Pink is having a moment this summer thanks in large part to the upcoming Greta Gerwig-directed movie Barbie set to hit theaters in July 2023. It is currently being filmed and stars living doll Margo Robbi in the titular role of the iconic Mattel toy.
Once publicity stills from the set’s star in full hot, neon, and pastel Barbie-pink regalia emerged, an online movement known as Barbiecore sparked.
Barbiecore is a social media style trend inspired by the famous plastic fashion doll, Barbie, and her hot pink aesthetic. It represents everything bright, vibrant, and pink from fashion and makeup to hair and home décor while embracing “girliness” in a positive, confident, and empowering way.
The hashtag #Barbiecore has 8.1 million views on TikTok and “Barbie” searches on Pinterest are up 90%. The Barbie doll, it seems, is having a renaissance and has become an unlikely inspiration to summer fashion trends.
The Barbiecore fashion trend is all about more is more (where pink is concerned) and looking pretty, and it’s not just for the gals. In the Barbie film, Ryan Gosling plays Barbie’s boyfriend, Ken, in costumes of matching vibrancy, providing a modeled muse for men.
Fashion houses and their fall runway shows are also responsible for fueling the Barbiecore trend. Valentino’s Haute Couture Fall/Winter 22/23 collection, except for some black, was entirely comprised of hot pink.
Perhaps bright, mood-boosting, positive vibes are exactly what is needed now after the past two years of the pandemic, rising crime, and out-of-control inflation. People just want to dress up, get out, and have fun. And what better color to do that in than hot pink?
Many celebrities are also getting in on the Barbiecore movement, sporting their best hot pink numbers on red carpets and A-list events around the globe.
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A Brief History of Barbie
Barbie is the brainchild of Ruth Handler who, with her husband, co-founded the American toy manufacturer Mattel. Barbie’s likeness is modeled after a doll called Bild Lilli, based on a German comic-strip character, to whom Mattel eventually bought the rights.
Barbara Millicent Roberts—Barbie’s full name—was the first mass-produced toy doll with adult features. She was introduced to the world in March 1959 with both blonde and brunette versions. That first year, 300,000 Barbie dolls sold at $3.00 each (roughly $30.55 in 2022 with inflation).
Two years later, in 1961, Barbie’s boyfriend Ken Carlson was introduced. Both Barbie and Ken are named after Handler’s children. Barbie’s best friend Midge Hadley debuted in 1963, followed by little sister Skipper a year later.
Sales of Barbie have fallen since their peak in the 1990s, but she remains a more than a billion-dollar annual asset. Mattel estimates that two Barbies are sold every second worldwide.
One of the first toys to utilize television advertising, Barbie’s marketing strategy has been widely copied since. It also spurred a plethora of Barbie-branded products like clothes, accessories, books, and cosmetics, as well as TV shows, movies, and video games, creating an entire Barbie world saturated in her favorite color, pink.
Barbie even started a vlog on YouTube in 2015 (with motion-capture and voice-acting performed by actress America Young), which has massed nearly 200 episodes and more than 14 billion views at the time of writing.
However, Barbie is not without her controversies, primarily for promoting an unrealistic body image and lack of diversity. The 1965 Slumber Party Barbie even came with the unfortunate inclusion of a pink bathroom scale permanently set to 110lbs and a diet book called How To Lose Weight with the only instruction “DON’T EAT!” written inside. The scale was removed a year later, but the diet book stayed around until at least 1967.
Although Barbie’s African-American friend Christie debuted in 1968, it wasn’t until 1980 that an official black Barbie was introduced. That same year, Mattel responded to the criticism of a lack of diversity by releasing more than 40 varieties of multicultural Barbies.
In 2016, Mattel expanded the line (called Barbie Fashionistas) to include seven skin tones, 22 eye colors, and 24 hair textures and styles. They also added three different body types (curvy, petite, and tall) to have a more inclusive representation of all shapes and sizes.
Over the years, Barbie has become a cultural icon and role model symbolizing female independence and strength. With more than 200 careers since 1959—from doctor and astronaut to presidential candidate, police officer, and CEO, as well as more recent STEM fields—Barbie inspires young girls (and boys!) around the globe to work hard, have fun, and achieve whatever they put their minds to. It’s like her tagline says, “You Can Be Anything.”
Here are some recommendations to help you look
Pretty in Pink while Rocking Your Barbie Best
Lipstick
Covergirl Exhibitionist Cream Lipstick in Bombshell Pink
A cool-toned fuchsia that’s highly pigmented with a rich, smooth texture. Infused with hydrating coconut oil and aloe vera.
MAC Lipstick in Saint Germain
A soft pastel pink with slight purple undertones. The long-wear, creamy texture nourishes lips with jojoba seed oil and beeswax.
YSL Rouge Pur Couture The Slim Matte Lipstick in Rose Curieux
A bright electric pink with a matte finish that’s perfect for fair skin. Long-wearing and highly pigmented with a square bullet for precision application.
Tom Ford Boys & Girls Lip Color Lipstick in Anderson
A bright, warm-toned medium pink with a satin finish. It hydrates, softens, and nourishes with soja seed extract, Brazilian murumuru butter, and chamomilla flower oil.
Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick in Pillow Talk
The iconic nude pink with a matte finish that flatters every skin tone by enhancing natural lip color. Orchid extract ensures it’s non-drying.
