Any teenager in the late 90s and early aughts will tell you that the beauty trends of the TRL, Sun-In and Sea Breeze era were especially heinous. Chunky highlights, beige matte lips, singed strands (courtesy of an actual iron), straight, thin brows and so much bronzer—millennials wore every wonderfully awful trend, likely all at the same time. To be fair, it wasn’t all bad. In fact, I still wear two of my most beloved products from my teens, and today, I am in my late thirties. First, the lip color that was viral before “viral” existed: Clinique’s Almost Lipstick in Black Honey ($25). The other? OPI’s Lincoln Park After Dark ($12), a cult-favorite that’s still going strong.
OPI’s Lincoln Park After Dark debuted in 2005 and has held us in a chokehold ever since. Whether you want to call the hue “rich purple,” “midnight purple,” “deep plum,” or “aubergine,” it rivals the boldness of a red manicure but is softer than stark black. It quickly became one of OPI’s best-selling and most-worn nail colors. While it’s a classic all year long, the transition from summer to fall when the temperatures cool and the days get shorter is peak Lincoln Park After Dark season.
In honor of my favorite time of year and nail polish color, check out five similarly-shaded nail polishes to get you into the fall mood.
