and fruity lipgloss from the beauty supply store. I’m so ashamed now.
April 26, 2010 12:58 am
She’s looking gorgeous… Thanks for sharing new liners brands…
September 8, 2010 7:05 pm
Yes I definitely did this..I would put the liner on and then blend it with vaseline to give my lip some color…oh the 90′s i do miss them lol
August 3, 2011 11:30 am
My mom still rocks the black/dark brown lip liner with frosty lavender lip gloss. It’s been her look for years; me thinks its time for an intervention.