Like my undying obsession with celebrity perfumes (don’t judge!), I’ll admit I’m a big sucker for beauty commercials, as they take me back to a time when things were simpler and free of adult responsibilities. Sigh. But aside from the major nostalgia I get from constantly watching retro advertisements on YouTube, it’s more than awesome to revisit all the products we’ve long since put to rest.
In case you didn’t know, '90s and '00s nostalgia are having a major moment right now, so to relive all those major beauty moments, I’m looking back at 13 classic hair and makeup commercials sure to bring a smile (or smirk!) to your face.
Image via ProjectAdHand/YouTube
1. Caboodles Box
If there was one '90s commercial that I remember vividly, it definitely had to be the Caboodles Box one. I mean, those colors! That music! Ugh! Before I go on and on, please excuse me while I rummage through the attic for my old box.
2. Clairol Herbal Essences Shampoo
I never really had a "shampooorgasm" like the lady in the Herbal Essences commercial, but I did try to fake it sometimes. Just ask my mom; she’ll probably remember it.
3. Wrap, Snap & Go Curlers
Back when "As Seen on TV" beauty products were having a major moment (sorry, Bump It!), each set of cheetah Wrap, Snap & Go curlers looked so easy but proved to be more complicated than origami. I should know, as I remember having screaming matches with my overtly tacky leopard set, especially when my poodle curls looked nothing like the ones in commercial.
4. Glow by Jennifer Lopez Perfume
Let’s be real: the '00s were all about celebrity perfumes! Sure, Paris (don't hate!) and Britney's scents had their respective places on my nightstand, but lawd almighty, nothing compared to JLo's debut scent, Glow by JLo. Raise your hand if you secretly hoped Ben Affleck would suddenly appear each time you spritzed this scent. God knows I did.
More from The Stir: 15 Unforgettable (& Totally Regrettable) Fashion Trends From the Early '00s
5. L’Oreal Paris Feria Haircolor
Yes, Jennifer Lopez really was the queen of the early '00s, as her L’Oreal Paris Feria Haircolor ad definitely made this fellow Latina want to dye her hair before she actually hit puberty. Even after I practically screeched every time this commercial came on, Mom wouldn’t let me dye my hair until I was 17. However, once that time came around, of course I got a much more updated L’Oreal box color with JLo in mind.
6. Maybelline Wet Shine Lipstick
Long before her argan beauty line ruined my life, Josie Maran hocked Maybelline Wet Shine Lipstick on TV. The former model turned makeup guru was the Maybelline covergirl everyone wanted to be. However, on a side note, I’ll admit that it was actually Buffy herself (Sarah Michelle Gellar was also Maybelline spokesgirl!) who sold me this very special lipstick, as the Wet Shine Diamonds color in particular still makes me feel like a badass slayer I always wanted to be.
7. Covergirl Outlast All-Day Lip Color
While i’ll admit to being more #teammaybelline back in the day, I always was enamored by Covergirl lipcolors, especially when dual-pack ones like this came out. While I was only 13 when this product came out, I always imagined my wedding to Buffy star David Boreanaz would look something like this commercial. Maybe that’s why I even bought this lipstick in the first place.
8. Dove Face Essential Nutrients Day Cream
Most preteen gals my age were fighting over Limited Too and Delia’s nail polishes, but I was always the oddball, slapping on Dove facial cream like I was wiser and better than the rest of them. Perhaps that’s why this commercial spoke to me so much, as this was one of the first face creams I ever owned. Okay, so maybe it was really was my mom’s, but man does this take me back to the 8th grade locker room. Baby Soft, anyone?
More from The Stir: Let's Get Sentimental About '00s Beauty Products
9. Pantene Pro-V Shampoo
Call me lame, but I still credit this cheesy Pantene Pro-V Shampoo ad for spawning my "beauty awakening," as viewing it countless times on TV somehow ended my tomboy phase, making me finally start to see the importance of a hair brush and lip gloss. So maybe I’m exaggerating a bit, but the hairbrush bit is really true, folks.
10. Christina Aguilera Xpose Fragrance
Even though I was more of a Britney fan growing up, my obsession with celebrity fragrances totally had me crazy about Christina Aguilera's Xpose. While the aroma smelled super cheap, it did make me feel like a pinup superstar. Back to Basics was one of my favorite Xtina (yes, I still call her this) albums, and I still thank Miss Aguilera’s alter ego Baby Jane for sparking my interest in pinup makeup and fashion.
11. Noxzema Classic Cream Cleanser
I was only 4 years old back in 1993, but Noxzema still brings back tons of memories of my youth. Of course, Clean & Clear was the "it" skin-care brand for '00s teens like me, but Noxema always had an alluring appeal to me, especially since I saw it on all of my older (and cooler!) relatives' nightstands growing up. But most importantly, Clueless always makes me partial to Noxzema, 'cause c'mon, Cher Horowitz is the best!
12. Calvin Klein CK1 Fragrance
To this very day, I still have strong opinions about CK1 (my signature '90s scent 4eva!) and won't deny it at all. Even though this CK1 Fragrance ad dropped in 1995, I still remember wearing the scent way into 1999, hoping I’d be just as glamorous as Kate Moss.
More from The Stir: Former '90s Teens Get All Nostalgic About Bath & Body Works #FlashbackFragrances
13. St. Ives Whipped Silk Body Lotion
Le sigh, this St. Ives ad always brings back memories of summers spent reading Seventeen and watching soap operas on loop. Oh were those the simple days. But before I reminisce any further about All My Children plotlines, I will admit to asking my mom to order Whipped Silk Lotion on eBay once it was discontinued. Now don’t get me wrong, I normally don’t make a habit of using discontinued products, but sometimes duty calls, amiright?
