The revival of the 90s aesthetic has extended to eyebrows: slender, arched, with the Eastern allure of soft grunge, they have become the paramount beauty element for Autumn 2026. Below, we explore how to incorporate this trend today.
Thin Eyebrows: The Comeback of the Most Iconic Beauty Accent of the 90s
Slender eyebrows have once again taken center stage. They were once an indispensable hallmark of 90s supermodels, from Cindy Crawford and Naomi Campbell to Kate Moss and Christy Turlington. Today, this beauty code is being reinterpreted and is emerging as one of the most relevant trends.
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Among those who have brought it back to life are Bella Hadid, Gabriette Bechtel, and Nicola Peltz-Beckham. They embody an aesthetic that harkens back to the past through a lens of nostalgia.
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The Return of Thin Eyebrows
While thin eyebrows were recently associated exclusively with the glamour of 90s runways, social media increasingly connects them with the so-called “Tumblr era” of the early 2010s. This was a period of melancholic mood boards featuring Lana Del Rey, Sky Ferreira, and Alexa Chung, the cult British series Skins, flash-lit selfies, and the Indie Sleaze aesthetic. A visual universe that celebrated deliberately imperfect, spontaneous, and slightly rebellious beauty.
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Thus, after years dominated by ultra-full and perfectly groomed eyebrows, the trend is shifting towards thinner, arched, and sharply defined lines. This comeback is a contemporary interpretation of a beauty canon that continues to captivate new generations.
Kevyn Aucoin – The Makeup Artist Who Made Thin Eyebrows Iconic
One of the factors contributing to the resurgence of thin eyebrows was the documentary Larger Than Life: The Kevyn Aucoin Story. It chronicles the life and career of the legendary makeup artist who shaped the aesthetic of 90s supermodels. Aucoin, who passed away in 2002, was a revolutionary in the beauty world. Behind the scenes of international fashion shows, he inspired entire generations of makeup artists and popularized techniques now considered fundamental: contouring, “bare skin” makeup effects, and rich, vibrant colors.
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However, one of his most memorable signature looks remains the ultra-thin eyebrows, inspired by 1930s Hollywood icons like Carole Lombard. It was he who persuaded models such as Kate Moss and Cindy Crawford to drastically slim down their brow arches. This created an instantly recognizable look that helped them stand out and emphasize their individuality.
A Symbol of New Aesthetic Nostalgia
Pushed to the background in the late 2000s in favor of fuller, more natural shapes, thin eyebrows are cyclically returning along with the general revival of the 90s and 2000s. This phenomenon encompasses fashion and beauty, bringing back iconic accessories into trend: oversized silk hair scrunchies, “crab” barrettes, zigzag headbands, and vibrant makeup accents. However, today thin eyebrows are a symbol of a new aesthetic nostalgia, caught between the era of supermodels and the Tumblr aesthetic.
Based on material from: Vogue.it