Retro Makeup

Do you have a passion for vintage?  A fondness for days gone by?  Do you feel like you were born during the wrong era, or are you just into dreaming up different looks for yourself?  Whatever your motivation, be assured that everything old is indeed new again.  Makeup has come a long way since the turn of the century, but the classics will never go out of style.  With our guide to retro makeup, you'll be able to transform yourself into a jazzy flapper girl, a blond (or brunette, of course) bombshell, a doe-eyed bobby soxer, a shimmering disco dancer, a rebel without a cause, and so many more.  All it takes is a basic color palette and some tricks of the trade, and you'll be turning back the clock in no time at all.

If you're looking for retro inspired makeup brands, be sure to check out Besame  and TINte. 

Makeup Must-Haves

Before you get started, here are some tools we recommend.  With them, the making up process will be a snap!

• Magnifying Mirror : If you can't see what you're doing, you're already at a disadvantage.
• Concealer Brush : You'll want to start with a flawless base, so cover up any imperfections.
• Foundation Brush  or Makeup Sponges : Not every look below requires foundation, but these tools are also useful for blending products.
• Powder Puff : Useful for applying loose powder or setting your makeup.
• Kabuki Brush  or Blush Brush : Use either of these to apply bronzers, powders, and blushes.
• Eye Makeup Brushes : Eyeliner brushes  are ideal for a variety of looks.  You'll also want to find the eye shadow brush that will help you achieve the look you desire.  For example, if you are going for a more natural look (think 40s and 50s), a medium  or large eye shadow brush  (depending on the size of your lid) will do as it will create a simple wash of color.  However, if you will be applying shadow to the crease, look for a contour brush  and a blending brush.   And above all, don't forget your brow brush! 
• Lip Brush : If you're working on a 20s lip or using red lipstick, you might want one of these to help with precision.
• Cotton Swabs : Perfect for quick fixes.
• Makeup Remover : Unfortunately, the magic has to end at some point.

1920s Chic

Women gained the right to vote in 1920, and with this previous privilege, American ladies set about to enjoy their new social status.  The old-fashioned ways were left behind as it became custom to go on dates without a chaperon, dance the Charleston, and drink bootleg liquor at nightclubs: the Roaring Twenties were officially underway!  Women were no longer content to blend in, and therefore, they made drastic cosmetic changes: they bobbed their hair, shortened their skirts, and showed their individuality through their makeup.  Thanks to silent film stars like Clara Bow  and Theda Bara,  it was soon en vogue to have ghostly pale skin, ruby red lips (often shaped into Cupid's Bows), and dark, dramatic eyes.  Read on for sample color palettes and for more information.

Pale Beauties Look for powders  that are one or two shades lighter than your skin color.  Ivories  and creams  were all the rage.	Forbidden Fruit Brighten up with fruity blushes: raspberry,  rose,  or orange  tints are perfect, especially in liquid  form.	Lady is a Vamp Emphasize your lips with reds, brownish reds, plums, or oranges, and try your hand at the Cupid's Bow.	Smoke Gets in Your Eye Line your eyes in black,  then use grays  or turquoises  to create a smoky eye.  Black mascara  finishes the look.	A Fine Line Brows were painfully thin and quite dark.  If you're hesitant, you might want to cover yours and paint  over them.

30s Glam

With the stock market crash of 1929 and the ensuing Great Depression, the crazy days of the Flapper era were utterly deflated.  Financial security was certainly a thing of the past, and people began to look for any means necessary to protect themselves.  Thus, the infamous independent woman of the 20s accepted a new fate: marriage (and thus a fiscal partner) was now in her best interest, and she responded with a softer, more feminine look.  Though faces were still powdered and pale, pinks and peaches adorned the cheeks, and other dark colors were likewise replaced.  Following in the footsteps of Marlene Dietrich  and Claudette Colbert,  the new look was all about easy glamor and a lack of extremes.

