The makeup of the 80s: History and trends

|Laura González Becker
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The beauty standard of the eighties represented a major change in how women dressed and applied makeup. The use of loose clothing, dark colors, updos, and a rebellious attitude were part of a cultural revolution represented by artists like Madonna.

The style of 80s makeup that triumphed is the reflection of an unforgettable era marked by a whole generation of lycra lovers, aerobics, hip-hop, and voluminous hairstyles. Want to recreate a perfect eighties look? Then keep reading!

History of 80s makeup

The generational transition from the 70s to the 80s had a great impact on fashion. Suddenly, the influence of artists like Madonna or Cher caused the way of dressing and applying makeup to become more liberal and masculine. Apply dark-colored eyeshadows, line the eye inside and out, and achieve a aggressive look with defined features, became a symbol of rebellion and boldness of the time.

80s women's makeup trends

The makeup trends of the 80s were extravagant and striking, so when talking about 80s fashion it is impossible not to think of the image of celebrities like Madonna, Michael Jackson or Davie Bowie. Next, we give you a few ideas and trends that were successful so you can recreate 80s looks in detail.

Face and skin

Use a makeup base of one or two shades lighter that your natural skin color, is one of the first steps to achieve a perfect 80s style. You can use a concealer to even out the tone in those areas with imperfections on your face and finish with a thin layer of translucent powder.

Eyes

The eyes were the center of attention in 80s makeup and therefore all your effort should focus on this area. Apply mascaras both on the lower and upper lashes to open up the gaze or add false eyelashes to give your face a feline and wild touch.

On the other hand, use a black eyeliner and use shadows in gray tones. The shadows of bright colors can also be a good option.

Eyebrows

The more dense, wide and messy is better. If your eyebrows are thin, use a brush or pencil to fill in the gaps, creating much thicker eyebrows and giving them a more masculine.

Lips

Lips were not the protagonists of eighties makeup. To recreate the style of the era, use lipstick matte in brown and dark tones and outline the heart of the lip to give it a more pointed shape.

Cheekbones

Define the cheekbones with a dark pink blush will give a dramatic touch to your makeup. The trick is to use it as if it were a bronzing powder and use it to contour your face and to define the angles of your face. If you also want to give it a more extravagant touch, add a bit of glitter on the upper part of the cheekbone, either with a shiny eyeshadow or with a highlighter.

Hairstyles from the 80s

The 80s style was unique, rebellious, and striking and this was not only reflected in clothing and makeup, but also in hair.

The 80s hairstyles are defined as wild and therefore, to recreate a quick look with few products and accessories, you just need to have imagination and not feel guilty about using the entire bottle of hairspray.

You can recreate a voluminous blow-dry applying hairspray on some strands of your hair to create volume on the top of the head. Another idea is to add colored extensions or curly hair strands to create a frizz effect and give it that crazy touch so characteristic of the era. Likewise, irregularly cut bangs, pompadours, and perms were other trends that marked the fashion of this decade.

Manicure

The manicure is the final element to complete your eighties look. In this case, you can be as creative as you want and choose a cheerful color like green, yellow, or fuchsia, or you can opt for dark tones like black, brown, or purple. It will all depend on the image you want to give and how much attention you want to attract.

80s makeup conquers Generation Z

The eighties have returned with overwhelming force, but this time with modern techniques and revolutionary products that the original Madonna and Cher never imagined. Generation Z has embraced the "New Wave Makeup" as their new form of rebellion against the perfection of the "clean girl".
Why this revival now? The phenomenon responds to generational rejection of minimalism. Celebrities like Dua Lipa, Kaia Gerber, and Kendall Jenner lead the movement towards "maximalist beauty", where more is definitely more. On TikTok, the hashtag #vintagemakeup accumulates millions of views, with tutorials adapting 80s techniques to 2025 products.
The technical revolution is impressive: the New Wave Collection palettes offer 16 vibrant shades with pigmentation that lasts 12 hours, something unthinkable in the original 80s. The fluffy brows Brooke Shields style are now achieved with texturizing gels that maintain natural volume without stiffness. The dramatic blush uses cream formulas that blend perfectly, eliminating the "stained" look of the original techniques.
*Key fact: The "messy girl aesthetic" has surpassed the clean girl in searches, with a 340% increase in electric color products. The neon blues, intense pinks, and vibrant greens the best-selling palettes of 2025 dominate.

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