Okay, so I got this idea stuck in my head the other day about Adriana Lima back in 2000. You know, that specific look she had right at the beginning of her huge career. It felt like a different time, and I wanted to see if I could sort of… capture that vibe myself. Not trying to BE her, obviously, but just understand that Y2K supermodel thing she had going on.
Starting the Hunt
First thing I did was go digging for pictures. Just typed “Adriana Lima 2000” into the usual places. It wasn’t super hard to find photos, but getting really clear, high-quality ones from exactly 2000 took a bit more effort. Lots were from ’99 or ’01. I finally zeroed in on some shots, looked like maybe from early Victoria’s Secret stuff or some magazine shoots around then. She had that really bronzed skin, kind of smoky but not too heavy eye makeup, and those glossy lips everyone was doing.
Breaking Down the Look
So I stared at these pictures for a while. What really stood out?
- Skin: Definitely sun-kissed. Not contour like today, more like an all-over bronze glow. Maybe a bit of shimmer?
- Eyes: Smudgy liner, probably black or dark brown. Eyeshadow was there but blended out, not sharp. Looked like maybe some taupe or bronze shades. And lots of mascara, of course.
- Lips: Super glossy. The color underneath looked pretty natural, maybe a brownish-nude or a soft berry, but the gloss was the main event.
- Hair: Mostly long, dark, and either straight with a bit of texture or some loose waves. Nothing too “done”.
It felt simpler than today’s looks, but also very specific to that time.
Finding the Stuff
Alright, next step was trying to gather the makeup. I wasn’t about to hunt down actual vintage makeup from 2000, that sounds scary. So I looked for modern things that could give a similar effect. Finding a good bronzer wasn’t hard, they’re everywhere. The challenge was the eye stuff. Getting that slightly smudgy, not-too-perfect liner look meant finding a softer pencil. And the lip gloss – needed one that was really shiny but not sticky, in that kind of Y2K nude-brown shade. Took some searching through my own stash and looking at current products.
Giving it a Go
Okay, time to actually try it. I put on my base and went heavy handed (for me, anyway) with the bronzer all over. Then I tried the eye look. Used a soft brown pencil and smudged it out with my finger, then added a shimmery taupe shadow. Mascara, check. For the lips, I used a nude liner and then piled on the glossiest gloss I could find. I just left my hair down, trying to get that effortless-but-still-supermodel feel.
The Outcome?
Well, I didn’t magically look like Adriana Lima in 2000, shocker! But it was interesting. The makeup felt different – less precise than what’s popular now. The glossy lip was… glossy. Very glossy. It definitely captured a specific early 2000s feeling. It made me appreciate how distinct that era’s beauty standards were. Less about sharp angles and more about that glowy, slightly undone look. It was fun to play around with it, like stepping back in time for a bit just using some makeup brushes. A good reminder that trends really do change a lot.
