Zendaya’s Emmys Glow Is a Love Letter to the ’90s

Frosted finishes, luminous skin and just the right amount of nostalgia, Zendaya’s Emmys beauty look was a masterclass in modernising a late-’90s mood.

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There are red carpet beauty looks designed to demand attention, and then there are those that quietly make you want to rethink your entire makeup bag. Zendaya’s beauty moment at the 78th Emmy Awards fell firmly into the latter.

Created by celebrity makeup artist Ernesto Casillas using Prada Beauty, the look played with light rather than heavy colour: glowing skin, softly sculpted cheeks, a frosted wash across the eyes and a glossy, neutral lip. The inspiration came directly from the sparkle of Zendaya’s dress, with Casillas mixing frosty and satin textures as a nod to late-’90s red carpet makeup.

And suddenly, frosted makeup feels very good again.

The complexion was kept luminous and dimensional, beginning with Prada Beauty’s Augmented Skin ritual before Reveal Skin Optimizing Foundation and Blurring + Micro-Correcting Concealer. Touch Cream-to-Powder Blush in Tulip and Cherry brought warmth to the cheeks, while layers of Light Glowing Highlighting Powder created that almost crystalline finish.

For the eyes, Dimensions Holo Nude Eyeshadow in Pansy delivered the cool-toned shimmer, paired with Pradalines Durable Gliding Eye Pencil in Wood and Pradascope Lash Extending Mascara in Nero. The finishing touch? Monochrome Soft Matte in Tiepolo topped with Reflection Glossy Liquid Balm in Blushware, a softly glossy lip that feels distinctly ’90s without veering into costume territory.

It’s perhaps the most appealing kind of beauty nostalgia: recognisable, but refined. Less about recreating a decade exactly and more about borrowing its best ideas and giving them a decidedly 2026 polish.

Consider this your sign: the frosted beauty revival has officially hit the red carpet.