Bubblegum pink hair, grills & blurry iPhone photos summed up the 'King Kylie' era. And with the 10th anniversary of her cosmetics line, Kylie Cosmetics, the 'Kylie lip kits' are back in all their former glory. Filled with nostalgia, Kylie threw it back to 2016 with the iconic bubblegum pink hair & a stunning pink dress. 

Do people think it's a cash grab? Sure. But is it really? 

Kylie defined 2014 with her defining & bold style. Matching her ex’s name, King Gold Chains (Tyga), King Kylie personified her alter ego with iconic wigs, matte lips and thick eyeliner. She truly embraced the IG baddie makeup, especially the overlined lips, which led to the creation of the signature Kylie Lip Kit. 

For a decade, King Kylie lay dormant. Then, with a sudden sneak peek on Snapchat in October, fans were delighted to know that Jenner’s alter ego was resurrecting. However, there was little time to prepare for what was coming, with Jenner posting multiple nostalgic photos of King Kylie on Instagram, hinting at a possibility of new products inspired by her 2016 looks. 

Instead, fans were treated to renewed versions of throwback makeup products, such as her iconic lip kits, which were equally, if not more, exciting than new products. The era that kick-started her cosmetics journey was revitalised throughout her pop-up, featuring exotic-coloured wigs, Snapchat filters, matte lips, and even Jenner herself wearing a tight pink latex dress with a long pink blowout wig, reminiscent of 2016. 

While Jenner is introducing a new eyeshadow palette to her makeup line, she is also reviving the iconic King Kylie Collection to celebrate her company’s anniversary. Products that induced Jenner’s cosmetic success, like her "Dead of Night" and "True Brown K" shades of lip kits, and the "Like" and "Literally" lip glaze shades that shook 2016 makeup gurus, are headlined with the new collection. (In my opinion) This is not truly a cash grab; rather, it's a celebration of an era-defining fashion and makeup style. Even Forbes tells us to “watch out for it” with Vogue even going as far as saying “(it's) what we wanted all along”. 

It really brings back the “Lemme take a selfie” era of makeup, in a world where minimalism is praised, clean girl aesthetics runs rampant, and if it’s not beige, it’s not in. This (in my opinion) is a step towards renewing the need for colour throughout society. For a generation that desperately clings to nostalgia, this truly is the perfect throwback.

Fans were gobsmacked, with many, including myself, beyond excited to see King Kylie flourishing once again. The possibility of King Kylie staying for a while is electrifying yet deeply sentimental. Fans are reminded of a simpler time, when all that mattered was how smooth matte lips could be, how outlandishly masculine one could dress, and how grungy one's front-flash snaps could be. 

Take inspiration from King Kylie herself: own your matte lip look, wear oversized t-shirts, have big lashes, and take your photos as blurry as you want. 

Be yourself!

Alan Tom is an undergraduate student studying a bachelor’s degree in psychology. A chronically online procrastinator and a lover of iceberg video essays, he is often found doomscrolling on his phone or trying to lock in. Aside from his omnipresent online presence, he loves late-night walks to the beach whilst PinkPatheress blares through his earphones.