Face makeup in the 60s was minimal – no highlighter, no bronzer, and absolutely no contour! Women from the 60s would typically apply matte foundations and brightening concealers and set their makeup with a setting powder to make the base even more matte.
Lipstick. Red, pink, and brown shades were fashionable at the start of the decade and came back again about 1966.
Due to the bold eye makeup, muted shades were used for lipsticks, such as pale pink, light orange, and nude. The most popular eyeshadow shades in the '60s were black, gray, white, and blue.
Although red lipstick had a dormant period in the 60s and 70s, with the help of Madonna, red lipstick once again dominated the beauty space in the 80s into 90s. This is where the narrative of red lipstick once again paid homage to its rich history — red lipstick became known as the OG lip color of all time.
Many hippies went with a lighter makeup look that emphasized more color play on the eyes. It was light, effortless, and focused on adding depth to the eyes, along with loads of mascara and blush.
1960s makeup overview
By the mid '60s mod and babydoll looks took over makeup trends, which revolved around bold eyes. Pastel eye shadow, black crease shadow, winged eyeliner, and heavy fake lashes with light blush and pastel pink lips were integral to these types of styles.
60s and 70s Lip Gloss
With the revolution, the trend for opaque or frosted lip colors was the epitome of Parisian chic and it ended up becoming a worldwide phenomena.
Blue eyeshadow first became popular in the 1960s and one of the first pioneers to wear it was Barbie in 1959. In her debut look, the original doll wore a pop of blue eyeshadow with her black-and-white-striped maillot.
Mellow yellow - 1960s
The swinging sixties was a time of change. From the space race and the Cold War to free love and The Beatles, this era of self-expression led to an explosion of colour in 60s décor. Without doubt, vibrant colours were in vogue - most notably mustard yellow, orange, gold, and green.
The '60s. "Pastel, sherbet shades were the thing," says Rudder. "Mod pale pink, peach, or nude lipstick in a matte texture was all the rage—and a complete departure from the classic red shades of past decades. The youthful and rebellious mood of makeup trends during this time was both innovative and captivating.
The First CoverGirl Beauty Products In The 1960s
The vintage cosmetics company startled the industry with their phenomenal makeup products, and became one of the most best-selling beauty brands overnight. The original CoverGirl beauty products are highly valuable for collectors today.
Ponchos, moccasins, love beads, peace signs, medallion necklaces, chain belts, polka dot-printed fabrics, and long, puffed "bubble" sleeves were popular fashions in the late 1960s. Both men and women wore frayed bell-bottomed jeans, tie-dyed shirts, work shirts, Jesus sandals, and headbands.
Until the late 1800s, most lipstick was DIY, made with carmine dye extracted from insects called cochineal. The first commercially produced lipstick was invented in 1884 by French perfumers. This lipstick was formulated from a combination of deer tallow, castor oil, and beeswax.
The story begins over 5,000 years ago
The first known red lipsticks were made by crushing gemstones and wearing them on the lips in Mesopotamia over 5,000 years ago. Later, lipsticks would be made from red algae and fish scales.
Early history
Sumerians crushed gemstones and used them to decorate their faces, mainly on the lips and around the eyes. Egyptians like Cleopatra crushed bugs (carmine) to create a color of red on their lips.
Short hair became a go-to in the 60s. One such style was the Vidal Sassoon pixie, which was created by the British hairstylist of the same name. It featured geometric edges that became a hit all over the world while super out-there for the time.
Adding a sweep of eyeliner is an absolute must when doing eye makeup for mature skin over 60. It adds a beautiful structure to the face and can frame your eyes as the standout features they are. A pencil eyeliner is good for aging eyes because it softens the lash line and makes your fringe look fuller.
Hippie style for both men and women included tie dye, bell bottoms, corduroy pants, sheepskin vests, mariner's caps, headband, sandals, and patches with flowers or peace symbols. The other big trend for men was called the Peacock Revolution, which mimicked Edwardian style.