Having grown up in the 2000s, I developed a deep appreciation for romantic-comedy movies and the leading ladies that dominated the screen. While I was just young enough to have missed most of them when they first premiered, I always lingered a few extra minutes in my neighborhood Blockbuster, hoping someone would return them on Friday nights so I could watch and rewatch my favorites whenever I had the chance.
It could definitely be argued that the rom-coms of our childhood remain engrained in our memories, but it gives us more of a reason to embrace them in our adulthood as we play with beauty and fashion. Below, I’m sharing a few of my favorite makeup looks from these movies and the products I would use to re-create them.
(Image credit: Columbia/Everett Collection)
Patrick Ta Beauty
Major Brow Defining Pencil
One of the things I notice first when I look at Jennifer Garner as 13 Going on 30‘s Jenna Rink is how expressive she is with her eyebrows. If Jenna existed in 2024, I would suspect she would have an appreciated for a long-lasting pencil that offers her brows natural-looking shape and structure. This Patrick Ta brow pencil has a gel base that glides on and creates dimensional, hair-like strokes that can’t be beat.
Rare Beauty
Soft Pinch Tinted Lip Oil in Hope
Jenna loves her glossy lips! This could definitely be attributed to the fact that she’s a 13-year-old girl trapped inside her future 30-year-old body and life for the majority of her story. However, we also see the actual adult Jenna with the same pink lip on her wedding day. Rare Beauty’s Soft Pinch Tinted Lip Oil in Hope is the perfect cool pink, and it gives just the right amount of gloss.
Iconic London
Super Smoother Blurring Skin Tint
Our time-traveling rom-com heroine always looked like she had a fresh face and natural glow about her. While that could definitely be movie magic, an easy way to create a similar look is to use a lightweight skin tint that will even the complexion and give you that “glowing from the inside out” finish that’s second only to falling in love with your childhood best friend.
Pat McGrath Labs
Divine Cream Blush: Legendary Glow Color Balm in Divine Rose Glow
Have you ever wondered how Jenna always has a “just pinched” appearance to her cheeks? Opt for a luminous cream blush like Pat McGrath’s Divine Cream Blush: Legendary Glow Color Balm in Divine Rose Glow. While this shade is the closest match to what Jenna wears throughout the movie, I’m sure a true leading lady would have all the ones offered at her disposal.
(Image credit: Touchstone/Kobal/Shutterstock)
Anastasia Beverly Hills
Lip Velvet Liquid Lipstick in Kiss
Margaret may come off a little harsh at times, but as we get to know her during the course of The Proposal, it turns out she’s a lot more empathetic than she lets on. Margaret’s makeup changes right at the point when we start to learn more about her life outside, but her cool-toned lips remain the same. The Lip Velvet Liquid Lipstick in Kiss is a pale rose similar to the one worn by the movie’s strong-headed main character.
Merit
Solo Shadow Cream-to-Powder Soft Matte Eyeshadow in Nelson
Margaret sports a wearable smoky eye for the majority of her story, which I think perfectly accentuates Sandra Bullock’s eye shape and sharp features, especially when she wears her signature sleek ponytail. To re-create this look, opt for a matte eye shadow that can be built up and smoked out, like this one by Merit in Nelson.
Lancôme
Le Stylo Waterproof Long Lasting Eyeliner in Chocolat
Now that we’ve gotten Margaret’s smoky eye shadow look down, try pairing it with a warm brown eyeliner. The end result will give all the office siren realness you’re after with just a hint of romance. The Le Stylo Waterproof Long Lasting Eyeliner in Chocolat is my top pick because it’s a natural-looking, cool-toned shade that won’t overpower the eyes.
Makeup by Mario
Soft Pop Plumping Blush Veil in Barely Blushing
Barely Blushing is the perfect name for Makeup by Mario’s Soft Pop Plumping Blush Veil, as it truly looks like a barely-there flush when it’s applied to fair skin. It echoes Margaret’s complexion for most of the movie when she’s visiting her faux-fiancé Andrew Paxton’s family in chilly Sitka, Alaska.
(Image credit: Sanja Bucko/Warner Bros/Kobal/Shutterstock)
Milk Makeup
Kush High Roll Defining & Volumizing Tubing Mascara
In one of the first shots of Rachel Chu, played by Constance Wu, is when she’s studying a deck of cards while teaching theory as part of an economic course she teaches at NYU. While I’m no economic wiz, I have figured out the perfect way to get long, defined lashes like Rachel’s is by using a defining and volumizing mascara like this one by Milk Makeup.
Bobbi Brown
Crushed Lip Color Moisturizing Lipstick in Blue Raspberry
Rachel stands out from the other rom-com heroines on this list because, throughout the movie, it seems like she’s partial to a matte purple lip rather than the rosy pink and mauve shades so commonly worn by other leading ladies of the genre. The only time we really see her without one is before her trip to Singapore with Nick Young.
Laura Mercier
Tinted Moisturizer Natural Skin Perfector Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Throughout Crazy Rich Asians, it looks like Rachel begins spending more time in the sun and develops a gorgeous glow. To accomplish the same look, I swear by Laura Mercier’s classic Tinted Moisturizer Skin Perfector with SPF 30 UV protection. Using a tinted moisturizer is a quick and easy way to create an even-looking and luminous complexion without hiding your natural tone and texture.
Ciele Cosmetics
Blush & Protect SPF 50+ Liquid Blush in Kirsty
Rachel is another character that sports a gorgeous blush look worth re-creating. Rather than wearing the petal pink popularized by other leading ladies of the 2000s and 2010s, she’s spotted wearing a warm nude blush that complements her laid-back style and approach to beauty.
(Image credit: John Clifford/Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock; Alamy Stock Photo)
SheGlam
Big Time Eyes Volumizing Mascara
All Kate Hudson as How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days’ Andie Anderson has to do to win over love interest Matthew McConaughey’s Benjamin Barry is bat her long lashes (apart from tricking him into falling for her for the sake of a column, of course). Today, I think Andie would swear by using a few swipes of an ultra-volumizing mascara like this one by SheGlam.
Laura Mercier
Sateen Eye Colour in Cognac
I’m obsessed with how natural Andie’s eye makeup looks throughout the movie. For a light wash of color on the lids, she wore a dusty brown that brought out her vivid blue eyes and complemented her blonde hair. To re-create the look, consider using Laura Mercier’s Sateen Eye Colour in Cognac.
Kosas
Wet Stick Moisturizing Shiny Sheer Lipstick in Baby Rose
Andie is always seen in the movie with an extremely natural-looking pink tint to the lips—perhaps achieved using a shiny sheer lipstick like this one by Kosas. It melts into the lips, giving a sheer wash of color and long-lasting shine using a blend of squalane, ceramides, and mango butter.
bareMinerals
Gen Nude Blonzer Blush + Bronzer in Kiss of Pink
Andie always looks flushed and sun-kissed likely from running around NYC covering lifestyle stories. To get the same look, use a bronzer-and-blush combo to bring some color to the cheeks, nose bridge, and temples and leave the skin with a heathy-looking glow. If you want to go the extra mile, try also adding a touch of highlighter to the high points of your face.
