Lipstick's Iconic Moments in Time

Lipstick is still one of the top-selling beauty products worldwide due to its versatility in color & formula. Whether it’s a neutral gloss or a mauve matte, lipstick can transform any look! Of course, lipstick has changed with each decade to reflect the influence of the time. Below are lipstick’s iconic moments in time over the past 70 years:

1950’s

Reds defined the 50’s. Think Marilyn Monroe, Lucille Ball, or Audrey Hepburn & you imagine a bold red lip & natural lash. Red was a staple in depicting glamor & signified a sense of class & femininity. With a growing number of women entering the workplace, red was a way to show the power of femininity in a male-dominated world.

1960’s

Frosted pale pinks & neutral coral satins ruled the 60’s. A time of civil rights movements & activism to fight against long out-dated societal ideologies, makeup defied the traditional representation of beauty, too. Colorful cut creases paired with pinks & corals greatly opposed the simple lash & liner with a red lip that dominated the decades before.

1970’s

Warm neutral satins for day-time contrasted the orange & amber tones for the night-life of disco in the 70’s. The free-spirited attitude of the decade reflected in the natural & minimal makeup for everyday looks. The introduction of disco influenced the orange & amber-toned satins that is represented by the ‘Queen of Disco’ Donna Summer.

1980’s

Bold & colorful was everything in the 80’s. Disco created the party nightlife at the start of the 80's, & MTV’s launch reinforced the ‘extra’ fashion & beauty trends. Heavy blush & eyeshadow paired with bright fuchsia lipstick wasn’t unusual during this time. The possibilities were limitless as no color was off-limits. Bold pinks & fuchsias were the go-to lip color to compliment the color on the face & eyes.

1990’s

Burgundies & browns were the look of the 90’s. Grunge inspired makeup & fashion contrasted & challenged the previous beauty standards. From magazines to fashion publications (i.e. Vogue) to the catwalk, supermodels Naomi Campbell & Yasmeen Ghauri perfectly embodied the grunge inspired look of the time.

2000’s

Frosted, shimmery, & ultra glossy lips were ‘so hot’ in the 2000’s. The new century, often referred to as Y2K, brought a playful side back to makeup. Smokey-grays & cool tones for the eyes complimented juicy & glossy lips for a night out. Want to learn how to incorporate the full Y2K look? Check out ‘A Guide to 2000’s Makeup for 2024 Glam.’

2010’s

Matte lipstick was the go-to look in the 2010’s. The term ‘2016 makeup’ refers to the bold cut crease eye looks, heavy contour, & matte lipsticks of the time. The launch of liquid lipsticks offered a new way to wear a variety of colors with long-lasting power. With the rise of beauty YouTubers, such as Carli Bybel & Jackie Aina, everyone wanted to try a matte liquid lipstick.

The past 70 years of lipstick’s iconic moments shows us that lipstick is versatile & ever-changing with the times. It’s too soon to speak for the defining trend of the 2020’s, yet tinted & natural hues for lipstick & gloss seem to be most prevalent. Let’s see what the future holds for lipstick’s next iconic moment!