Fresh-Faced Femme Powders should still be lighter than your natural color: ivories  or light pinks  were extremely popular.	Dare to Bare It was common to wear very light rouge (in raspberries,  yellow reds,  or purple reds ) or none at all.	Jewel Tones Blonds preferred blue,  violet,  or green shadows,  while brunettes used shimmery browns  or purples.	Brighten Up Mouths were adorned with roses,  raspberries,  reds,  or oranges,  and the bow of the top lip was elongated.	Brow Beating Women plucked or shaved off their eyebrows, drew them on again and dressed them with Vaseline  for extra shine.

40s Natural Beauties

The onset of World War II was absolutely a milestone for the American woman.  Now that husbands, boyfriends, and fiances were shipped off to foreign lands, it became necessary for the fairer sex to keep up the country's morale.  Not only was there a tremendous female influence in the workforce, but ladies were also encouraged to remind those boys what they were fighting for.  Style therefore became all about the feminine form, but in a practical, spartan way (wars are expensive, after all): slim waists, tight busts, and full skirts became de rigueur.  Makeup followed suit; women wanted to look like ladies (especially after a long day at the factory), but in a simpler way.  Face and eye makeup became subtler, and the focus shifted to a patriotic red lip.

Rosy the Riveter To give a rosy glow, warmer foundations  were matched with powders lighter than the natural skin color.	In the Pink of Health The 40s were all about a peaches and cream complexion.  Look for blushes in bright pink,  rose,  or fuchsia.	Natural Woman Eyes were understated with gray  and brown shadows.   A bit of brown  or black liner  was used, as well as mascara.	Fly the Flag During war time, lips were a bright red.   For help finding your best hue, check out our helpful guide.	The Brows Have It Eyebrows were allowed to grow in more naturally, and they were emphasized with dark brown pencils.

50s Fashionista

As the troops returned home from World War II, babies were born in huge numbers, and women went back to their traditional roles as wives and mothers.  The Nifty Fifties saw continued emphasis on femininity, and they added their own dash of domestic bliss: the goal now was to settle down, get married, and continue the current Baby Boom.  The look therefore became about enticing men with pretty makeup, higher than high heels, alluring perfumes, and clothes that showed curves in all the right places (think Marilyn Monroe ).  As could be expected, the most popular colors were those associated with girlishness--all shades of pastels, peaches, and pinks.  For those women who were already attached, the task became to emulate the archetypal glamor wives like Lucille Ball  of I Love Lucy .

Liquid Loveliness Peaches and cream was still all the rage, only now it was achieved through the use of liquid foundations.	Coming Up Roses The 50s face was all about innocence and naivete, so rose blushes  and luminous powders  were huge.	Bright Eyes During the day, neutral shadows  dominated.  At night, however, eyes got smoky and the top lid was lined.	Luscious Lips Lips were matte and light red  or pink  during the day.  In the evening, a darker red lip  was quite popular.	Glamor Puss Dark mascara  and false eyelashes were an evening staple, and the cat eye look added an air of mystery.

60s Mod Flower Power

With masses of youngsters all going through adolescence at almost the same moment, it's hardly surprising that the 60s introduced rebellion in a big way, especially when that decade was one of radical social change.  With the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights movement, the world was changing in colossal ways, and the innocence of the 1950s would never again be recaptured.  There were two major looks that defined these years: the hippie movement, and the Mods.  Since the hippies were more or less au natural and didn't really wear makeup at all, we will concentrate on the psychedelic Mods.  It was all about vivid eyes: bright colors, thick liner, and lashes, lashes,  lashes.

A Blank Canvas To draw attention to the eye, skin had to be flawless: natural,  matte,  and lightly dusted with powder.	Gold Dust Woman The aim was to look slightly tanned, so create the effect of sun-kissed cheeks with a shimmery bronzer.	Give the Eye Eyes were colorful in blues  and greens : the bolder the better.  Line  both lids heavily and don't skimp on mascara.	Tight-Lipped A nude  lip was essential in highlighting the eyes.  Imagine frosted  (even silvery) or barely there glosses.	At Least 40 Lashes! Top  and bottom false lashes  complete the look.  Twiggy would paint on her lower lashes with liner  for extra effect.

