"Devon Aoki Makeup" is ideal for round faces like mine, so I consulted an expert on how to achieve the look.

      Growing up as a zillennial, I had the privilege of experiencing the final offerings of the '90s while also enjoying the perks of the 2000s. I was too young to engage in the major trends my older cousins embraced after seeing them donned by Destiny's Child or Britney Spears at the VMAs, yet I spent a significant part of my childhood mentally cataloging how I wanted to navigate adulthood. My aspirations included low-rise jeans, my personal phone line, and an elaborately designed MySpace page (most of which vanished by the time I reached middle school). Until I can jump into a time machine and return to an era of butterfly clips and chunky highlights, I get to relive the decade's most memorable beauty moments through films. One of my favorite faces from that time, although not featured as often as I'd prefer, is model, retired actress, and Y2K icon Devon Aoki. Below, I’m delving into her iconic beauty style and how, unlike many of the era's well-known looks, millennials and Gen Zers continue to appreciate it.

      The Devon Aoki Influence

      Enter celebrity makeup artist and Wet n Wild brand ambassador Lilly Keys. Keys, who has collaborated with some of the decade's leading figures including Charli XCX, Jenna Ortega, Tate McRae, and Sophie Thatcher, is particularly captivated by Aoki's influence on beauty. She discovered the model through her admiration for Kate Moss's makeup and what she describes as the "whole undone supermodel energy." Aoki's unique face and her makeup style from the 2000s struck Keys as having a perfect blend of structure and softness. "Her skin always appeared fresh and authentic, brows were left natural, and the cheeks were everything," Keys remarks. "[Aoki] avoided heavy contouring and sharp liner, instead allowing a vertical flush of blush to define her face." Though Aoki has stepped back from full-time acting, she is still a significant presence in the fashion world. Recently, she starred in ACNE Studios' spring/summer 2023 campaign and appeared alongside her brother, DJ and record producer Steve Aoki, in the Tommy Hilfiger fall 2023 campaign. Presently, it is her influence on some nostalgic beauty trends that are gaining traction on TikTok and Pinterest that inspires me the most.

      Aoki's Distinct "Lived-In Glamour" Look

      Nostalgia-driven makeup trends are not new, but when they incorporate practical makeup techniques that enhance specific face shapes, I can’t help but save them for future reference. While I adore my full cheeks and low cheekbones, there have certainly been moments when I wished to downplay their prominence. Then, TikTok videos of Aoki appear on my feed, reminding me of how much I enjoyed seeing her during my formative years for the same reasons. Keys too appreciates Aoki’s effortlessly “lived-in” appearance, a look the model became synonymous with throughout the 2000s and beyond. "It wasn’t polished in a conventional sense; it was romantic and somewhat rebellious," she elaborates. "That’s precisely why it still resonates today when everyone is pursuing that skin-forward, nostalgic vibe that feels like it’s naturally blended rather than applied. Devon was truly ahead of her time with that style." She also mentions that what makes Aoki's makeup timeless is that it focused on celebrating her natural features rather than altering them. "It was instinctive, relaxed, and centered around one focal point that tied the whole look together. For Devon, it was the blush, which is exactly why it remains so inspiring today," Keys adds. Not only did the model master the art of a flushed complexion, but she also understood how to rock a playful smoky eye and a pouty lip.

      Iconic Blush Placement

      While I can’t confirm that vertical blush application was specifically designed with faces like mine in mind, I can assert that my makeup has never looked as good as when I take a few extra moments to adjust where I apply the brush or Beautyblender. The vertical blush technique has taken on many forms (the "boyfriend blush" trend utilized similar placement), yet Aoki's distinct makeup looks have proven to be just as influential in 2025 as they were in 2005. So, what’s the reason behind this trend? "Devon’s blush placement stands out in particular. It wasn’t the boyfriend blush that TikTok popularized with color on the nose and the apples of the cheeks," explains Keys. She shares that Aoki’s blush was applied more vertically, starting at the apples and blending up along the cheekbone and toward the temple, creating a lifted and elongated appearance without appearing forced. "To recreate it, I’d use a cream blush like Wet n Wild MegaGlo Vitamin E Makeup Sticks or a liquid blush like the Wet n Wild MegaGlow Lip & Cheek Color, applying it in layers and blending until it feels