Makeup Through the Decades
Written By Zachary O’Dell
Photography By Mindy Welland
Modeled By Madison Clayburn, Desiree Daos, & Ellie Edwards
The movement of trends from decade to decade sparks the innovation of creativity. Many nostalgic makeup trends we hold near and dear to our hearts originated from past decades of bold, colorful, natural, and powerful. Have you ever felt like you were born in the wrong decade? Beauty trends ranging from the ‘50s to the 2000s are quickly coming back into existence, quickly spreading through social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok.
Considered “the golden age of makeup,” the 1950s were inspired by post-war glamor. The notorious winged eyeliner made its first appearance on Marilyn Monroe. As a major celebrity impacting many generations during her time, Marilyn brought power into her makeup. From capitalizing on her natural foundation while incorporating blush to stunning the nation with a statement red lip, Marilyn truly influenced generations today by demonstrating how powerful a winged eye is, the impact a red lip brings, and the raw beauty of a natural pigmented eyeshadow.
Diversity took the stage through makeup trends in the 1970s. A true makeup look from the 1970s ranged from natural/girl-next-door to full-on disco. Elements like pink blush, lightly filled-in eyebrows, lightweight glossy foundation, sun-kissed bronzer, and a blended eyeshadow was a staple in the ‘70s. Depending on the desired look, eyebrows took a more natural form while colors like blues, greens, purples, and earth tones took center stage on the eyelid creating an almond shape. Celebrities like Donna Summer, Joan Jett, and Stevie Nicks influenced ‘70s makeup and the diversity of color.
A phrase perfectly describing 1980s makeup: “the bolder, the better.” An inspiration contributing to that phrase is The Queen of Pop herself, Madonna. Not only did Madonna influence Western music and pop culture, but she helped develop the realms of makeup in the ‘80s. This decade was known for bold colors and maximized hairstyles. Madonna incorporated a full coverage foundation one shade lighter than her skin tone, paired with black and/or colored eyeliner, a striking-colored lipstick, and finalized with a multi-colored eyeshadow. As one would say, the ‘80s were a wild period of color, sparkles, and boldness.
The 2000s were heavily influenced by celebrities and their impactful roles in the makeup industry—Kim Kardashian, J. Lo, and Britney Spears—leading to the evolution of maximizing eyeliner and the glossy lip. The 2000s eyeliner trend involving the top and bottom waterline brings drama to the eyes. Pair it with a smoky shadow, glossy lips, and contrasting lip liner, and you have the perfect 2000s look. Another trend that became popular in the 2000s was thin eyebrows. Originating in the 1930s, eyebrows were styled with a rounded upward bend emphasizing facial expressions. Thin eyebrows came back into existence with the help of celebrities like Gwen Stefani, Angelina Jolie, and Kate Moss.
All good trends deserve a second life, so it was only a matter of time before past trends took the spotlight in the industry we love today. Current makeup trends that call back to their iconic predecessors include keeping it natural while displaying the power of a colorful statement lip, finding beauty in a fierce smoky eye, and dramatizing eyeliner. Whether past makeup trends bring nostalgia to your makeup routine or a smile to your grandparents' faces when they see your enjoyment of replicating looks they loved in their youth, the evolution of makeup and the development of new trends still goes on. Still, much of makeup’s power is rooted in its sentimentality. Makeup and beauty gurus are forever revitalizing trends. In doing so, they build off of traditional makeup artistry, giving new life to retired trends and providing future makeup artists with a fresh canvas of inspiration.