Our Fave Makeup Trends We Want To See Come Back In 2022
From retro glamour to grungy eyeliner, it’s easy to look at popular makeup trends from past decades with nostalgia-tinted glasses. However, some of these makeup looks are as incredible now as they were then, and they deserve to come back in style! Here are some of our favourite makeup trends from the past decades to help inspire your next unique style.
1950s: Retro Glamour
The infamous look of the 1950s glamour girl, complete with red lipstick and sultry winged eyeliner, is timeless. Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly and Elizabeth Taylor all rocked this style, and so did many movie fans in homage to their favourite actresses. However, despite its flattering beauty, the 1950’s retro Hollywood glamour isn’t something we see much of anymore. The only question is, why?!
Fortunately, anyone can pull off this elegant look! First, find a red lipstick that compliments your skin tone and, of course, makes you feel good; add only a little foundation, and finish the trend with a sophisticated flick of eyeliner.
1960s: Bright Blue Eye Shadow
Bright blue eye shadow is synonymous with the Swinging Sixties, and we could all do with more of that decade’s fun and freedom! We firmly believe that one of the best ways to start integrating that liberty back into society is with bold makeup choices, and bright blue eye shadow is the perfect option. Seen on famous faces such as Twiggy, Elizabeth Taylor and Barbie (yes, the doll), blue eye makeup
Fortunately, blue eye shadow isn’t like lipstick: it will work on any skin tone, so you don’t have to worry about pesky undertones. So, choose a bright blue shade you like, and grab your brushes!
1960s: Cat Eyes
Another classic look from the ’60s is the cat eye flick. The perfect way to make your eyes appear more sensual and lashes thicker, the cat eye seems to have an enduring appeal. However, it’s rare that we see it much nowadays! Sharon Tate, Elizabeth Taylor, and Audrey Hepburn all helped cement our love for this notoriously tricky style. Of course, more modern celebrities, including Amy Winehouse, rocked the cat eye, but it’s time to bring this eyeliner style back to the streets.
The cat eye puts a spin on the traditional winged eyeliner with a thicker wing that spreads across the top and bottom lash lines. Winged eyeliner is hard enough to get right, so you may want to try a cat eye stencil to get it right. Or, if you’re feeling brave, use an eyeliner pen to shape and fill a thick wing that starts in the corner of your eyelid.
1970s: Coloured Lashes
The 1970s were rich with one crucial thing for women: choice. Liberation was in full swing, and women chose which makeup they wanted to wear and how much of it. To keep up with this freedom of expression, brands jumped on the relatively new tube-and-wand mascaras, bringing out a rainbow of coloured mascaras, such as raspberry and lavender.
Favoured celebrities, including Donna Summer, Olivia Newton-John and Stevie Nicks, rocked coloured mascara during the ’70s, and so can you! Choose a shade that flatters your face and skin tone, match the colour of your eyeliner to it if you’re feeling brave and keep the rest of your makeup simple for a dynamic look.
Find out how to make lashes pop like these disco 70s makeup trends and try our extensive eyelash course.
1970s: Plenty of Glitter
Another bright 70s makeup trend was glitter – everywhere! With the introduction of disco and the sudden prerogative to have a little fun, makeup trends worked hard to keep up. Glittery eyeshadow, lip gloss and accessories became incredibly popular and naturally stood out on the dance floor. Glitter is starting to come back in style because of its growing popularity among TV shows and celebrities. This addition to your makeup routine is perfect for adding an effortless bit of fun, whether you’re on your way to a disco or just running some errands.
Glitter makeup was one of the most popular disco 70’s makeup trends and was modelled beautifully by famous faces like Donna Summer, Farrah Fawcett and Gloria Gaynor. Fortunately, now we have glitter makeup in a rainbow of stunning colours, so you can personalise the glitter look to fit your mood.
1970s: Vibrant Blush
The sun-kissed, natural look was a favourite among makeup wearers in the ’70s, but how did city-dwellers get that just-got-back-from-the-beach look? With some beautiful vibrant blush shades. This addition to a makeup routine adds an effortless touch that anyone can style out, and it will fit perfectly into our styles now and forever!
