3.2 Brows on Fleek: Shaping for Your Chosen Era
Brows play a crucial role in framing your face and defining your retro makeup look. Here’s how to shape them for your chosen decade:
- Twenties: Thin, sharply arched brows are the way to go. Use a brow pencil or pomade to define and shape your brows.
- Forties: Opt for slightly fuller brows with a softer arch. Fill in any sparse areas with a brow pencil, but avoid overdrawing them.
- Sixties: Thinner brows with a slight arch remain popular, but a more natural look is also acceptable. Use a brow pencil to lightly define your brows.
- Seventies: Thicker, fuller brows are in! Leave them natural or lightly shape them with a brow brush and clear brow gel.
- Eighties: Bold, defined brows with a high arch are the key. Use a brow pencil to heavily define and shape your brows.
3.3 Eye Know You’re Looking Gorgeous: Techniques for Retro Eyes
Now comes the fun part: creating the eyes that define your retro makeup look! Here’s a breakdown by decade:
3.3.1 The Twenties: Smokey Drama
- Apply a light eyeshadow base to prevent creasing.
- Use a dark brown or black eyeshadow to create a smokey effect on your lid. Blend it upwards and outwards for a diffused look.
- Line your upper and lower lash lines with a kohl pencil for a dramatic effect. Smudge the liner slightly for a softer look.
- Apply mascara generously to both your upper and lower lashes for added drama.
3.3.2 The Forties: Winged Eyeliner Extravaganza
- Apply a light eyeshadow base to your lids.
- Choose a neutral eyeshadow shade and apply it all over your lid for a base.
- Use a liquid liner or a well-sharpened pencil to create a sharp wing at the outer corner of your eye.
- Line your upper lash line with the liner, extending it slightly beyond the outer corner of your eye to create the wing.
- Apply mascara to your upper lashes, focusing on the outer corners to elongate them.
3.3.3 The Sixties: Twiggy’s Take on Liner
- Apply a light eyeshadow base to your lids.
- Apply a neutral eyeshadow shade all over your lid.
- Apply a white eyeliner pencil to your waterline (the inner rim of your lower eyelid) to create a wide-eyed effect.
- Use a black liquid liner or a very sharp pencil to draw a thin line along your upper lash line, starting from the inner corner and extending outwards slightly. Don’t create a wing, keep the line thin and close to the lash line.
- Apply a few individual false lashes or cluster lashes on the outer corners of your eyes for extra drama (optional).
- Apply mascara to your top lashes, focusing on the top and the outer corners to create a doll-like effect.
3.3.4 The Seventies: Shimmer and Bold Pops
- Apply a light eyeshadow primer to your lids.
- Choose a shimmery eyeshadow in a bold color like blue, green, or gold and apply it all over your lid. Blend it upwards and outwards for a diffused look.
- Apply a darker shade of the same color in the crease of your eyelid to add depth. Blend well to avoid harsh lines.
- Line your upper lash line with a black or dark brown eyeliner, extending it slightly beyond the outer corner for a subtle wing.
- Apply mascara generously to both your upper and lower lashes for added drama. For a truly disco-worthy look, you can even try using colored mascara on your lower lashes.
3.3.5 The Eighties: Electrifying Brights and Dramatic Smokey Eyes
- Apply a light eyeshadow primer to your lids.
- Choose a bold, bright eyeshadow shade like blue, pink, or purple and apply it all over your lid. Blend it upwards and outwards for a diffused look.
- Alternatively, you can create a dramatic smokey eye using black or dark brown eyeshadow. Blend it heavily for a smoldering effect.
- Line your upper lash line with a black eyeliner, creating a thick, dramatic line. You can also add a wing at the outer corner for extra oomph.
- Apply mascara generously to both your upper and lower lashes. For an even more dramatic look, you can try using false lashes.
Pro Tip: When experimenting with bold eyeshadow colors, remember to blend! Blending is key to creating a polished and professional-looking retro makeup look.
3.4 Cheeky Chic: A Touch of Retro Blush
Blush adds a touch of color and dimension to your face, completing your retro makeup look. Here’s how to apply it for different decades:
- Twenties & Forties: A subtle flush of color on the apples of your cheeks is ideal. Opt for a peachy pink or rose-colored blush and apply it lightly with a fluffy brush.
- Sixties: A hint of pink blush applied high on the cheekbones is the way to go. Think of a youthful, doll-like flush.
- Seventies: Bronzer takes center stage in the seventies. Apply it generously to the apples of your cheeks, temples, and forehead for a warm, sun-kissed glow. You can also add a touch of peach blush for a healthy-looking flush.
- Eighties: Blush is used sparingly in the eighties, if at all. Focus on the other elements of your makeup, like the bold eyes and lips, and keep the cheeks clean and sculpted with a touch of bronzer for definition.
3.5 Pucker Up: Perfecting Your Retro Lip
The perfect lip completes your retro makeup look. Here’s how to achieve iconic lip styles from different eras:
3.5.1 The Twenties: The Bold Berry
- Exfoliate your lips to ensure a smooth canvas.
- Line your lips with a lip liner in a shade slightly darker than your chosen lipstick color. Overdraw the cupid’s bow slightly for a defined look.
- Apply a bold berry lipstick in a shade like cherry red, ruby red, or plum. Use a lip brush for a precise application.
- Blot your lips with a tissue to remove excess lipstick and create a more matte finish.
3.5.2 The Forties: The Classic Red Lip
- Exfoliate and moisturize your lips for a smooth application.
- Line your lips with a lip liner in a shade that matches your lipstick perfectly. Define the cupid’s bow for a classic look.
- Apply a classic red lipstick using a lip brush for a flawless application. Blot your lips with a tissue for a matte finish.
3.5.3 The Sixties: Playful Pinks
- Exfoliate and moisturize your lips.
- Line your lips with a lip liner in a shade that matches your chosen lipstick color, or even a shade slightly lighter for a softer look.
- Apply a light pink or baby pink lipstick for a playful, youthful vibe. You can also opt for a glossy finish for extra shine.
