What era of makeup would you like to see make a comeback?
I like the freedom of the current era, even though there are definite trends, but I just feel like there’s a lot more appreciation for being yourself and doing what you like than ever before. It’s just when I look at back makeup over the decades, I’m more inspired by the breadth of styles of makeup I see today–probably because I love heavier eye makeup and tons of color, so if there was ever a past era that held appeal to me, it’d be the 80s.
— Christine
For me, it would be the 30s – a very glamorous decade indeed. I love all the old movie stars of that era, they all had their own signature look and nobody looked like anybody else. I also love the 70s as it was all about glossy lips and looking healthy – and who can forget the blue eye shadows and long straight hair with middle partings? From punk to Farrah Fawcett Majors, there was a look for everyone. Happy days ….
Yes! I decided to do 1970s for a decade-based makeup challenge once, because I have good hair for it (long, flowing, barely wavy, parts nicely down the middle), and I really had a TON of fun looking at 70s makeup on Pinterest. It wasn’t all good, but they had some really nice looks.
My favorite makeup is from the 1990s. I love the 1920s, too. But since these days pretty much anything goes, no matter what era becomes the next trend, I’ll just keep doing my makeup my way.
I love the era Audrey Hepburn portrayed in Breakfast at Tiffany’s—that smooth even pale complexion, hint of girlish blush, a wing liner only for the eye and a strong lip. Kind of like a combo of the 20s flapper and 50s prim-woman. But ultimately it has to be this generation where women (& men) can wear any style whatsoever and no one really looks too out-of-place.
Each to their own and enjoy wearing what you like. No need for everyone to be the same. For myself, though, I’d probably plunge for the Ancient Egyptian era. It’s classic and theatrical all at once. You’ll see something of it evoked in the 20s silent movies eye, the 90s heavier kohl eye, or even the 60s cat flick eye. Dramatic makeup that’s cool-toned is my cup of tea. That goes for blush too. Take note manufacturers: it would be great to see more lip colours in dark cool-toned berries and burgundies, for the most probably sizeable numbers of us who are indeed looking to buy them…
I love the 80s as well… but the era I really enjoy is the 1950s pin up makeup. Bright red lips and bold lashes with victory rolls are definitely a look!
I agree completely. I’m inspired by the makeup of the ’60s and ’70s. Though I do love me some ’80s purple and pink eyeshadows.
The 60s! Exaggerated lashes, lips, brows. I love the doe-eyed double falsies, upper and lower. I love people using liner to draw on extra lashes. The weird graphic eyeliner or shadow shapes and huge cut creases in mod makeup were so cool. I love the weird lip colors like white and extremely pale peach that people paired with the looks. Overdrawn lip liner with paler blush shades. The shadow colors were fun too. Stark black and white, pale blue and green
For me, it’s not that I want a certain era of makeup to make a comeback, but I would take a leap back to the 1920s, as I love what the French call “Les années folles” (Crazy Years). It was such a liberating and dynamic era for the culture, arts, and society in general.
When I read “The etiquette of beauty” published in 1927 by Dorothy Cocks, I was impressed. She adressed the women’s beauty from all the angles: skincare, exercise for the body, makeup techniques, a healthy mind, historic perspective etc. I read it and couldn’t believe that it was written in that period. And the chapter on makeup is amazing. It’s about harmony, proportions and techniques for enhancing our features. Good advice and techniques should stand the test of time.
On a personal note, I thought for a time that we have more freedom to do whatever we want nowadays. In fact, we are bound by so many rules and norms. Every step we make, including our thoughts/opinions, leave a trace, can be known and monitored. It’s like nobody cand assess you in the absence of a “proven track record”, just by talking and observing you. We are so connected technologically, that we lost the real connection among ourselves. We must check so many boxes for everything we do (a job, admission to schools etc.), that we are like machines with preset features and functions. We can’t see anymore the real person behind all this. We lost so much authenticity and freedom, that we don’t even realize it. I guess I’m an old soul in a 30-something body 🙂
I like our current era, because we can recreate the looks of past eras using products that benefit from today’s technology 🙂 It’s pretty acceptable to have your own sense of style inspired by 1920s flappers or 1950s pin-ups or 1990s grunge. Sure, you may not be able to get away with it at work depending on your job, and if you live in a small town, you might get weird looks, but on Instagram or YouTube, you can find a like-minded community of people drawn to a certain era’s style, or to creating their own look that combines eras.
