Master 1960s makeup with step-by-step guides to mod eyes, pale lips, and dramatic lashes. Recreate Twiggy’s legendary look today.
Introduction
There’s something magical about the way 1960s makeup completely transformed beauty standards. It was bold when previous decades played it safe, youthful when everyone else looked mature, and unapologetically dramatic when subtlety was expected. This wasn’t just makeup—it was a statement, a rebellion, and an art form all rolled into one.
What makes 1960s makeup so fascinating is how it evolved throughout the decade. The early years held onto that polished, sophisticated elegance from the fifties. But by mid-decade? Everything changed. Models like Twiggy and Jean Shrimpton introduced the mod look—that doll-eyed, pale-lipped aesthetic that made eyes the absolute star of the show.
I love how 1960s makeup broke all the rules. Suddenly, eyelashes could be painted on. Eye shadow came in wild blues and greens. Lips went pale instead of bold. It was the first time makeup truly embraced youth culture, giving teenagers and young women their own distinct beauty language instead of making them imitate their mothers.
In this guide, I’m walking you through everything that defined 1960s makeup—from the techniques that created those iconic looks to how you can recreate them today. Whether you’re a vintage enthusiast or just curious about this revolutionary decade, you’re about to discover what made sixties beauty so unforgettable.
The Evolution Throughout The Decade
Early Sixties Elegance
The beginning of the decade wasn’t that different from the late fifties. Women still wore heavily powdered foundations, defined brows, and carefully applied lipstick. Think Grace Kelly rather than Twiggy. The look was grown-up, refined, and very put-together.
| Period | Key Features | Defining Look |
| Early (1960-1963) | Heavy powder, pink lips, winged liner | Classic elegance |
| Mid (1964-1966) | Pale shadows, dramatic lashes, nude lips | Mod revolution |
| Late (1967-1969) | Colorful shadows, natural skin, experimental | Hippie influence |
Foundation was applied thick and set with generous amounts of powder. The goal was a matte, porcelain complexion that looked almost mask-like. Eye liner extended into crisp wings, but the overall effect was still quite traditional. This is the era of Mad Men-style beauty—polished and perfect.
The Mod Revolution
Everything shifted when London became the center of the fashion universe. Suddenly, designers like Mary Quant weren’t just creating clothes—they were launching makeup lines specifically for young women. The mod look emerged as the defining aesthetic of 1960s makeup.
This is when eyes become absolutely massive. Models weren’t just wearing mascara—they were layering false lashes on top and bottom, then painting extra lashes in between. Eye shadow went pale and frosted. Eyeliner got heavier and more graphic. And lips? They faded into the background with barely-there pink or beige shades.
The contrast between early and mid-decade 1960s makeup couldn’t be more stark. Within just a few years, beauty went from conservative and mature to youthful and experimental. It was a complete revolution.
The Hippie Influence
By the late sixties, things loosened up again. The rigidity of the mod look gave way to more natural, bohemian vibes. Foundation got lighter. Freckles were allowed to show. Earth tones and jewel tones replaced the pale pastels of earlier 1960s makeup.
This period embraced individuality more than the mod look did. While mod was about precision and graphic shapes, hippie beauty celebrated natural texture and artistic expression. Both are distinctly sixties, just from opposite ends of the spectrum.
The Signature Eye Techniques
Creating The Crease
The defining feature of 1960s makeup was the dramatic eye, and it all started with the crease. Unlike modern smokey eyes where everything blends seamlessly, sixties eyes featured a defined line along the socket. This was usually done in brown, gray, or even a soft shade of the chosen eye shadow color.
To create this look, use a fluffy brush and a matte shadow slightly darker than your skin tone. Look straight ahead into a mirror and place the color right where your eyelid naturally creases. The line should be visible when your eyes are open—that’s the whole point. Don’t blend it up too far; you want definition, not diffusion.
Essential Eye Steps:
- Prime lids to prevent creasing
- Apply pale or white shadow all over lid
- Define crease with darker shadow in thin line
- Add graphic eyeliner on upper lash line
- Apply multiple coats of mascara
- Add false lashes or paint on lower lashes
- Highlight brow bone with white or cream shadow
This technique in 1960s makeup makes eyes look larger and more doll-like. It’s the foundation upon which everything else builds.
The Art Of Graphic Liner
Eyeliner in the sixties wasn’t subtle. It was thick, black, and incredibly precise. The line started thin at the inner corner and gradually thickened toward the outer corner, where it either extended straight out or swooped upward slightly.