Gloss
NYX Butter Gloss in Éclair
A true light pink that looks good on all skin tones. The non-sticky, high-shine formula features sheer coverage that stays put all day.
Milani Keep It Full Nourishing Lip Plumper in Sparkling Pink
A light-reflecting shimmery pink with sheer tint coverage. Infused with hyaluronic acid to hydrate and peptides to plump lips.
Buxom Full-On Plumping Lip Cream Gloss in Pink Lady
A high-shine baby pink. Peptides plump your pout while hyaluronic acid and vitamins A and E provide soft, long-lasting moisture.
Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Lip Luminizer in Fussy
A medium pink with gold pearl and warm undertones that’s universally wearable. The mega-watt shine is like a highlighter for lips.
Wet N Wild Mega Sticks Lip Gloss in Sinless
A frosty pink with a brilliant shine. Moisturizes lips with hyaluronic acid, collagen, sunflower oil, and vitamin E. Plus, it’s super affordable!
Lip Liner
NYX Slim Lip Pencil in Sand Pink
A cool, medium tulip pink with a matte finish. The long-wear formula glides on easily and resists bleeding for an instant plump to your pout.
Make Up For Ever Aqua Lip Waterproof Lip Liner Pencil in Pink 15C
A vibrant pink that glides on with vitamin E and jojoba wax. Extremely long-lasting formula that shapes and defines lips.
NARS Precision Lip Liner in Sainte-Maxime
A deep magenta that smooths on to shape and define lips in highly-pigmented color with a matte finish. The budge-resistant formula is enriched with vitamin E and mango seed oil.
MAC Lip Pencil in Whirl
A dusty rose/neutral deep pink with a smooth, creamy texture that won’t skip or drag when lining or contouring lips. Perfect for medium-dark skin tones.
NYX Slim Lip Pencil in Dolly Pink
A bright, pale, cool-toned pink with a matte finish. The dry texture goes on even and prevents feathering. Great base for most pinks.
Blush
Make Up For Ever Sculpting Blush in #8 Satin Indian Pink
An oil-free, finely milled powder blush in a bright, blue-toned pink. The super-pigmented formula easily blends with a satin finish.
Fenty Beauty Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush in Crush on Cupid
A warm-toned dark pink with a satin finish. Sheer, buildable coverage gives cheeks a natural glow, and it is sweat and water-resistant.
Flower Beauty Blush Bomb Color Drops in Bubbly
A bubblegum pink with a natural finish. Lightweight, silky, and buildable, it blends seamlessly for the perfect natural flush.
NARS Blush in Mata Hari
A dark rose petal pink with a natural finish. The buttery smooth texture is highly pigmented and buildable from sheer to bold with eight hours of staying power.
Bobbi Brown Blush in Tawny
A medium pinkish brown with a matte finish. Long-lasting formula that glides on and mimics the skin’s natural flush. Perfect shade for olive to darker complexions.
Eyeshadow
Shiseido POP PowderGel Eyeshadow in Waku-Waku Pink #11
A medium pink with a matte finish. Rich pigment in a cream/powder hybrid that glides on super smooth with full coverage.
Stila Glitter & Glow Liquid Eyeshadow in Tulip Twinkle
A lightweight, long-wearing liquid shadow in pink with a gold sparkle. Applies effortlessly and dries down smoothly, locking in glitter with minimal fallout.
NARS Eyeshadow in Domination
A warm-toned, medium-dark fuchsia with a semi-matte finish. The high-performance, weightless formula is blendable to create rich, vibrant color that’s long-wearing to boot.
Urban Decay Naked Cherry Eyeshadow Palette
From pink to plum to cranberry, this palette has colors that complement all complexions. Ultra blendable shadows with rich color and velvety texture in matte and shimmer finishes. Twelve cherry neutrals that go from soft to loud and flatter all skin tones and eye colors.
MAC Matte Eyeshadow in Yogurt
A soft pale pink with a matte finish. This highly pigmented shadow applies evenly and blends effortlessly without creasing for eight hours. It can be used wet or dry.
Nail Polish
Essie Rocky Rose Nail Polish Collection in No Shade Here
A vivid hot pink with a shiny, smooth finish, plus flawless coverage and durability.
CND Vinylux 2-in-1 Long Wear in Hot Pop Pink #121
A bright pink long-wear polish with a base and color coat in one step. High-impact color that lasts for seven days.
Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Nail Polish Lacquer in Beet-ing Heart
A soft, neutral pink with a glossy finish. The 3-in-1 formula features a built-in base and top coat. Full coverage, vibrant color dries in 60 seconds.
China Glaze Nail Lacquer in Exceptionally Gifted
A pearlescent pale seashell pink with a metallic gold shimmer finish. A special balance of polymers and resins ensures long-lasting, chip, and fade-resistant color and shine.
Zoya Nail Lacquer in Reagan
A deep, cool fuchsia pink with an opaque cream finish. The long-lasting vegan-friendly formula packs a lot of color.
To take your Barbie look to the next level, try the NYX Face & Body Glitter in Rose. It’s a gorgeous lightweight pink with light-reflecting glitter that looks incredible on the eyes but can used anywhere on the face or body. Complete the look with a pair of Barbie-long lashes from KISS.
For questions, concerns, or article ideas, feel free to reach out to our eCosmetics Beauty Editor directly at beauty@ecosmetics.com
