Summarize this article with:
Twiggy’s painted lashes. Brigitte Bardot’s smoky cat eye. Audrey Hepburn’s soft wings.
60s makeup looks defined an entire generation and still influence beauty trends today.
The swinging sixties brought bold eyes, pale lips, and dramatic lashes to the mainstream. Mary Quant cosmetics and Yardley of London made these mod styles accessible to everyone.
This guide breaks down the iconic techniques behind each look. You’ll learn how to recreate Twiggy’s famous cut crease, master the London Look, and adapt vintage styles for modern wear.
Whether you’re preparing for a themed event or just love retro beauty, these step-by-step methods work on any eye shape.
What is 60s Makeup
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60s makeup is a beauty style from the 1960s built around dramatic eyes, pale lips, and bold lashes.
The look came out of London’s mod subculture. Models like Twiggy, Jean Shrimpton, and Brigitte Bardot made it famous worldwide.
Three distinct styles defined the decade: classic early 60s, the mod London look, and hippie makeup.
Each style had specific techniques for eyes, skin, brows, and lips. The common thread? Eyes always took center stage.
How Did 60s Makeup Differ From 1950s Makeup
The 1950s focused on red lips and subtle eyes. The 60s flipped that completely.
Lips went pale, almost nude. Eyes became the star with heavy liner, false lashes, and graphic shadow.
Contouring disappeared. Skin shifted from warm, glowing finishes to pale matte complexions set with translucent powder.
Brows changed too. The 50s arched, defined brow gave way to softer, more natural shapes by mid-decade.
What Are the Main 60s Makeup Styles
What is the Mod Makeup Look
The mod makeup look defined swinging sixties London. Think Twiggy’s doe eyes, Mary Quant cosmetics, and Vidal Sassoon geometric haircuts.
Pale skin, graphic black liner, pastel shadow, and barely-there lips. This is the style most people picture when they think of vintage makeup looks.
What is the Classic Early 60s Look
Early 60s makeup bridged the gap from 1950s glamour. Jackie Kennedy influenced this elegant, understated style.
Soft winged liner, matte eyeshadow in neutral tones, rosy pink blush, and red-pink lipstick. Heavy powder for a polished finish.
What is the Hippie Makeup Style
Late 60s brought the counterculture. Natural, earthy, minimal.
Light brown mascara, clear lip gloss, barely any foundation. If you want to recreate this vibe, check out hippie makeup looks for modern inspiration.
What Products Define 60s Eye Makeup
What Eyeliner Techniques Were Used in the 60s
Black liquid liner was everything. Women doubled up wings at the outer corner for extra drama.
White liner in the inner corners opened up eyes. Some traced the waterline too. If you’re new to applying eyeliner, the 60s style is actually forgiving since bold, graphic lines were the goal.
What Eyeshadow Colors Were Popular in the 60s
The palette was cool-toned: blue, grey, white, and pale pink.
Daytime called for soft pastels. Evening meant bold primary colors, especially electric blue and green. Iridescent and frosty finishes were huge.
Learning proper techniques for applying eyeshadow helps you nail that authentic 60s lid.
How Were False Lashes Worn in the 60s
Lashes on top. Lashes on bottom. Sometimes drawn-on lashes underneath real ones.
Twiggy painted individual lower lashes with liner for her signature doll-eyed effect. Strip lashes went on both lash lines for maximum drama.
Master applying false eyelashes and you’re halfway to an authentic 60s look.
How to Create a Twiggy Makeup Look
What Products Do You Need for Twiggy Eyes
- Black liquid liner
- White or pale pink eyeshadow
- Brown shadow or pencil for the crease
- Strip false lashes (upper and lower)
- Volumizing mascara
What is the Twiggy Cut Crease Technique
Find your eye socket bone. Make three dots along it, tracing the natural arch.
Connect the dots with brown shadow or pencil. Keep the line harsh for authentic 60s style, or blend slightly for a modern take.
The key? Place the crease line above your actual crease, following your orbital bone. This creates that exaggerated, deep-set look Twiggy was known for.
How to Draw Twiggy’s Lower Lashes
Use liquid liner or a thin brush with dark shadow. Draw small lines radiating from your lower lash line.
Space them evenly. Angle them slightly outward. This creates the illusion of thick, individual lashes without the weight of actual falsies on your lower lid.
Finish with several coats of mascara on your real lashes. Applying mascara generously was standard practice in the 60s.
What Were 60s Lip Trends
What Lip Colors Were Popular in the 60s
Pale pinks, soft peaches, and nude lipstick dominated. Matte and pearlescent finishes both worked.
Besame Cosmetics still makes authentic 60s shades like portrait peach. Yardley of London was the go-to brand back then.
Why Were 60s Lips So Pale
Balance. Bold eyes needed quiet lips.
The mod philosophy kept attention on one feature. Dark liner and heavy lashes meant lips stayed understated, often just a wash of sheer lipstick or gloss.
What Foundation and Skin Prep Was Used in the 60s
How Was 60s Skin Finished
Matte everything. Early 60s meant heavy powder. Late 60s lightened up with just translucent setting powder.
Pale complexions were the goal. Max Factor Pan-Cake foundation was a bestseller. No highlighter, no bronzer, no contouring.
Proper technique for applying setting powder gives you that authentic flat finish.
What Blush and Contour Techniques Were Used
Blush stayed minimal. Soft pinks and coral on the apple of cheeks, nothing sculpted.
Around 1963, women started using warm bronze under cheekbones. But subtle, never Instagram-level drama.
What Were 60s Eyebrow Trends
Early 60s: thin, arched, defined. Very 1950s carryover.
Mid-to-late 60s: softer, more natural. Brushed up slightly. Minimal filling.
