20 Iconic Makeup Looks of the 1960s: A Tribute to Beauty and Revolution
The 1960s was a decade of cultural revolution and transformation, marked by significant shifts in music, fashion, and beauty. Makeup during this era reflected the spirit of change and liberation, with iconic looks that continue to inspire and influence trends today. This detailed article explores 20 of the most memorable makeup looks of the 1960s, highlighting their features, techniques, and cultural significance.
1. Twiggy’s Mod Lashes
Inspiration: British model Twiggy became the epitome of ’60s mod fashion with her doe-eyed look.
Key Features: Heavy mascara on both upper and lower lashes to create exaggerated doll-like eyes.
Technique: Multiple coats of mascara applied to lengthen and volumize lashes, often paired with minimal eyeshadow and pale lips.
2. Edie Sedgwick’s Smoky Eyes
Inspiration: American actress and model Edie Sedgwick embodied the edgy, avant-garde style of the 1960s New York City scene.
Key Features: Thick, smudged eyeliner around the entire eye, creating a smoky effect.
Technique: Apply black eyeliner generously around the upper and lower lash lines, blending with a smudging tool or brush for a lived-in look.
3. Brigitte Bardot’s Cat Eyes
Inspiration: French actress Brigitte Bardot popularized the winged eyeliner look, known for its sultry and glamorous appeal.
Key Features: Dramatic winged eyeliner extending outward from the outer corner of the eyes.
Technique: Use liquid or gel eyeliner to create a precise wing, starting thin at the inner corner and thickening as it extends outward.
4. Jean Shrimpton’s Natural Beauty
Inspiration: British model Jean Shrimpton represented the fresh-faced, natural beauty trend of the 1960s.
Key Features: Minimal makeup with a focus on enhancing natural features.
Technique: Use light foundation or tinted moisturizer to even out skin tone, groomed eyebrows, and a hint of mascara for definition.
5. Warhol’s Superstars’ Pop Art Makeup
Inspiration: Andy Warhol’s Factory superstars embraced bold, theatrical makeup inspired by pop art.
Key Features: Bright, unconventional colors on eyes, lips, and cheeks.
Technique: Experiment with vibrant eyeshadows, graphic eyeliner designs, and contrasting lip colors to create a visually striking pop art-inspired look.
6. Mary Quant’s Cut Crease
Inspiration: British fashion designer Mary Quant introduced the iconic cut crease eye makeup style.
Key Features: Defined crease with contrasting eyeshadow colors.
Technique: Use a lighter shade on the eyelid and a darker shade in the crease, blending harsh lines to achieve a sharp, cut crease effect.
7. Audrey Hepburn’s Classic Elegance
Inspiration: Actress Audrey Hepburn epitomized timeless elegance with her understated makeup looks.
Key Features: Soft, natural eyeshadow, defined brows, and a classic red lip.
Technique: Apply neutral eyeshadow tones, groom brows for shape, and use a red lipstick with blue undertones for a sophisticated finish.
8. Veruschka’s Avant-Garde Glamour
Inspiration: German model Veruschka embraced avant-garde makeup styles that challenged conventional beauty norms.
Key Features: Bold, geometric eyeshadow shapes and metallic accents.
Technique: Experiment with bold colors like turquoise or silver, applying them in graphic shapes around the eyes for a futuristic effect.
9. Sharon Tate’s Ethereal Beauty
Inspiration: Actress Sharon Tate embodied ethereal beauty with her soft, romantic makeup looks.
Key Features: Soft pink and peach tones on eyes and cheeks, paired with glossy lips.
Technique: Use pastel eyeshadows in shades like pink and peach, blend softly, and finish with a sheer gloss for a youthful and dreamy appearance.
10. Jane Birkin’s Effortless Chic
Inspiration: British actress and singer Jane Birkin epitomized effortless cool with her understated makeup looks.
Key Features: Minimal foundation, brushed-up brows, and a nude lip.
Technique: Focus on enhancing natural skin texture, using brow gel to create fullness, and opting for a nude lipstick or lip gloss.
11. Marisa Berenson’s Bohemian Glamour
Inspiration: Actress and model Marisa Berenson embraced bohemian-inspired makeup with a glamorous twist.
