1920s Makeup Step by Step: History and Trends

|Silvia Gutiérrez

Do you want to recreate an early 20th-century look for a special occasion? If the style of the Roaring Twenties is your favorite and you want to know all the tricks and tips about the makeup trends and beauty ideals of this era, keep reading because this article from our blog will be very interesting for you.

Fashion trends, for both men and women, have changed over time, but if we focus on their history and evolution, it is no surprise that the makeup style of the 1920s makes a comeback at some point.

Whether this happens or you simply want to impress with a classic and different outfit, it is essential that you know the trends and history of 1920s makeup and how to achieve a look from this era naturally.

History and trends of 1920s makeup

The beginnings of the 20th century were key in the history of makeup, especially due to the arrival of Max Factor in the United States during World War I. This cosmetics brand began launching products that revolutionized the women's beauty market.

Eye shadows, eyebrow pencils, mascara, and even lip glosses were some of the products that started to be part of the 1920s style. For this reason, the makeup of this decade is considered the precursor of the 1930s, 40s, and 50s makeup styles.

This era also marked the beginning of the well-known Pin Up style, which decades later became popular thanks to figures like Marilyn Monroe, a celebrity who broke the fashion stereotypes of the time, showing that women with short hair could also be synonymous with glamour.

How to do 1920s makeup

Achieving a 1920s makeup look adapted to the products you use today is not complicated. The style of the era was simple yet elegant, something you can easily recreate without any problem. But if you want the makeup to be as faithful as possible, then you should follow these tips:

Face

The 20s makeup style focused a lot on the eyes and lips, but to make them stand out, women added powders that whitened the face and neck to make the skin look like porcelain doll skin, free of imperfections.

To achieve this effect, you can use a matte high-coverage foundation and apply a concealer around the eyes and on the high points of the face to enhance your features. Finally, set the skin with a translucent compact powder.

Eyes

The eyes are the stars of the 1920s makeup look. To highlight them, you only need mascara, black eyeliner, white or flesh-colored eyeliner, and a matte eyeshadow palette.

Start by preparing the mobile eyelid with a gray or brown shadow to give depth to the gaze and a rounded shape. Try to sweep the shadow across the entire eyelid following the natural line of the upper lashes so that the eye looks elongated.

Next, with the help of the black eyeliner, draw a thin line over your lash line to open up the eyes and finally apply the white or flesh-colored eyeliner on the waterline.

To finish, apply a generous coat of mascara on the upper and lower lashes. The more open and curled the lashes are, the more dramatic the look will be.

Cheeks

Although the cheeks are not the focus of this look, you can choose two options: leave them bare or add a bit of pink or peach blush to give a healthy touch to your skin. However, in this makeup, the fewer colors your skin has, the better. Your lips and eyes should be the center of attention!

Lips

Lips in strong colors like red or burgundy were key to achieving an elegant and sophisticated look. In this case, matte lipsticks will be your best option. Also, if you want the look to be powerful, use a lip liner to shape your mouth and achieve that characteristic heart-shaped lip effect of the era.

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