Diahann Carroll and Diana Ross kept fuller brows even when thin was trending. Personal style always mattered more than rigid rules.
How to Create a Brigitte Bardot Makeup Look
Bardot’s signature was the cat eye. Heavy black liner, smudged slightly for that sultry French effect.
Skin stayed bronzed, warmer than the typical London look. Pillowy pale pink lips. Teased, voluminous hair completed the bombshell vibe.
Her style influenced elegant makeup looks for decades after.
How to Create an Audrey Hepburn 60s Look
Extended wings with a hazy, diffused edge. Not sharp, just softly dramatic.
Strong, natural brows. Minimal lip color, usually pink or nude. The focus stayed entirely on those famous eyes.
Master doing winged eyeliner and you capture her essence.
What Tools Do You Need for 60s Makeup
- Black liquid liner (felt tip or brush)
- Powder eyeshadows in blue, grey, white, pink
- False lash adhesive and strip lashes
- Translucent setting powder
- Lip pencils in nude and pink
- Sponge applicators for shadow
- Powder puff or velour pad
A good lip liner keeps pale colors from disappearing. Period-accurate tools help achieve that authentic finish.
How to Adapt 60s Makeup for Modern Wear
How to Soften a 60s Eye Look
Blend the crease line instead of leaving it harsh. Use lash clusters instead of full strips.
Swap liquid liner for smudged pencil. The graphic shapes stay, just softer around the edges.
What 60s Techniques Work for Hooded Eyes
Place the socket line above your actual crease, on the orbital bone. This keeps the color visible when eyes are open.
Tips for doing makeup for hooded eyes actually align well with Twiggy’s technique since she drew her crease higher than natural.
Comparison of 60s Makeup Icons and Their Signature Techniques
| Icon | Eye Style | Lip Style | Signature Technique |
| Twiggy | Cut crease, drawn lashes | Nude | Painted lower lashes |
| Brigitte Bardot | Smudged cat eye | Pale pink | Heavy wing, bronzed skin |
| Jean Shrimpton | Natural mod | Peach | White inner corner |
| Edie Sedgwick | Heavy black liner | Nude | Dark socket emphasis |
| Audrey Hepburn | Extended hazy wing | Pink | Diffused liner edges |
| Pattie Boyd | Soft mod | Peach gloss | “The London Look” poster girl |
Each icon brought something different. Twiggy gave us theatrical drama. Bardot delivered sultry warmth. Hepburn kept things refined.
Pick the style that matches your vibe, then adapt the techniques to your face shape and eye type.
FAQ on 60s Makeup Looks
What defines 60s makeup?
Dramatic eyes and pale lips define 60s makeup. The look features bold black eyeliner, false lashes on top and bottom, pastel eyeshadow in blue or pink, and nude or peach lipstick. Skin stays matte with minimal blush.
How do I do Twiggy eye makeup?
Apply white shadow on lids, then draw a dark crease line along your orbital bone. Add strip lashes to upper and lower lash lines. Paint individual lower lashes with liquid liner for her signature doe-eyed effect.
What lipstick colors were popular in the 60s?
Pale pink, soft peach, and nude shades dominated. Lips stayed understated so eyes could shine. Brands like Yardley of London and Mary Quant offered popular shades. Wearing pink lipstick captures the authentic 60s vibe.
Did they contour in the 60s?
Not really. The 60s favored flat, matte complexions over sculpted cheekbones. Some women used warm bronze under cheekbones by 1963, but nothing dramatic. Max Factor Pan-Cake foundation created that porcelain, doll-like finish everyone wanted.
What eyeliner did they use in the 60s?
Black liquid liner was standard. Women applied it thick along upper lash lines with extended wings. White liner went in inner corners and sometimes on waterlines. The goal was making eyes appear larger and rounder.
How do I make my eyes look bigger like 60s models?
Use white shadow on lids and inner corners. Draw your crease line higher than natural. Apply heavy mascara and false lashes. Add white liner to your waterline. These tricks create that wide-eyed, doll-like appearance Twiggy made famous.
What is the difference between mod and hippie 60s makeup?
Mod makeup features bold graphic liner, pale skin, and dramatic lashes. Hippie makeup goes natural with minimal foundation, earth tones, and clear lip gloss. Mod ruled London; hippie emerged from the late-60s counterculture movement.
Can I wear 60s makeup with modern clothes?
Absolutely. Soften the look by blending your crease line and using lash clusters instead of strips. The eye makeup looks from this era translate well when adapted with modern blending techniques.
What foundation finish was popular in the 60s?
Matte everything. Women used heavy powder in early 60s, then lightened up with translucent powder later. No dewy skin, no highlighter. Pale complexions were ideal. Cream foundations set with loose powder created that signature flat finish.
Who were the biggest 60s makeup icons?
Twiggy, Brigitte Bardot, Jean Shrimpton, Audrey Hepburn, Edie Sedgwick, and Pattie Boyd shaped the decade. Each brought unique styles from Twiggy’s painted lashes to Bardot’s sultry cat eye. Diana Ross influenced bold makeup looks too.
Conclusion
60s makeup looks remain some of the most recognizable beauty styles in history. From Carnaby Street to Hollywood, these techniques shaped modern cosmetics.
The doe-eyed look, graphic liner, and false lash application still appear on runways today. Jean Shrimpton and Edie Sedgwick proved that dramatic eyes paired with matte skin creates timeless appeal.
You don’t need vintage Max Factor products to nail these styles. Modern formulas work even better.
Start with one technique. Maybe Twiggy’s painted lower lashes or Bardot’s smudged cat eye. Master that before adding more elements.
The swinging sixties gave us permission to be bold with eye makeup. That spirit hasn’t faded.
Once you’ve mastered retro styles, explore how beauty evolved with 70s makeup looks next.
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