From retro smoky eyes to disco glitter balls, the 1970s were a decade of wild experimentation with cosmetics. Skinny brows and avant-garde punk were popular trends at the time, the 70s Makeup look is coming back.
The makeup trends of the 2000s were hugely varied, and in some cases, opposite from one another. Here’s our guide to the colors and styles popular during this interesting time period.
Table of contents
1 – Natural Look
For the majority of women, makeup has always played a specific role in beauty. So when consumers started seeing ads for more natural products that were advertised as being better for you – because they originate from within instead of being put on -they wanted them.
The beauty industry, as a whole, is driven by profits. To continue making money off of women’s insecurities, they created products that are advertised as ‘natural,’ ‘barely-there,’ or ‘invisible.’ This way, ladies feel less guilty about buying and wearing makeup, because the products are supposedly invisible.
Girls are more concerned with their own health and wellbeing these days than ever before. They want to know what they’re putting on their skin, so businesses have started using higher-quality, “natural” ingredients in cosmetics.
2 – Nostalgia Look
In recent years, fashion from the 1920s to 1950s has been popular once again. For example, during the 1970s, there was a resurgence in style and trends that were fashionable during the 1960s.
After films like “The Great Gatsby” and “American Hustle,” which depicted a doll-like look with smoky eyes and skinny brows, came out, many makeup brands began using a similar aesthetic in their cosmetic advertisements from the 1920s onward.
Finally, marketers were able to get on board the nostalgia train and sell things by creating retro advertisements.
3 – Blush, Blush, Blusher
Blush was mostly natural throughout the 1970s, both in terms of application and hues used. Blusher may be applied more freely from the mid-1970s onwards, with defined stripes on each cheek, often from the temples to the jawline.
Blusher comes in many forms, including powder, gel, and cream.zing was all the rage back then because it helped give people a light sun-kissed look.
4 – Eyeshadow
The most popular hues were blues, greens, earth tones, and purples. To emphasize the brows, people would apply white and silver eye makeup under them.
Pearlescent or iridescent eyeshadows were very fashionable, although matte ones were popular. The term “frost” implies a pearl sheen with the word “velvet,” which was quite fashionable.
In the 1960s, people began to experiment with a more natural look, characterized by heavy eyeliner on top and light makeup or no makeup at all. However, in the 1970s, the trend shifted back towards using a lighter eye crease for certain beauty treatments.
5 – The 70s Makeup Eyeliner
Eyeliner may not be worn by those who prefer a more natural style. Eyeliner might also be used on the top and bottom lids as needed. Heavy and well-defined techniques were popular with punks, goths, and the new wave army.
Blue or black eyeliner was frequently used as a second layer on top of white, brown, or gray eyeliner on the upper eyelid among younger females and teenagers.
6 – Mascara
The new tube-and-wand mascaras had replaced the block mascaras, and they were available in colors like black, brown, blue, green, grey, turquoise, raspberry and lavender.
Mascara can be applied in a variety of ways, depending on the preference of the user. It might be used heavily to both upper and lower lashes or lightly to one side only. If you are going out, it is also determined by whether you are wearing makeup for daytime or entertainment.
False eyelashes are still worn by many women. The style for large and showy false lashes, however, vanished in the 1960s. Nowadays, a more natural approach is preferred.
7 – Lipstick
Plum, mulberry, and cranberry were all the rage in early 1970s. Pastels like peach, raspberry, and pink took over throughout the decade. Nudes became increasingly popular as people sought a more ‘natural look.
After the early 1970s, people started to feel nostalgic for the 1920s and 1940s. This nostalgia popularized red lipstick again.
Lipsticks in the 1990s had a glossy sheen, which was popular throughout the decade. A lip gloss is often added over top of lipsticks that aren’t slick enough.
The lips were well-lined and defined with a lip liner. However, once the lipstick or gloss was applied, it became unnoticeable. Because the same color liner was used as the lip product, it did not stick out.
8 – Lip Gloss
Lip gloss was highly trendy and mostly advertised to teen girls and young women. The sheer colors it came in included pinks, plums, nudes, and clear.
There was also some experimenting with flavored lip gloss, although the results were mixed. Fruity tangs, mint, and meals such as bubble gum and cola are among the most popular flavors.
Gel glosses were available in pots or tubes with a roller applicator within the lid. The rollerball applicator was by far the most popular. Rollerball products from Bonne Bell and Maybelline included Lip-Smackers and Kissing Potion.
British singer Adele cleaned up at the Grammy Awards taking home 6 statues for her sophomore album.
Adele’s makeup is very wearable, feminine and physically perfect because it’s soft and there are no hard-drawn brows, or beauty spots. It’s also age and event appropriate and the retro makeup style was made for her pretty heart-shaped face.
Are you loving Adele’s retro beauty look, too? Read about her retro makeup review