What made 1960s makeup liner different from other decades was its graphic quality. The line was bold and solid, not smudged or soft. Many women used liquid liner for this precision, though gel or pencil worked fine too. The key was keeping the line clean and even.
Some versions of 1960s makeup featured a double line—one along the upper lash line and another in the crease. This created an even more dramatic, architectural effect. For evening looks, women sometimes used colored liners in blue, green, or purple instead of black.
Lash Layering Techniques
If there’s one thing that defines 1960s makeup more than anything else, it’s the lashes. Women went absolutely wild with mascara and false lashes. The goal was maximum volume, length, and drama—subtlety be damned.
First came mascara, applied in multiple coats to both upper and lower lashes. Then false lashes were added to the upper lid—sometimes full strips, sometimes individual clusters. But here’s where it gets really interesting: women would often add tiny individual lashes or paint on extra lashes underneath the lower lash line.
This is the Twiggy effect—those painted-on lower lashes that made her so iconic. To recreate it, use liquid liner or a thin brush with gel liner to draw tiny lash marks below your actual lower lashes. Make them slightly spidery and separated for that authentic 1960s makeup look.
Face And Lip Trends
Foundation Philosophy
Foundation application changed dramatically throughout the sixties. Early 1960s makeup featured heavy, mask-like coverage set with tons of powder. But as the mod look took over, foundations became lighter and more skin-like.
The mod aesthetic of 1960s makeup favored a fresh, youthful complexion over heavy coverage. Foundation was applied sheerly, just evening out skin tone without completely covering it. The heavily powdered look fell out of favor in favor of a more natural finish—though “natural” still meant wearing foundation, just less of it.
By the late sixties, some women were skipping foundation altogether or using tinted moisturizers. This was revolutionary after decades of full-coverage formulas being the standard. The shift reflected the era’s broader move toward natural beauty and individual expression.
Pale Lip Perfection
Here’s where 1960s makeup really diverged from previous decades: the lips went pale. While the forties and fifties celebrated red and pink lips, the sixties said “no thanks” and reached for nudes, beiges, and the palest pinks imaginable.
The idea was to keep all attention on the eyes. Bold lips would compete with those dramatic lashes and graphic liner, so lips got toned way down. Popular shades included peachy nudes, frosted pinks, and barely-there beiges. Some women even applied white or pale pink lipstick, then added just a touch of gloss.
For the most authentic 1960s makeup lip, outline your lips with a pencil just slightly darker than your lipstick shade, fill them in completely, then blot. Apply your pale lipstick over the pencil, blot again, and add a second coat. The result should be soft and subdued, never stealing focus from the eyes.
Blush Application
Blush in 1960s makeup was applied higher and more forward than in other decades. Instead of following the hollows of cheeks, color was swept across the apples and up toward the temples. This created a youthful, almost flushed appearance.
Colors were typically soft pinks or peachy tones—nothing too intense or sculptural. The goal was adding warmth and life to the face, not contouring or reshaping. Many women skipped blush entirely during the mod era, preferring the pale, doe-eyed look that made them appear almost ethereal.
Iconic Products And Brands
Mary Quant Cosmetics
When Mary Quant launched her makeup line in the mid-sixties, she revolutionized how beauty products were marketed. For the first time, makeup was specifically designed for and sold to young women, not their mothers. Her products embodied everything that defined 1960s makeup—bold, playful, and youthful.
Quant’s packaging was as mod as the products themselves, featuring bold graphics and bright colors. Her eye makeup products especially captured the spirit of 1960s makeup with vibrant shadows, dramatic mascaras, and innovative applicators that made achieving the mod look easier for everyday women.
Yardley Of London
Yardley became the face of “The London Look” thanks to campaigns featuring Twiggy and Jean Shrimpton. Their advertising captured the essence of 1960s makeup perfectly—young, fresh-faced models with enormous eyes and barely-there lips representing a new generation of beauty.
The brand’s eye shadow palettes featured those iconic sixties shades: pale blues, soft grays, frosty whites, and pastel pinks. Their mascaras promised length and volume, essential for achieving authentic 1960s makeup. Even the names of their products evoked the swinging sixties vibe.
Max Factor Innovations
Max Factor remained a major player throughout the sixties, adapting their products to suit changing tastes. They developed cream eye shadows that were easier to apply and blend than powder formulas, making complex 1960s makeup looks more accessible to average women.
Their false lash offerings expanded dramatically during this decade, with options ranging from subtle to wildly dramatic. Max Factor understood that lashes were the key to sixties beauty and made sure women had every tool they needed to achieve those iconic looks.
