Frosted Lipstick Is Back—Here's How to Wear It in 2026

Why Are Frosted Lips Trending Again?

Digital cameras and low-rise jeans are already trending, so it’s not that surprising to see frosted lipstick join the Y2K revival. “There’s so much nostalgia for the ’90s and early 2000s right now, and I think people are having fun rediscovering some of those more playful makeup looks,” says Quinn. While you might remember frosty lips on stars like Britney Spears, Pamela Anderson, and Jennifer Lopez, the look has now been embraced (and reimagined) by a new generation of celebrities, including Zara Larsson and Zendaya. 

“After years of matte lips and the barely-there aesthetic, it’s refreshing to see a little glamour return. What I particularly love is how the frosted lip has evolved,” adds Quinn. “We’re seeing softer, more refined pearl finishes rather than those heavy, icy metallic shades [of the early ’00s.] I spent so many years working with luminous textures at ARMANI, and I always loved the way a little reflected light could bring a face to life.”

With so many ways to wear the look, it’s no wonder frosted lipstick is making a comeback. Ahead, see Quinn’s tips on applying a frosty lip combo, how to find the right shade for you, and how to make the look last.

How to Apply Frosted Lipstick and Make It Last

1. Prep Your Lips First

Like most makeup moments, preparation is key. “Frosted finishes can be unforgiving when lips are dry because the pearl particles tend to highlight every little line or bit of texture,” says Quinn. He recommends gently exfoliating with a warm, damp washcloth, followed by a nourishing lip balm. After letting the product absorb for a few minutes, blot away the excess before applying your lip color.

“The idea is to create a smooth, hydrated canvas,” continues Quinn. “This becomes even more important as we get older. Beautifully conditioned lips make all the difference, regardless of the finish you’re wearing.” We like using the KAT BURKI Raw Sugar Lip Scrub to gently buff away dry and flaky skin. 

2. Pick Your Shade

Frost is all about fun, so wear whichever shade speaks to you. “I’ve never been a big believer in strict makeup rules,” agrees Quinn. If it’s your first time experimenting with the look, however, he recommends considering your skin's undertone.

“For fair skin, I love delicate pinks, soft roses and champagne pearl,” he adds. “On medium and olive complexions, warmer pinks, rose gold and peachy champagne can be beautiful. For deeper skin tones, I think bronze, copper, rich berry and plum shades with a frosted finish are absolutely gorgeous.” 

Frosty lipsticks of the past leaned more opaque silver and icy pink, which can sometimes wash out the complexion—especially when applied without definition or warmth, says Quinn. “This is probably the biggest lesson we learned the first time around!” To keep frosty lips from reading ashy, he advises going in with a lip pencil that’s close to your natural lip color, or even slightly deeper. Blending it into the lips before applying the frosted shade will add a bit of depth, keeping your look from falling flat. 

“I also look for frost with a very fine pearl rather than a heavy, chalky metallic finish—you want the light to dance across the lips, not sit on top of them,” he adds. “And don’t be afraid of a little warmth! A beautiful champagne, rose gold or bronze frost can be so much more flattering than a stark silver.”

3. Go Full Frost

There’s also an important distinction between frost and shimmer, Quinn says. “A true frosted lipstick has that pearlescent, almost metallic quality throughout the color itself.” A shimmery gloss, on the other hand, tends to be more translucent, “reflecting light without necessarily giving you that classic frosted finish,” he adds. You can always layer a gloss on top of a frosted lip, but to really embrace the look, Quinn recommends sticking with a lipstick with a finely milled pearl finish. Sometimes adding a gloss will hide the frosted effect, he adds. 

4. Make the Look Last

When your lipstick makes such a beautiful statement, you’ll want to make it last. Start by creating a base that will keep everything in place: Quinn says he always starts with a lip pencil, outlining the lips and then lightly filling them in. 

Next, you’ll want to apply a thin layer of your frosted lipstick, gently blot with a tissue, and then apply a second light layer. “I find that building color gradually gives a much more beautiful finish than applying one heavy coat,” says Quinn. “If you’re adding gloss, keep it toward the center of the lips. Too much gloss can cause everything to move around and shorten the wear.”

You don’t want to disturb the frostiness of your lipstick, either. “One other little trick I’ve used for years is to press the lips together gently rather than rubbing them back and forth,” says Quinn. This will help you avoid over-blending or smudging your lip combo. While you might think otherwise, the maximalist lip look is really about restraint. “Ultimately, I think the secret to a modern frosted lip is knowing when to stop,” he adds. “A little luminosity in just the right place can be incredibly flattering. You want someone to notice how beautiful you look, not necessarily the lipstick you’re wearing!”

How to Wear Frosted Lipstick With the Rest of Your Makeup

Now that you’ve mastered applying your frosty lipstick, it’s all about harmonizing the look with the rest of your glam. It’s easier than you think—especially with Quinn’s expert tips. “I love a softly frosted lip with luminous skin and a beautifully defined eye. There’s something incredibly chic about letting the lips catch the light without having everything competing for attention,” he says. We recommend bookmarking Zendaya’s icy eye look from “The Odyssey” premiere, which practically broke the internet. 

“I remember constantly reaching for GIORGIO ARMANI’s Lip Shimmer in Pink Shimmer No. 9 and Golden Champagne No. 22 during my early years with the brand,” Quinn adds. “Those were technically shimmering glosses rather than traditional frosted lipsticks, but I loved the dimension they created.” For a similar look, try MAC’s frost lipstick in shade Fabby, which has a pinky pearlescent finish. 

Layering frosty finishes can also give you a more radiant look. “I remember doing Uma Thurman’s makeup for the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in 2009,” says Quinn. “We layered ARMANI Lip Wax No. 2 with Lip Shimmer No. 25. It was a luminous look rather than a true frost, but that idea of layering and creating beautiful light on the lips has always been part of my approach.”

To modernize the look, he says he would start with a softly defined lip pencil, blending it inward and then applying a creamy lipstick with a fine pearlescent finish. “You can always add a little extra frost to the center of the mouth for dimension,” he adds. 

The Bottom Line on Frosted Lipstick

Frosty finishes may have been a staple of the ‘90s and early ‘00s, but with the right shade and definition, you can make the look your current signature. Just remember to prep your lips with a gentle exfoliation and precise lip pencil application, and stick to shades that lean more pearlescent than metallic. Pair the look with more shimmery makeup, or let your lip combo do the talking for you—ultimately, the thing that makes your glam sparkle is you.