The 10 Most-Iconic Makeup Looks From the Last Century

Just like fashion and hair have changed over the last century, so too has makeup. From the early 20th century to present day, trends have varied from dramatic and bold to colourful and understated. And while there has been a visible shift, what’s amazing is that you can see certain trends being borrowed from past eras. Check out how makeup looks have evolved over the decades.

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1920s: Smoke show

The roaring '20s were a time of decadence, as well as when the flapper look came to be. Dark, smoky eyes capped off with heavy mascara and darkened brows was the evening look of choice for that time.

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1930s: Barely-there brows

Super-thin brows were the trend in the '30s, to the point where many were shaving off what was there and drawing them back in. For a more intense look, the arch was kept to a minimum.

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1940s: Orangey tones

In the '40s, the mouth was what got the most focus; and full lips (specifically orange or pink-based) were a must-have. The blush was more muted, but orangey tones (think coral or peach) was a popular choice.

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1950s: Glamorous girls

The most glam era in women's makeup called for a full face, complete with creamy foundations and powders to set, as well as pink shadows, red or pink lipsticks and embellished beauty marks.

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1960s: Making the eyes pop

Winged-out eyeliner and lashes with heavy mascara (tops AND bottoms, of course) brought all kinds of beautiful, smoky drama in the '60s.

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1970s: Heavy on the drama

It was the age of disco and punk rock, though in regards to makeup, the eyes were the star, but in an entirely different way than before. Unlike the '60s, where the emphasis was on the lashes, the following decade featured opaque shadows and dramatic eyeliners.

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1980s: Big and bold

In the '80s, the punk stylings from the '70s remained, but the edge was taken off and all that dark was replaced with bright shadows, neon lipsticks and warpaint-like blush.

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1990s: Dark and grungy

Brown was the colour of the decade, from the lipstick to the liner (usually a darker shade, laid on real thick). Add in the severely overplucked eyebrows and you have a recipe for a classic '90s look.

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2000s: Fake tans

The dark shade from the '90s remained, but went from makeup to skin. Spray-tanning, self-tanners and faking and baking helped achieve that healthy glow. The frosted lip, lids and tips only accentuated the golden tone that much more.

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2010s: Contouring

Contouring became popular in the '20s when it made its way into the film world. Actresses like Marlene Dietrich knew just how to accentuate the natural lines of her face with shading and sculpting. Fast forward nearly a century later to this selfie age we live in and sculpted cheekbones and jawlines are the norm.

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