1920s Makeup Tutorial: How to Get the Film Star Look • The Dapper Dahlia (2024)

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This 1920s makeup tutorial will have you ready for a night at Gatsby’s, even if that’s just to watch The Great Gatsby movie from the comfort of your living room. Makeup in the 1920s emphasized long eyelashes, defined eyebrows, rosy cheeks and scarlet lips. Doll-like features and a youthful appearance were in fashion, much unlike the angled and contoured makeup of today. While a more natural makeup look was favored for day, this look is inspired by 1920s film star makeup.

What I’ve missed most during the pandemic is getting dolled up to go out dancing and carefree nights of co*cktails and making new friends. Inspired by flappers and glamorous film stars, I created this dramatic 1920s makeup tutorial to bring a little of that vibrant spirit of the Jazz Age into my life.

1920s makeup tutorial

1920s Makeup Tutorial: How to Get the Film Star Look • The Dapper Dahlia (1)

1920s eye makeup

Eye makeup in the 1920s was all about achieving the wide-eyed, doll-like effect. Here’s how to get the look:

Eye shadow

While most women did not wear dark colors of eye shadow during the day, it was popular for parties and with film stars of the time. For this look, I went with a gray smoky eye. Black eye shadow tends to look harsh on my very fair skin so I prefer gray or deep browns, but you can choose a color that best works for you.

Select a medium to dark gray eye shadow (I used the shade “Charcoal” from the Lorac Pro Palette 2) and sweep the shade across the lid with an eye shadow brush. Blend the color in a rounded shape up toward your eyebrows, rather than bringing it out farther at the corners. This will help achieve a more doll-like look, much different than the elongated eye shadow shading that’s popular today. I find this technique is easier to do with an angled eye shadow brush.

1920s Makeup Tutorial: How to Get the Film Star Look • The Dapper Dahlia (2)

Lastly, apply the same color along the lower lash line using a small eye shadow brush. Blend the shadow for a smoky, rather than precise, look.

1920s Makeup Tutorial: How to Get the Film Star Look • The Dapper Dahlia (3)

Eyeliner

Apply a black pencil liner along the top lash line (I use Julep When Pencil Met Gel Long-Lasting Waterproof Eyeliner in “Blackest Black”). Use the small eye shadow brush to slightly smudge the eyeliner before it sets.

1920s Makeup Tutorial: How to Get the Film Star Look • The Dapper Dahlia (4)

For an added smoky effect, I use an angled eyeliner brush to apply a black eye shadow on top of the eyeliner. I wet the brush before dipping it into the eye shadow to prevent fallout.

1920s Makeup Tutorial: How to Get the Film Star Look • The Dapper Dahlia (5)

I don’t apply eyeliner along the bottom lash line because we’re going for a doe-eyed look here. However, I do apply NYX Slide On Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil in “Pure White” to my waterline.

1920s Makeup Tutorial: How to Get the Film Star Look • The Dapper Dahlia (6)

Mascara

When you look at advertisem*nts featuring women and photos of movie stars from the 1920s, one thing that stands out is how long their lashes are. This can be achieved with false lashes, of course, but I rarely feel like making the effort to deal with that! However, I have worn PUR PRO Eyelashes in “Diva” and liked the look; they’re also relatively comfortable to wear.

To get a similar look, apply a lengthening mascara, like Ilia Limitless Lash Mascara. Concentrate most on the lashes in the center of your eyelid, rather than on the outer lashes.

1920s Makeup Tutorial: How to Get the Film Star Look • The Dapper Dahlia (7)

Brows

The trend for eyebrows in the 1920s was long and thin. Instead of plucking out all of your beautiful brow hairs, I suggest using a brow pencil to fill in any sparse areas and elongate the brow. Draw the brow sloping downward instead of emphasizing the brow arch.

1920s Makeup Tutorial: How to Get the Film Star Look • The Dapper Dahlia (8)

I use CoverGirl Easy Breezy Brow Micro Fine Fill + Define Pencil to get the desired shape, then use the spoolie end to smooth and shape my brows. Of course, my turban hat covers most of my brows here, so I didn’t spend too much time on them.

1920s blush

Bright pinks and reds were popular blush colors in the 1920s. To get the flapper look, apply a bright blush to the apples of your cheeks. This will give the face a more rounded appearance. A light hand won’t do here; go heavy and high! It was thought that applying blush high on the cheeks gave the youthful appearance desired at the time.

