Once a red carpet staple of the early 2000s, frosted lips are making a quiet yet confident return. As TikTok continues to fuel our fascination with Y2K beauty, the trend has resurfaced in softer, more wearable forms—pearlescent pinks, icy nudes, and subtle metallic finishes that catch the light without overpowering. Viral shades like L’Oréal’s Ballerina Shoes may have reignited the conversation, but today’s frosted lip is less about excess and more about polish. Ahead, we’re breaking down the modern products and techniques that make the nostalgic high-shine look feel current again.
The Art of Frosted Lips: Lipstick and Gloss Essentials
This winter, the toffee makeup trend is all about warm, soft, and effortlessly radiant beauty. Think caramel, cinnamon, and buttery beige tones blended across eyes, cheeks, and lips for a look that feels cozy yet polished. It’s rich without being heavy—a subtle, glowing update to your winter routine that’s both approachable and luxe. Ahead, we break down exactly how to achieve this soft, sun-kissed toffee glow in one easy step-by-step routine.
Base Start with a fresh, glowing canvas. After your skincare routine, apply a sheer tint—like Charlotte Tilbury’s Flawless Filter—for a natural, luminous finish. For more coverage, blend in a touch of your favorite foundation. Warm up the complexion with a bronzing serum, such as Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi or Westman Atelier Highlighter Drops, sweeping it lightly across cheekbones and temples for a soft, sun-kissed glow. Brighten under the eyes with a minimal concealer, then add a hint of cozy warmth to the cheeks with a brick-toned liquid blush, like Rhode’s Toasted Teddy. The result is a radiant, effortlessly wearable base that sets the perfect stage for toffee-inspired tones.
Eyes & Lips Keep the eyes soft and inviting by sweeping the same brick-toned blush lightly across the lids for a monochromatic toffee effect. Gently tightline the upper lash line with a dark brown liner, leaving the lower lashes natural and clean. Curl lashes and apply a coat of mascara for subtle lift and definition. Mist a dewy setting spray to enhance radiance before moving to the lips. Outline with a nude-pink liner along your natural shape, then finish with a warm, tinted gloss to complete a soft, glowy toffee look that’s effortlessly chic.
Slightly uneven brows. A faint scar you’ve had for years. A smile that isn’t perfectly symmetrical. The small “imperfections” we once tried to fix are finally being seen for what they truly are—part of our natural beauty. And with the rise of wabi-sabi beauty on social media, more people are learning to embrace the features that make them uniquely themselves.
If your feed has been filled with creators highlighting their quirks while saying, “It’s got wabi-sabi,” you’re already seeing this trend grow. But wabi-sabi beauty isn’t just a look—it’s a mindset. It encourages us to slow down, release the pressure to be perfect, and appreciate the effortless confidence that comes from embracing our imperfections instead of hiding them.
So, what is wabi-sabi beauty?
Wabi-sabi is a Japanese philosophy that celebrates imperfection, impermanence, and the natural changes that come with time. Traditionally applied to art, architecture, and design—a cracked teacup, the worn lines of a wooden table, or a wall shaped by years of life—wabi-sabi has always found beauty in the unexpected.
Now, this philosophy is making its way into the world of beauty. In an era dominated by the “clean girl” aesthetic, flawless skin, and filters that erase every trace of imperfection, wabi-sabi beauty is a refreshing reminder: the tiny flaws, natural asymmetries, and marks of life are not flaws at all—they are what make us uniquely radiant. Embracing them isn’t just a trend; it’s a mindset that celebrates authentic, effortless beauty.
The viral origin of the wabi-sabi trend
The audio that sparked the wabi-sabi beauty trend comes from an unexpected source: the 2000s animated series King of the Hill. In one episode, Bobby Hill discovers a love for gardening and enters a rose competition, only to be told he must pick “the perfect one” according to a strict, rigid rulebook.
Bobby rebels, declaring the line that would go on to inspire a generation: “Mine is a little crooked… has wabi-sabi.”
More than 20 years later, his words have found a new life on social media. Nearly half a million TikTok videos now use this audio, with teens and young adults applying the concept to their faces, bodies, and unique features. Wabi-sabi beauty is no longer just a philosophy—it’s a viral movement that celebrates authenticity, individuality, and the natural imperfections that make us truly beautiful.
Wabi-sabi beauty isn’t about passively accepting imperfections—it’s about enhancing them with intention. A mole near your mouth? Highlight it. A slightly crooked nose? Contour it to accentuate, not hide. Freckles? Recreate them after your base. A natural unibrow? Let it live.
The philosophy is simple: wabi-sabi doesn’t erase—it celebrates. It doesn’t make everything uniform—it highlights what makes you unique. In a world where beauty standards often feel repetitive and rigid, wabi-sabi beauty is revolutionary. For years, makeup focused on covering, correcting, and “fixing.” Now, it’s a tool to celebrate individuality.
And yes, it feels like a quiet act of rebellion. Instead of chasing flawless, porcelain-like skin, wabi-sabi beauty invites us to embrace the marks, asymmetries, and textures that make us who we are. That slightly crooked smile. The eyebrow that arches differently. The mole you’ve always hidden. The real texture of your skin, no filter, can erase. Wabi-sabi doesn’t ask you to change—it asks you to see yourself differently, and to recognize that your natural features are what make you truly beautiful.
Hailey Bieber’s makeup is the definition of effortless glow. With Rhode now under e.l.f. and finally on Sephora shelves, it’s the perfect time to peek inside her routine. True to her skin-first philosophy, every step is about that fresh, glazed finish we all crave. And because Hailey shares her exact favorites on TikTok, recreating her look is easier than ever. Below, the quick, high-quality staples that keep her signature “clean girl” vibe flawless—no hours in front of the mirror required.
Skincare & Base Hailey’s glow begins with serious skin prep. She mists on Rhode’s Glazing Mist, then layers the Glazing Milk to hydrate and plump—her go-to move for that smooth, glassy canvas. Once it sinks in, she warms up her complexion with a creamy Tom Ford bronzer, buffed in with a fluffy Hourglass brush. A dab of Kosas Revealer Concealer brightens the under-eye area, blended out effortlessly with her fingertips. For the final flush, a swipe of Rhode Pocket Blush delivers that fresh, Hailey-approved pop of color.
Eyes & Lips Hailey keeps it simple and seamless. She taps the same Rhode Pocket Blush onto her lids for a soft, monochromatic wash, then brushes her brows into place with Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel. For lips, she outlines with Rhode’s Lip Sculpt—focusing on the cupid’s bow—then blurs the edges with her fingertip. A swipe of Rhode Peptide Lip Tint seals it with that signature glazed finish.
Run (or scroll) to Sephora and grab these essentials—Hailey’s effortless, glowy makeup look is officially yours to recreate.