The characteristics of makeup in the 1940s were closely linked to the historical events that took place during this era. The economic crisis and World War II were two of the events that most influenced fashion and its trends.
In this post on our blog, we tell you everything about the makeup that triumphed in the 1940s, also known as the Baby Boom era. You can create a unique and irresistible look!
History of 1940s makeup
Unfortunately in world history, the 1940s have been marked as one of the bloodiest decades in history. The Second World War that was fought in Europe brought with it a huge economic crisis that affected practically all countries.
This economic crisis was the cause of a notable delay in numerous sectors such as the film and fashion industry.
Icons of the decade who triumphed
Despite the notable delay in the North American film industry compared to other decades, the big screen had the pleasure of seeing the birth of important Hollywood cinematic gems such as Casablanca and Citizen Kane. Likewise, the creation of Technicolor cinema brought a great change in the image of actresses.
Among the most prominent personalities of the 40s we can find the beautiful Rita Hayworth, to the modest and classic Marlene Dietrich and Lauren Bacall, the actress and model Veronica Lake, to Betty Grable and of course to who would become the quintessential pin-up icon of the 50s, Marilyn Monroe.
Characteristics of 40s makeup
As an inevitable consequence of World War II, society and therefore the world of beauty and makeup, they acquire a dull, sad, and colorless tone. The scarcity of raw materials (since everything was destined for weapons and equipment for the war) makes this decade one of the simpler and more austere.
Face and Skin
As we mentioned, the typical makeup of the 40s becomes somewhat minimalist and simplistic. The skin remains smooth and flawless, but for the first time we see the use of contouring to shape the face through shadows and highlighters. All this results in a somewhat rigid and even sad face that was synonymous with glamour.
Eyes
In the eye area, they began to use false eyelashes more exaggerated and striking, as well as a much more defined, pronounced, and thick eyeliner starting from the upper eyelid. The goal was to achieve a sad look.
It is worth noting that in Europe the shortage of makeup was so severe that women resorted to shoe dye to use as a substitute for mascara.
Eyebrows
One of the most noticeable and prominent elements of 1940s makeup is women's eyebrows. A thin and natural eyebrow which was called "dove wing", as it was similar to the wing of a dove when flying. On the contrary, thick or bushy eyebrows were not a sign of beauty.
Lips
In the lip area, the woman's mouth is enlarged with the help of pencils and lipsticks. The lip line was made more defined from the corner to the center, resulting in a pair of full lips that almost simulated a "disgust mouth" very common to see in photographs of Hollywood celebrities. As for tones, the predominant ones were browns, reds, and dark garnets.
Cheekbones
For the first time in the history of makeup, something different was done with women's cheekbones. Blush lost importance and the appearance of contouring allowed achieving different types of looks by highlighting the cheekbones and creating shadows on the cheeks to slim the face.
Manicure
Regarding manicures, there were no major changes in trends. Unfortunately, nail polish was also scarce, but women who could afford it still painted their nails with a red tone. Likewise, the popular half-moon manicure emerged, which later became known as the French manicure.
Without a doubt, the events of the 1940s had great consequences on the beauty industry that would last until the early 1950s. However, despite the severe crisis experienced, some beauty trends survived that even today remain essential for many women who love makeup and fashion.
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