1920s Makeup Tutorial: How to Get the Film Star Look • The Dapper Dahlia (9)

I like theBalm Hot Mama! Shadow/Blush, which is described as a peachy pink, but looks more bright pink on my fair skin.

1920s lipstick

Another signature of 1920s makeup is accentuating the Cupid’s bow when applying lipstick. The easiest way to do this is to take a tube of lipstick and make a small “x” on your Cupid’s bow, starting at one point at the top of your lip and moving the lipstick downward in the opposite direction, then repeating on the other point of your Cupid’s bow. Then fill in the rest of your lips with the lipstick.

1920s Makeup Tutorial: How to Get the Film Star Look • The Dapper Dahlia (10)

Concentrate the color in the center of your lips; you can even extend the color on your bottom lip a bit below where your natural lip ends. You don’t have to go all the way to the corners of your mouth. The goal is to get a doll-like pout instead of emphasizing the width of your lips.

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As for colors, red, orange-red and rose were popular lipstick colors in the 1920s. Dark red lipstick was also popular for the evening. I’m wearing Kosas Weightless Lip Color in “Fringe”, a brick red, for a more dramatic look. I also really like Besame “Forever Red” Lipstick, inspired by lipstick colors specifically from 1925. See more suggestions in my post on the best red lipsticks for fair skin.

And now I’m ready for my close-up!

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1920s Makeup Tutorial: How to Get the Film Star Look • The Dapper Dahlia (13)

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Get vintage style and beauty tips by following The Dapper Dahlia on Pinterest, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.

For more flapper-inspired beauty, check out my half moon manicure tutorial.

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1920s Makeup Tutorial: How to Get the Film Star Look • The Dapper Dahlia (2024)

FAQs

What color lipstick was popular in the 20s? ›

As for colors, red, orange-red and rose were popular lipstick colors in the 1920s. Dark red lipstick was also popular for the evening.

How do you get 1920s eyebrows? ›

Try to do just a really thin and arched eyebrow, by turning your eyebrows slightly downwards with the eyebrow pencil. Extend the ends to make them look extra long. The eye make-up in the 1920s was super-smokey, which means that with just a smudgy dark pencil you would be good to go.

What did women's makeup look like in the 1920s? ›

Cosmetics in the 1920s were characterized by their use to create a specific look: lips painted in the shape of a Cupid's bow, kohl-rimmed eyes, and bright cheeks brushed with bright red blush.

How to dress up like 1920s? ›

Long pearl necklaces, small beaded purses, long gloves, and drop earrings were also popular accessories for 1920s party wear. The popular makeup trends of the '20s included smokey eye, rose-colored blush or rouge, and dark shades of red and pink lipstick.

What color eyeshadow did they wear in the 1920s? ›

Eyeshadow Right Up To the Brow

But in the 20s, it was a lot simpler. Just use one color shadow and cover the whole eyelid all the way up to the brow! Women could choose from mostly dark eyeshadow shades like charcoal grey, brown, deep purples, some greens, and indigo blue.

How to do 1920s lips? ›

Shape your mouth into a cupid's bow.

To make a cupid's bow, use a waxy dark red lip liner to draw an arch on each side of your top lip. Then draw your lower lip as slightly plumper than it really is by extending slightly on the bottom. Draw both your upper and bottom lips as shorter on the sides.

What eyebrow shape makes you look older? ›

If your eyebrows are shortened or thin out at the ends, this can make your face appear older. Similarly, if your eyebrows have a heavy, blocky tail, this can overpower your whole face and look unnatural.

What was the shape of the eyebrows in the 1920s? ›

1920s: Thin and Downward Arched

In a period of silent films, long, thin and rounded eyebrows that moved straight across the face until arching down at the temple were a popular style.

What was typical 1920s makeup? ›

The Key Makeup Looks of the 1920's

Cake mascara – applied with a brush and the ever present push up tube lipstick. Eyebrows – Plucked for the first time and drawn downward towards the temple. Lips – lips were smaller than the natural outline and fashioned into the 'cupid's bow' shape.

What was the beauty standard in the 1920s? ›

1920s. During the 20s, fashion favored very straight bodies. Therefore, straight figures with minimal curves as well as small chests were sought after in the 20s. Additionally, this decade made the bob very popular.

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