Kate Bush, Cher and model Beverly Johnson favoured vibrant blush shades of raspberry and peach over the classic pink we’ve become accustomed to. With formulations perfect for each and every skin tone now available to us, look for a vibrant colour that complements your skin.
1970s: Sheer Foundation
To maintain the youthful style of the ’70s, heavy foundation was out. In its place came sheer, pearlescent products that gave the skin a light, natural-looking glow. Sheer foundation applied lightly also made the perfect final touch to any disco-ready look since the sheen would reflect perfectly beneath the disco lights. This natural, effortless style is eternal, and products with a light sheen are a great way to get that coveted glow no matter the decade.
Liza Minelli, Jane Fonda, Pam Grier and many disco divas favoured sheer foundation throughout the ’70s. You can recreate their brightened look with a thin, lightweight foundation of your own.
1980s: Bright Colours
Whenever you think of the 1980s, if you’re not thinking of the catchy pop tunes or the iconic movies, we’re confident you’re envisioning the brightly coloured makeup looks. Electric shades of blue, silver, pink and purple were popular for eye makeup, blush and lipsticks. These brighter shades allowed the confident viewer to emulate the looks of their favourite stars, from Madonna to Cyndi Lauper.
The mindset of 80s makeup trends seemed to be the more colourful, the better. And now more than ever, we could all do with some colour! So emulate the bright, confident shine of the ’80s stars with plenty of bright coloured eyeshadow, coral or bronze coloured blush and glossy pink or orange lip gloss for some extra shine.
1990s: Facial Gems
Plenty of ’90s makeup trends have seen a comeback recently, and we can’t see why facial gems shouldn’t join in the fun. Face art is the perfect way to jazz up any eye makeup look, and with shows like Euphoria featuring incredible facial gem designs[i], we’re almost sure that we’ll start seeing this trend emerge on the streets again.
Cher and Gwen Stefani were pioneers of face art in the 90s, and the beauty of this comeback trend is that it’s full of self-expression. You can use whichever face gems you like however you’d like – if you want to embellish your eyes or go to town on your whole face, there’s nothing stopping you!
1990s: Smudged Eyeliner
The 1990s wasn’t all colour and fun; the darker grunge look was a trendy style. Thick, smudged eyeliner lining both the eyes and the waterline was the epitome of the early 1990s. Perfectly in line with the grunge attitudes of rock stars at the time, this ’90s makeup trend showed that its wearer didn’t care – at least, on the inside.
Although the smudged grunge eyeliner evolved into the smoky eye we know and love today, much can be said for the impact of the original streaked eyeliner. It creates a softer, less put-together look that encapsulates the untidy grunge attitude. Create your own smudged eyeliner style by lining your upper and lower lids, then use a cotton swab or smudge brush to streak the clear lines.
1990s: Deep Lip Colours
The perfect combination with grungy eyeliner is deep-shaded lips. This mix was the look of the 1990s, with infamous stars like Reese Witherspoon and Gwyneth Paltrow introducing it to the red carpet and beyond. Matte browns, wine and brick-coloured lipsticks were incredibly popular, and this sultry combo of trends will fit right into our modern style.
The idea of dark lipstick might make you nervous, but don’t panic! If they could pull it off in the ’90s, you can pull it off now. If you’re a beginner to dark lip colours, try a softer, mauve tone until you are comfortable with the application and result. Then, you can try the richer tones.
Bringing These Makeup Trends Back
There have been so many popular makeup trends throughout the years that people continue to love and appreciate to this day, many more than we’ve found for this list. So if you’re still loving any of those popular old styles, don’t be afraid to bring them back. You never know; you could be starting your own trend!
What are your favourite classic makeup trends? Then, let us know what styles you want to see come back.
Sources
[i] https://www.seventeen.com/beauty/makeup-skincare/g38945254/where-to-buy-face-gems/
