If you watched Tell Me Lies and caught yourself pausing just to stare at the makeup, you are not alone. The show leans into true Y2K beauty: heavy eyeliner, glittery eyeshadow, and baby pink lips that feel straight out of early 2000s MTV.
The Tell Me Lies makeup look taps into nostalgia without feeling like a costume. It is expressive, a little messy on purpose, and emotional in the best way. Translating that vibe into a modern routine means taking the Y2K eye drama and pairing it with clean, comfortable formulas that you can actually wear every day.
What the Look or Technique Is:
At its core, the Tell Me Lies makeup look is a love letter to early 2000s beauty. Think smudged black eyeliner that frames the eyes all the way around, glittery eyeshadow that catches the light, and soft, pale pink lips. Skin stays fresh rather than full coverage, echoing that lived‑in college feel.
Grace Van Patten’s character Lucy often wears heavy eyeliner on both lash line and waterline paired with silver or white shimmer on the lids. The effect is slightly undone, like something applied quickly before a party, which is exactly what makes it feel real. This Y2K eyeliner look is not about perfection. It is about mood, music, and late‑night intensity.
Products and Tools Used
To recreate this kind of eye, you need eyeliner that is creamy enough to smudge but long enough not to disappear. Waterproof gel works best for the waterline and lash line. Makeup artists on Tell Me Lies lean on rich black pencils and self‑sharpening liners for clean, safe detail around the eyes.
Glittery eyeshadow is the second key piece. Silver and white shimmers, foils, and pressed glitters mirror Lucy’s party looks and the Britney‑inspired Halloween makeup. Products like Danessa Myricks Colorfix foils, and MAC pigments, glitters are used on set to create that layered sparkle that still reads polished on camera.
For skin, dewy base products like Hourglass Ambient Lighting powders and soft foundations keep everything looking fresh rather than flat. Soft pink lipsticks or stains give that Y2K baby pink lip without dryness. Brands like Rare Beauty, Hourglass, and Koh Gen Do offer modern versions of these textures that feel comfortable for all‑day wear.
How MAELEI Fits In
MAELEI fits naturally into this kind of eye look when you want the definition and drama without sacrificing comfort. The MAELEI Luxury Mascara offers rich lash definition with a formula that conditions as it works. Keratin helps support lash strength, panthenol brings in moisture, and vitamin E calms the delicate lash line so you can layer mascara without irritation.
MAELEI Gel Eyeliner can be used to create that smudged black or deep eggplant line along the lashes while still gliding on smoothly. It is ideal for tracing the upper lash line, then softening the edges to get that lived‑in Tell Me Lies makeup look without tugging on the skin. The Padded Eyelash Curler gently lifts lashes first so the eye still feels open even when the liner is intense. The MAELEI Eye Kit brings these pieces together so you can build a Y2K‑inspired eye with skincare‑first formulas that respect sensitive eyes.