Recreating The Look Today
Modern Adaptations
You don’t have to go full vintage to incorporate 1960s makeup into your modern routine. Start with just one element—maybe those graphic crease lines or the pale lip—and work it into your current style. The beauty of 1960s makeup is how modular it is; you can pick and choose which elements to emphasize.
For a wearable take on the sixties eye, try a thin line of dark shadow in your crease paired with mascara-heavy lashes, but skip the heavy liner and false lashes. Or embrace the pale lip with a nude shade and let the rest of your makeup be more contemporary. You can honor the era without doing a complete costume.
Essential Products
To create authentic 1960s makeup looks, you’ll need a few key products. A good cream or white eye shadow for the base is essential. Black liquid liner or gel liner creates those graphic shapes. Volumizing mascara is non-negotiable—look for formulas that add both length and thickness.
For lips, find a pale nude or pink that’s slightly lighter than your natural lip color. You’ll also want a good eye shadow primer since sixties eyes involve layering multiple products. False lashes are optional but add that authentic touch if you’re going for a full mod look.
Product Checklist:
- White or cream eye shadow base
- Black liquid or gel eyeliner
- Volumizing mascara
- Strip or individual false lashes
- Pale pink or nude lipstick
- Soft pink blush
- Light-coverage foundation
- Eye shadow primer
Having these basics means you can experiment with different 1960s makeup variations until you find what works for you.
Tips For Different Eye Shapes
Working With Your Features
One of the great things about 1960s makeup is how adaptable it is to different eye shapes. The core principles remain the same, but application adjusts based on your natural features. Deep-set eyes benefit from lighter shadows that bring the lid forward. Prominent eyes look great with slightly deeper crease definition.
For close-set eyes, extend your liner and shadow outward to create width. Wide-set eyes benefit from bringing definition inward. Round eyes can handle more angular, graphic shapes, while almond eyes suit classic sixties liner perfectly. Don’t fight your natural shape—work with it using 1960s makeup techniques.
Adjusting Proportions
The key to making 1960s makeup work on any face is adjusting proportions. If you have smaller eyes, scale down the heaviness of the liner and false lashes. Larger eyes can handle more drama. The principle stays the same—defined crease, graphic liner, emphasized lashes—but the intensity varies.
Similarly, the placement of the crease line should follow your actual crease, not some idealized version. Let your bone structure guide where you place that defining shadow line. This keeps 1960s makeup looking intentional rather than costume-y.
Conclusion
The magic of 1960s makeup lies in how it captured a moment of complete transformation. It wasn’t just about looking pretty—it was about looking modern, youthful, and different from every generation before. Those dramatic eyes, pale lips, and experimental techniques reflected a decade of social change and artistic freedom.
What I find most inspiring about 1960s makeup is its courage. Women weren’t afraid to look unusual or dramatic. They embraced bold choices that previous generations would have considered outrageous. That spirit of experimentation is what makes sixties beauty still feel fresh and relevant today.
Whether you’re drawn to the polished elegance of early sixties glamour or the graphic mod look of mid-decade, there’s something in 1960s makeup for everyone. The techniques are surprisingly wearable once you understand the principles behind them. You don’t need to go full Twiggy to appreciate and incorporate elements of this revolutionary era.
So grab your eyeliner and pale lipstick. Channel that swinging sixties energy. Experiment with dramatic lashes and defined creases. The beauty of 1960s makeup is that it still looks current—because truly revolutionary style never really goes out of fashion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Can I wear 1960s makeup for everyday occasions?
Absolutely! Tone it down by using just one or two elements—like a defined crease with mascara, or a nude lip with liner. You don’t need the full mod look to channel sixties vibes.
Q2: What’s the easiest way to get started with this style?
Start with the pale lip—it’s simple and instantly evokes the era. Then add heavier mascara and a subtle crease line. Build up to more dramatic elements as you get comfortable.
Q3: Do I need to use only vintage products?
Not at all! Modern products work great for 1960s makeup. Look for high-pigment shadows, precise liners, and volumizing mascaras—the effects are what matter, not product authenticity.
Q4: How do I make painted-on lower lashes look realistic?
Use a thin brush or eyeliner pen and create small, slightly irregular marks that mimic real lashes. Space them unevenly and vary the length slightly—perfection looks fake, slight imperfection looks natural.
Q5: What if the pale lip looks washed out on me?
Add a touch of warmth with a peachy nude instead of cool-toned beige, and make sure to line your lips for definition. You can also add a light layer of gloss to brighten the finish without adding color.
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