15 Things Millennials Do With Makeup That Boomers Think Are Weird
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Beauty is a reflection of its time, when Millennials and Boomers compare notes, it can feel like they speak different languages. When it comes to beauty trends, Millennials are all about self-expression, bold experimentation, and following the latest trends from Instagram or TikTok. Boomers, on the other hand, grew up with less complex approaches to makeup and skincare, prioritizing practicality over drama.
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Hereโs a dive into 15 makeup trends Millennials love but Boomers cannot understand.
Multi-Step Skin Prep

The boomer’s skincare routine is like a classic black-and-white movie – simple, straightforward, and to the point. Now, throw in a multi-step skin prep routine and it’s like adding a whole Technicolor extravaganza! To them, it’s unnecessarily complex and dramatic.
Contouring and Highlighting
Makeup trends have certainly evolved over the years, Contouring and highlighting are modern techniques that involve enhancing and shaping the face with different shades and tones. Boomers find it weird because it’s a new concept that didn’t exist during their prime. Just as fashion changes with time, so do beauty trends.
Men Wearing Makeup
Boomers never believed that men using makeup was acceptable. Makeup is seen as wholly feminine and frowned at the thought of men being too much in touch with their feminine side. Millennials embrace all forms of self-expression and encourage men to use makeup to highlight their features when necessary. This is a trend that Boomers find weird.
Bold Brows
Back in their day, the emphasis on eyebrows was quite different. Thinner, more delicate brows were all the rage, so seeing those bold, full brows today can seem a bit unconventional to some boomers.
Bright Eyeshadow Colors
Boomers may find bright eyeshadow colors weird because they grew up in a time of more subdued makeup trends. They are used to the natural, earthy tones of the 60s and 70s. From neon hues to glittery eyeshadows, bright eyeshadow colors seem like overkill to Boomers.
No Makeup Makeup Look
Boomers find the no-makeup makeup look weird and pointless. To them, the idea of looking like you’re not wearing makeup while wearing makeup seems unrealistic and a waste of makeup products! Who needs heavy makeup when you can rock your natural beauty with a touch of illusion?
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Sharp Winged Eyeliner
Boomers find sharp-winged eyeliner weird because it’s not a style they grew up with! Back in their days, makeup trends leaned towards softer, more natural looks. The bold and precise winged eyeliner is unfamiliar and even a little too loud to them.
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Unconventional Lip Colors
Boomersโ perception of unconventional lip colors being weird is influenced by the beauty standards and popular trends of their youth. Bold and unconventional lip colors were not as mainstream or widely accepted as they are today. For many boomers, traditional nude, pink, and red lipstick shades were the norm and anything outside that was considered unusual.
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Overlining with Lip Liners
One reason boomers might find overlined lip makeup weird is that they grew up when natural-looking makeup was the norm. Overlining the lips for a fuller look is a trend that has recently become popular.
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Face Gems and Rhinestones
Boomers find face gems and rhinestones for makeup weird because they grew up in a time when makeup trends were more natural and subtle. These days, Millennials embrace face gems boldly.
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Vibrant Hair Colors
Boomers grew up in a time when natural hair colors were the norm. It is no surprise thar vibrant hair colors like hot pink or neon green seems weird to them!
Related: 15 Retro Hairstyles Boomers Perfected That Are Making a Comeback
Setting Spray
Setting Spray locks in your makeup for so long that it feels like it’s been around for centuries! It’s like a time-traveling spray that keeps your makeup looking fabulous throughout the day! Boomers find the idea of locked makeup that requires a routine to cleanse weird and complex.
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Layered Foundation
Boomers find wearing layered foundations weird because they believe makeup should be simpler and uncomplicated. Adding layers of foundation feels unnecessarily complex to them.
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Face Full of Makeup
Boomers often find a full face of daily makeup weird because they come from a time when less was more and the natural beauty shined through. So, they raise an eyebrow at the amount of glam and glitter that modern makeup brings to the table.
Related: 14 Haircare Tips Boomers Used That Millennials Should Start Doing
Glitter Everywhere
Boomers may find glitter everything makeup weird because it represents a departure from the traditional and more understated makeup styles they grew up with. They also associate glitter with arts and crafts.
From glittery eyeshadow to highlighter with shimmer, millennials embrace sparkle. The shimmering and sparkling nature of glitter makeup can be perceived as flashy or over-the-top by some who are accustomed to more classic looks.
Related: 15 Clothing Staples Boomers Wore That Are Surprisingly Stylish Again
Disclaimer: This list is solely the authorโs opinion based on research and publicly available information.
15 Everyday Beauty Tips Boomers Followed That Millennials Overlook
Makeup trends from the โ60s to the โ70s are the blueprint for many makeup trends we still wear today. Boomer makeup routines may be considered super outdated but they hold the secret to maintaining ageless looks
Read it here: 15 Everyday Beauty Tips Boomers Followed That Millennials Overlook
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Your 50s is the perfect time to embrace elegance and confidence. Your style should reflect this elegance and grace. You should not struggle to look younger with age-inappropriate clothes or look older with clothes that lack character.
Read it here: Over 50? These 15 Style Mistakes Are Aging YouโToss Them Now
100+ Modern Winter Outfits That Are Anything But Frumpy
Still reaching for the same tired winter looks? Donโt let frumpy outfits define your styleโthese 100+ modern winter outfits will keep you warm and effortlessly stylish. You deserve better than boring this season!
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