In the US, the early 2000s or Y2K fashion was pushed by pop culture it-girls like Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and Destiny's Child. As Grazia details, these celebrities were all about shimmer and sparkle. Their beauty looks relied on shimmering or frosted eyeshadows with glossy lips. Often that eyeshadow was packed all the way up to the brow bone. Hairstyles also embraced glitz and fun with crimping, high ponytails, and color streaks.
But, while Y2K celebrities were inspiring the US, French beauty took a step back. After the bold colors of the 1980s, French women went back to their classic roots. French girls in the 2000s kept their faces natural with a neutral lip and eye makeup to enhance their features. According to Allure, this shift to a traditional look was heavily inspired by Carla Bruni, an Italian and French musician and supermodel who became the first lady of France. Speaking about her beauty secrets, Bruni said she uses very moisturizing creams like Avène or La Roche Posay to keep her skin from getting dry, per Into the Gloss. And when it comes to face makeup, she recommended going light, "When you're 15 years old, you can cover yourself with makeup, but when you're past 30, you can be lighter with your hand. It's better to concentrate on having good skin. For instance, instead of using foundation, I would use a BB or CC cream."