When I’m challenged to do makeup on myself from a different era, I usually reach for the 1970s because it works well with my hair style, and as a belly dancer I can also look to the styles of the dancers in that era, found on books and album colors and early Ren Faire photos.
Late 70’s, all of the 80’s into early 90’s. And since it would seem like we now have all of these jammed together presently, I’m a happy camper. The only trouble I have with this present, very fun mashup of eras, is the ridiculous amount of market glut in the cosmetics and beauty industry. Otherwise, I’m having the time of my life!
I’d like to see the lighter-coverage, more natural skin finish of the 1970s return! I also think it’d be interesting to see the under-drawn but dramatically shaped lips of the 1920s silent era return. Very doll-like.
I would say the 20’s (hey, who does’t want to ROAR???) or the 60’s. I doubt I’d wear 60’s makeup but, oh, as a pre-teen/young teen and then older teen, I loved it all. The original Mary Quant makeup; Yardley’s Jean Shrimpton stuff, painting “Twiggies” under my lower lashes and using cake eyeliner and a brush to make a REALLY cut crease (set off with white eyeshadow on my lids) and Max Factor Erase worn as lipstick (the original “nude lip”). But it was such a time of change in music, fashion, hair and attitudes and all that “Youthquake” stuff was such a part of my life so I’m really nostalgic about it (in case you couldn’t tell).
Mariella, have you seen Midnight in Paris movie directed by Woody Allen? With the contemporary screenwriter who travels back in time in the 20s?
Yes, I saw it years ago and don’t remember very much about it, to tell you the truth. Maybe it’s time to get hold of it from the library and watch it again.
If you have Amazon Prime Video, you can watch it online. It is such a beautiful romantic comedy of sorts (it received the Oscar and the Golden Globe for the best screenplay).
While having a special place in my heart for the 60’s, I would actually choose the 40’s. It was all about classical glamour and I find that very appealing.
The 50s. I adore the red lips minal eyes looks.
I’m with you, I like the freedom and creativity of current times, but if I had to choose, it would also be the 80s. It’s when I grew up, and makeup was so creative and colorful back then.
I also wouldn’t object to 40s-50s pin-up looks being all the rage.
I love how everyone has avoided the (mostly) abomination that is the early 2000s ? I like the er we are in now as there is freedom to do whay we please but I adore the natural face of the 70s where a beachy glow was in, big fluffy lashes etc.
I have actually been looking at the video vixens’ makeup looks from that era and been thinking about trying to apply some of those elements! They were gorgeous. The rest though…
I mean the early 00s of course, lol
I loved the delicacy of 90s makeup.
This summer I’ve been watching Charlie’s Angels on TV & I really like the way the makeup was done. Not blush you could see for miles, but visible. The highlighting was subtle & the eyeshadow was not smoky but neutral. I also don’t see double lines of black eyeliner either. The foundation was flawless.
The 90’s have been back for a while, so there goes my usual answer. I wouldn’t mind a return of the prevalence of smokey eyes from the late 2000’s/early 2010’s.
All the eras are here! If someone is waiting for a particular era to be a dominant trend to justify trying it themselves, they’re missing the point of now — NOW there really aren’t any rules. If you like flapper makeup, do it! Silver screen, go for it! Flower child … sure, why not? No era needs to “come back” for anyone to try whatever they like now. If you love a particular look, the makeup to create that look exists, and there’s more reference material available to us now than we ever could have imagined even as recently as 25years ago. Why wait for a comeback?
Alecto, I love you.
The 90s! I love the supermodel glam looks!
I’m happy with today’s offerings, I just wish Kevyn Aucoin had lived to shape it further.
I don’t need to see any past era of makeup return, because I love seeing the modern tweaks we make to them these days. I would, however, like to see a makeup look that’s a mix of eras-like a blue 70s eye with a vampy red lip from the 20s or 30s.