Nicole Richie Still Keeps This Makeup Trend from Her Teenage Years

Some beauty trends fade quietly into old photos, but Nicole Richie has kept one playful eye detail from her late-teen years in her back pocket, even as her routine has shifted toward clean, minimal makeup and skin-first choices.

Nicole Richie has tried plenty of beauty trends across the decades, but one specific look from her late teens still stands out to her. It is not the most expected throwback, and she even admits it might not be a popular one. Still, it is a detail she genuinely loved then, and she still embraces it now.

Richie talked about the trend while attending Australian makeup brand Nude by Nature’s U.S. debut party in West Hollywood on January 14, 2026. The moment was tied to her recent work with the brand, which centers on the idea that “nothing is cleaner than nude.”

Even with a more pared-back routine today, Richie made it clear that certain makeup memories stick for a reason, especially the ones that felt playful and creative.

The Makeup Look She Used to Do at 19

Richie’s teenage-era trend was inspired by Twiggy, the 1960s fashion icon known for her dramatically emphasized lashes, especially her clustered bottom lashes. Richie said the look she used to do was very specific and very intentional.

“This is not going to be a popular one, but when I was probably 19, I would draw the Twiggy eyelashes with eyeliner on my under eyes because I love her and just thought that it was fun,” Richie said.

The technique is easy to picture: instead of relying only on mascara, the idea is to use eyeliner to sketch lower lashes so they look extra bold and separated. It is a graphic, retro style that instantly calls back to Twiggy’s signature eye makeup. For Richie, it was not about subtle enhancement. It was about committing to the vibe and enjoying the artistry of it.

Why She Thinks Young People Should Experiment

Even though Richie understands the look is not for everyone, she is not embarrassed by it. If anything, she views that stage of experimenting as part of the fun of growing up and learning what you like.

“I think especially when you're young, to play with those different looks is so fun and important and you should do it. You should go there,” she added.

Her point is bigger than one lash trend. It is about giving yourself permission to try bold styles without worrying too much about whether they will be timeless. Some looks are about self-expression in the moment. And sometimes, those experiments end up becoming personal favorites that you revisit later.

She Still Wears the Look Today

While Richie has shifted toward a simpler beauty routine overall, she can still be caught wearing the same Twiggy-inspired detail. It is not necessarily her everyday signature, but it has not disappeared from her makeup life either.

That mix of then and now is part of what makes the trend interesting. Richie is not stuck in the past, but she is also not interested in pretending her past never happened. A look can be both nostalgic and current, especially when it reflects a style reference you genuinely love.

A Less-Is-More Approach Because of Sensitive Skin

Richie has been open about why her makeup routine is generally more minimal these days. She says her skin is very sensitive, and the more makeup she wears, the more likely she is to break out. That reality has pushed her toward fewer products and a more careful approach.

The partnership with Nude by Nature fits into that shift. Richie said she does not “wear a lot of makeup in general” because she has “very sensitive skin.”

"So the more I do, the more I break out. So using a brand like Nude by Nature is just amazing and keeps my skin calm. It feels very clean. It feels fresh and it's amazing," she added.

For her, the goal is not to pile on makeup for the sake of it. It is to use products that feel comfortable and keep her skin feeling balanced.

Her Everyday Routine Stays Simple

In day-to-day life, Richie keeps things basic unless she is heading to a major event. She has said she typically wears moisturizer and concealer most days, then steps it up only when the occasion calls for it.

That routine also highlights why the Twiggy-inspired look is such a fun contrast. Drawing on lower lashes is a statement. It is playful and deliberate. And that is exactly why it still feels memorable, even in an era where she prefers a cleaner, lighter touch overall.

Her Daughter Is in a Bold Beauty Phase

"She's young, and so I'm always like telling her, I'm like, 'Go for it. Do all the things,'" Richie said. "I mean, she loves makeup. She loves eyelashes and eyeshadow eyeliners. She loves all of it."

It is not clear whether Kate has tried her mom’s Twiggy-inspired under-eye lash trick, but Richie’s attitude suggests she would be all for it. Richie has also previously shared that the two often share clothes, which hints at a relaxed, style-friendly relationship where trends can pass back and forth in more than one way.

The best part of Richie’s makeup confession is that it is not framed like a guilty pleasure. It is framed like a reminder that experimenting is part of the process. Not every look has to be subtle or universally flattering. Some are meant to be fun, expressive, and a little daring.

Richie’s Twiggy-inspired eyeliner lashes are a small detail, but they capture something bigger: the way beauty trends can become personal memories, and how the ones you love most sometimes come back around, even when your routine becomes simpler.