70s Disco Divas

The 70s: the era of leisure suits, Charlie's Angels,  and--of course!--disco.   This genre of music grew out of the psychedelic colors and trippy lighting of the 1960s, so the scene was absolutely all about making a visual splash. Though it's true that hair and makeup were likewise trending more towards the natural looks popularized by the flower children of the previous decade, when it came time to shake your booty on the dance floor (or at the roller rink ), healthy, bronzed complexions were decorated with plenty of sparkle.  Women shied away from the dark eye makeup of bygone eras, and it was all about looking fresh and glowing.  Pearlescent colors were everywhere, from eyes to lips to nails, so think glitter,  disco balls,  Saturday Night Fever,  and Studio 54.

Lighten Up The more natural look of tanned, beach-ready skin can be faked with illuminating foundation.	Bronzed Beauties Bronzing powders  and muted blushes continued to be a staple look throughout the disco era.	Take a Shine Dark eyes were out; shimmery shadows  in neutrals  or pastels  looked much better on the dance floor.	Frosting on the Cake To play up the glitz and shine, you'll want frosted lipstick  in a pastel shade, or something glossy.	Sweeten the Pot Lip gloss pots  are intrinsically 70s, but they're readily available today, and in a variety of yummy flavors.

The Neon 80s

As with every trend that comes along, there inevitably will be backlash.  In reaction to the highly manufactured and big budget hits of the disco and classic rock genres, punk rock was born.  Music was stripped down to basic instruments, and lyrics decried the excesses of the mainstream.  Bands like the Sex Pistols  and The Clash  were the new icons, and ironically, this new statement quickly became as much of a scene as those it sought to protest.  Punk fashion aimed to look as rebellious as possible (imagine controversial t-shirts, safety pins as accessories, and lots and lots of leather), so makeup also aimed to be loud and confrontational.  Eyes were bold and overdone, lips were dramatic, and cheeks were just as bright: it's all about making a statement, so think big.

Go to the Matte Crazy hues will stand out even more on a clean canvas.  Go as matte  as you can--no dewy complexions here.	Shot in the Dark Hot pink blushes  or even reds  were common as the 80s progressed.  Ignore "less is more" and go for it!	Bright Ideas The 80s were all about eyes.  Neon shadows  create fun smoky eyes, and you'll want tons and tons of black liner.	Tickled Pink Paint your lips in bright fuchsias,  reds,  purples,  or hot pinks.   For more drama, add a coating of glitter.	Bat Your Lashes Colored mascara  takes you from drab to fab in no time.  It doesn't have to match the rest of your makeup either.

Related Guides

Vintage Clothing	Retro Hairstyles	Retro Style	Retro Swimsuits	Rockabilly

External Links

• Return2Style.de: Makeup guides for the 20s, 30s, and 40s.
• Suite101.com: A step-by-step for applying 40s style makeup.
• Cosmetic-Candy.com: A great photo guide to a 50s face.
• MakeupWebGuide.com: How to get those coveted Twiggy eyes.
• VideoJug.com: A 60s tutorial especially for African-Americans.
• LoveToKnow.com: A 70s makeup tutorial.
• LikeTotally80s.com: How to pull off the neon 80s look.
• FiftiesWeb.com: All about style and pop culture during the 50s, 60s, and 70s.
• FreeBeautyTips.org: Interesting information on the cultural events that shaped the makeup trends.
• HairBoutique.com: Lipstick trends throughout the ages.
• Suite101.com: Tips on channeling Sophia Loren, Mary Pickford, and Audrey Hepburn.
• YouTube.com: Some wonderful retro makeup video tutorials from Ask Me Makeup.
• eHow.com: Retro makeup looks for African-American skin.