1930’s Vintage Makeup Guide
By and large the most fascinating period in women’s fashion.Beginning with the art deco style that spilled over from the late 1920’s.
The feminine makeup look changed rapidly from the late 1920’s and in to the 1930’s. Gone was the coquettish girl of the late victorian era, to a more independent woman.
The pale face look remained however, despite Coco Chanel’s new tan! The makeup look of the early 1930′s was of an aesthetic female, somewhat aloof. The makeup reflected this with paler than pale skin [ bleach creams achieved this ].
1.Face powders went for the ivory look.
2.Eye makeup of the 1930’s.
A curious black line traced from the tear duct to the end of the eye, including a little upturned triangle effect! Upper Eyelashes were heavy with mascara or ‘ Mascaro’ as it used to be called then ! Lower Eyelashes had little if no mascara.
Eyeshadow went from lash line to crease,blending upwards and outwards. Eye shades varied over blues, bright violets, greens, browns and orchid. Blondes loved blue, green or bright violet eyelid shades, while Brunettes went for purples and browns. In the evenings – brightly shimmering eyelid shadows from the upper eyelid up to the eyebrow, with dark eyeshadow in the crease of the upper lid, slightly smudged to create a deep set effect.
Eyebrows were plucked into virtual non existence with a fine taper line in its place,falling at the end.
3.Lip makeup of the 1930’s were fine and thin and horizontal in shape. The upper lip might be made to look a little longer in the evenings,to create the ‘Rosebud look’.
Popular Lip colors were dark -chinese red,browns,maroons,rasberry tones.
Blushes started out in 1930 with bright pinks, still echoing the Flapper days of the previous decade,becoming more discreet in the late 1930s.Brown rouge became more common also.
4.Popular Nail Polish included pale rose, light pink and cream shades,applied only in the center of nails with the half-moon and tips left bare.
Quite a practical and sensible approach.
You can see a brilliant ‘ how to’ 1930s makeup guide on The Gilded Slipper. Thanks to Tia for letting us republish her final result below – which is, I’m sure you’ll agree a very authentic look.
You can download beautiful original vintage 1930’s make-up and beauty guides now. Also 1920’s Flapper make-up, 1940’s make-up & beauty and 1950’s beauty looks.
Copyright 2012 Glamourdaze
FAQs
Makeup that was Popular in the 30s
Did they wear eyeliner in the 30s? ›
Rather than the deep, all-around kohl look of the 1920s, the 1930s was an era of minimal liner lined tightly around the upper lash line and just on the outside of the lower lash line and eye shadow on the upper lid in blues, greens, purples, pinks, and browns, applied just slightly further out from the upper lid in a ...
What was the best makeup era? ›
The 1950s were considered the "golden era of cosmetics," focusing on glamor following the postwar period. Marilyn Monroe made winged eyeliner a trend, and Audrey Hepburn promoted fuller, more natural brows.
What did 80s makeup look like? ›
Vibrant eyeliners, neon eyeshadows, and coloured mascaras were used to create dramatic, larger-than-life 80s eye makeup and lipstick colours like fuchsia, plum and bubblegum pink were lacquered onto the lips to create vivid 80s pouts. Everything looked lifted and dynamic in the 80s, especially when it came to blush.
What makeup was popular in the 90s? ›
Celebrities and models were seen rocking everything from dark lip liner to bold, sparkly eyeshadow, and the maximalism didn't stop there. Authentic '90s makeup meant ultra-thin eyebrows, frosted lips, and even face gems.
What was authentic makeup in the 1930s? ›
It was defined by striking eyes that relied on a lot of mascara, thin eyebrows, and soft or pale shades of eyeshadow. Lips were full, slightly overdrawn, and shaped into two long mounds that flared at the corners. Compared to the 1920s, the overall 1930s makeup look was less vamp-like and not quite as dramatic.
What were the beauty standards in the 1930s? ›
1930 — 1940
Curves were desirable once more, and rather then the rectangle-shaped bodies of women in the 1920s, in the '30s, women's figures became more slender and slightly hourglass-shaped. It was during this era women's fixation on having a curvy body with a tiny waist, large bust, and slender legs began.
Is 80s coming back in 2024? ›
Style Notes: While Y2K might have been the leading inspiration for the past few years, we're seeing the Eighties making a fashion comeback in 2024, particularly when it comes to evening wear. Think voluminous silhouettes, high-octane metallics and dresses that embrace the joy of dressing up.
What era is blue mascara? ›
Makeup in the '80s consisted of bright eyeshadow and colored mascara in shades of blue, pink and purple, paired with bright pink shades of lipstick and super-flushed cheeks. It was not a decade of natural makeup looks, but it offered fun and playful expression for your beauty routine.
What did 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.
Dark brown lip liner contrasted by a lighter lip color (or none at all) made quite the splash in the '90s, popularized by supermodels and singers of the era who embraced the unique aesthetic.
What was iconic 50s makeup? ›
Re: Iconic Makeup Trends Part 1 1950's
- Lower lashes ( tubing mascara, pinching lashes with tweezers)
- White eyeliner.
- Pink lips (especially nude pink)
- Pastel Eye shadow.
- Dewy foundation.
- Bushy brows.
- Glossed lips.
- Bare skin.
exposed lip liner, generally three to four shades darker than your lip color, was a popular look. In 1995... lipstick had a huge year and it was all about dark red shades. Get the look: Let's be honest, a good red lipstick never goes out of style.
When did people start wearing eyeliner? ›
Eyeliner, Egypt, 4000 BCE
The earliest archaeological evidence of the use of cosmetics can be traced back to the urban civilizations of the ancient world. In southern Iraq and in Egypt, men and women alike painted kohl around their eyes to make them look larger as well as to protect them from the evil eye.
In what decade was eyeliner popular? ›
In the 1960s, liquid eye liner was used to create thick black and white lines around the eyes in the make-up fashion associated with designers like Mary Quant. The '60s and '70s also saw new fashion trends which made use of eyeliner, eyeshadow and mascara in new ways.
How to do 30s makeup? ›
How Your Makeup Routine Should Change in Your 30s
- Use tinted moisturizer in place of foundation.
- For areas that need extra coverage, use a hydrating concealer.
- Use cream blushes and highlighters.
- Line your lips with a nude liner to establish shape and then apply color on top.
Obvious makeup was taboo in Victorian times
It was believed that cheeks painted with blush had to look flushed, and lips had to look bitten rather than painted. Eyebrows were lightly plucked and darkened with natural ingredients, and eyeliner all but disappeared in the Victorian era.
