1960s Makeup: History and Characteristics

April 20, 2026

When we think of 1960s makeup, we think of the iconic model Twiggy, false eyelashes, eyeliner, natural lips, and tricks to make eyes look bigger. It was a makeup style that became one of the most popular trends in fashion history. The 1960s were characterized by all the new ideas and thoughts that emerged, and by being the era of youth. In this time, individual expression and personality were reflected through fashion and style. From the woman who preferred a more natural makeup look to the one who opted for a more striking one with dark eyeshadow and well-defined eyebrows. And since popular trends from years past always end up returning in one way or another to merge with current trends, in this blog post we wanted to give a complete overview of the history, offer some tips, and tell you what the characteristics of makeup in the 1960s were. Take note!

History of 1960s Makeup

Women's makeup in the early 1960s focused on elegant eyes, lots of face powder, natural lips, and pale pink colors. However, right in the middle of the decade, this style evolved into a simpler and more feminine one, best exemplified by models like Twiggy and Jean Shrimpton. The explosion of London fashion brought with it this style and a revolution in hairstyles and makeup. Since the 1950s, London had led the way with its "modernist look" or "mod look," and in the 1960s, shops began adapting to the trends dictated by the tastes of the younger generation. The mod style was just one of the three styles that dominated the 1960s, along with classic and hippie. However, it is the mod style that is most remembered from that era. The "cat eye," which was so common in the 50s, is replaced by false eyelashes. Furthermore, the 60s were the first retro era where makeup and women's clothing that were fashionable in the 1920s were revived, but adapted to the style of the decade.

Characteristics of 1960s Makeup

Face

Women in the 60s used a lot of face powder at the beginning of the decade, but later they only used enough to cover imperfections. Around 1963, coral, pink, or peach-colored blush began to be used to create a natural glow all over the face.

Eyebrows

Eyebrows in the 1960s were characterized by being clean, groomed, shaped and well-defined with an eyebrow pencil.

Eyes

Eyes were the focus of 1960s makeup, as false eyelashes, lots of mascara, and eyeliner were used. The most popular eyeshadow colors were blues, greens, grays, and whites. It's worth noting that many women also wore false eyelashes on their lower lids or applied eyeliner, just like the model Twiggy. The distinctive eye makeup of the era was achieved with a pale upper eyelid featuring a dark, unblended line right on the crease of the eye, from the inner corner to the outer corner. White eyeliner was also applied to the inner rim of the eye to make it appear larger and more open. Lips Since the eyes were the focal point of 1960s makeup, lips were painted very naturally, with light coral, pink, and peach colors, and were also lined.