The best 80s makeup looks: trends, ideas and inspirations
It is now time to step in our time machine and take a journey all the way back to the 80s, one of the most loved decades of the Twentieth century. The decade of big hair, shoulder pads, acid wash jeans, where everything was just bigger and brighter could not have been the same thing without its makeup trends and fashions. And now, some forty years later, the bright 80s looks are making a major comeback.
Let us have a look together at how to create a perfect makeup look as if right out of a magazine from one of the most “camp” decades that we have ever witnessed so far.
How to do 80s makeup
Big brows, big hair, technicolour eyeshadow and simply more, more and more blush. This is the 80s: an over-the-top and fun glam makeup that is all about being able to step out of one’s comfort zone.
Let us have a look in more details at what are the staples of a makeup look from the 80s.
1. Foundation
In the 80s it was all about full-coverage foundation matching your own skin tone. To achieve this sought-after full-coverage effect now you should use a foundation brush or a sponge and buff the foundation all over your face.
Make sure you use primer beforehand for a more airbrushed look and conceal what you wish to conceal with a product that is one (or two) shade lighter than your skin.
2. Pink blush
One of the staples of the 80s is pink blush, to be applied high on your cheekbone while the colour is swept along the bone and up, all the way to your temple. Once you hit your temple blend the blush out toward your hairline in circular motions.
3. Bright eyeshadow
Mimic 80s pop icons with neon eye makeup (such as a metallic blue eye shadow) and bright red lipstick. You can also use a bright orange all over your lids and a bright yellow right under your brow bones to make your eyes really pop.
4. Bold mascara and eyeliner
Use any dark or bold pencil eyeliner in your lower water line, like black or any other darker colour that matches your eyeshadow to make it even more dramatic. Then, add two coats of mascara to finish your makeup look. Blue and teal were especially popular eyeliner shades on the lower lash line, especially for pop star looks.
How to do 80s face makeup
Here is a more thorough, step-to-step guide to your face makeup.
1. Concealer
The first step is to pick a concealer that is one or two tones lighter than your skin tone and apply it around any potential blemish and below your eyes to cover the dark circles around them.
2. Primer
Use primer to make sure that the foundation you apply later is pore-less and gets a more airbrushed effect.
3. Foundation
Choose a foundation that matches exactly your skin tone and select either a foundation brush or sponge to apply it. Make sure you have full coverage.
4. Blush
The makeup trends of the 1980s always featured the cheekbones. A part of the culture, blush was a must-have item during this decade, often bright pink or even deep plum.
When in doubt, you would fill those cheeks full of colour. No matter your skin tone, the cheeks would be the focal point of your colour, with a bright streak of blush. A trend that is definitely coming back today, in a slightly revised version, to highlight the importance of being able to express oneself and one’s uniqueness.
How to do 80s eye makeup
Being cool in the 80s meant rocking brightly colourful eyeshadows. And the whackier, the better! Think of blue, pink, and purple: some even combined all of these shades into the one look.
1. Pick three colours from your KIKO Milano eyeshadow palette (we recommend purple, light pink and deeper blue) to be blended vertically in a fan shape.
2. Start with a gentle eye makeup primer making sure that the eye is clean first. Apply shadow lightly and carefully.
3. Starting with the inside of the eyelid nearest the nose with dark colour, apply with an upward motion. Next, apply a light highlighter and then a darker colour again.
4. Next is mascara. You can apply a combination of colours: on the bottom of the upper lash, apply blue mascara with quick strokes upward, while on the top use brown or black to give the eye shape and form.
5. Then, the eyeliner should be applied in a fine line at the base of the lashes to make lashes look thicker. You can use blue with the lower ones because it reflects light, and black or brown with the top ones.
The best 80s makeup ideas to get inspiration from
From movie stars, rock ‘n’ roll bands, pop singers to beautiful princesses, the 80s had at least one look that was appealing to everyone. It was also a time of many faux pas, but we hope that here you have found the inspiration for some great looks that are back to being trendy some forty years later!
We are sure that among all the 80s’ fashion icons there are a few that you like and that you draw inspiration from. So, what is going to be your go-to makeup look? Blushed cheeks? Colourful eyeshadows? Do not be afraid to mix and match, channelling the true spirit of the 80s: extravagance and fun!