Key Features: Smoky eyes with earthy tones, bronzed cheeks, and a nude lip.
Technique: Apply warm-toned eyeshadows like browns and golds, blending for a soft smoky effect, contour cheeks with bronzer, and finish with a nude lipstick.
12. Mia Farrow’s Pixie Charm
Inspiration: Actress Mia Farrow popularized the pixie haircut and minimalist makeup.
Key Features: Fresh-faced look with barely-there makeup.
Technique: Opt for sheer foundation or tinted moisturizer, groom eyebrows, and apply a touch of mascara for definition.
13. Patty Boyd’s Soft Romance
Inspiration: Model and muse Patty Boyd exuded soft, romantic beauty with her delicate makeup looks.
Key Features: Soft pink eyeshadow, flushed cheeks, and a glossy pink lip.
Technique: Use light pink eyeshadow shades, blend softly, apply blush to the apples of cheeks, and finish with a glossy lip color.
14. Julie Christie’s Boho Chic
Inspiration: Actress Julie Christie embraced bohemian-inspired makeup with a chic and sophisticated twist.
Key Features: Earthy eyeshadow tones, defined brows, and a nude or peach lip.
Technique: Apply warm brown or copper eyeshadows, define brows for shape, and opt for a nude or peach lipstick for a natural finish.
15. Ann-Margret’s Bold Glamour
Inspiration: Actress and singer Ann-Margret embraced bold, glamorous makeup looks with a theatrical edge.
Key Features: Dramatic winged eyeliner, vibrant eyeshadow colors, and a bold red lip.
Technique: Create a bold winged eyeliner using liquid eyeliner, apply vibrant eyeshadow shades like blues or greens, and finish with a classic red lipstick.
16. Diana Ross’s Diva Glam
Inspiration: Singer Diana Ross epitomized diva glamour with her dramatic makeup looks.
Key Features: Dramatic false lashes, metallic eyeshadows, and glossy lips.
Technique: Apply dramatic false eyelashes, use metallic eyeshadow shades like gold or bronze, and opt for a glossy lip color to achieve a glamorous finish.
17. Goldie Hawn’s Fun and Flirty
Inspiration: Actress Goldie Hawn exuded fun and flirty charm with her playful makeup looks.
Key Features: Bright eyeshadow colors, flushed cheeks, and a peachy lip.
Technique: Experiment with bright eyeshadow colors like yellows or oranges, apply blush to cheeks for a healthy glow, and finish with a peachy lip color.
18. Catherine Deneuve’s Parisian Chic
Inspiration: French actress Catherine Deneuve epitomized Parisian chic with her timeless makeup looks.
Key Features: Soft smoky eyes, defined brows, and a classic red lip.
Technique: Use soft brown or gray eyeshadows for a smoky effect, define brows for shape and structure, and opt for a classic red lipstick with a matte finish.
19. Ursula Andress’s Bombshell Beauty
Inspiration: Actress Ursula Andress epitomized bombshell beauty with her glamorous makeup looks.
Key Features: Winged eyeliner, voluminous lashes, and a bold lip.
Technique: Create a winged eyeliner using liquid or gel eyeliner, apply mascara for voluminous lashes, and choose a bold lip color like deep red or plum.
20. Cher’s Bold and Daring
Inspiration: Singer and actress Cher embraced bold and daring makeup looks that pushed boundaries.
Key Features: Dramatic eye makeup with bold colors, contouring, and statement lips.
Technique: Experiment with bold eyeshadow colors like blues or purples, contour facial features for definition, and opt for a statement lip color to complete the bold look.
Conclusion
The makeup looks of the 1960s were diverse and revolutionary, reflecting the era’s cultural shifts and artistic experimentation. From Twiggy’s mod lashes to Edie Sedgwick’s smoky eyes, each iconic look contributed to defining beauty standards and inspiring future trends. Whether you’re drawn to the glamour of Brigitte Bardot’s cat eyes or the natural elegance of Audrey Hepburn, the makeup looks of the ’60s continue to influence and captivate beauty enthusiasts worldwide. Embrace the spirit of creativity and liberation embodied by these iconic looks, and let them inspire your own makeup journey.