Fascinated by the elegance of 1940s makeup and want to bring that vintage charm into your look?
This article will take you through the key elements of the 1940s makeup style, from classic red lips to soft, feminine eyes, helping you capture the essence of old Hollywood glamour.
✅ Provides coverage for a wide array of skin tones
✅ Refines pores for a natural-looking matte finish
✅ Lightweight and buildable coverage
❌ May not work well for dry skin
Table of Contents
1940’s Makeup Look
The 1940s makeup look was characterized by refined elegance and practicality, reflecting the wartime era’s need for simplicity with a touch of glamour.
- Matte Complexion: A flawless, matte finish was achieved with powder to create a smooth, porcelain-like base.
- Natural Eyebrows: Brows were softly arched and well-groomed, kept natural yet defined to frame the face.
- Soft Eyeshadow: Neutral shades like beige, brown, and light gray were used subtly to enhance the eyes without overpowering them.
- Minimal Eyeliner: Thin, close-to-the-lash-line eyeliner defined the eyes, sometimes with a slight flick for a subtle winged look.
- Full, Defined Lashes: Mascara was essential for giving the lashes volume and length, contributing to the eye’s overall allure.
- Bold Red Lips: The defining feature of 1940s makeup, a bold red lip was a symbol of femininity and patriotism during the war.
- Soft Blush: A gentle application of pink or peach blush adds a touch of color to the cheeks, balancing the boldness of the lips.
This iconic look blended practicality with femininity, reflecting the resilience and style of women during the 1940s.
Characteristics of the 1940’s Makeup Look
Your 1940’s face would typically include:
- A matte complexion achieved with powder
- Softly arched, natural eyebrows
- Neutral eyeshadow in earth tones
- Thin, precise eyeliner with a subtle wing
- Rosy cheeks for a healthy glow
- Bold red lipstick as the focal point
The overall effect was polished yet achievable, emphasizing your natural beauty without appearing overdone.
Iconic 1940’s Makeup Products
You’d find these essentials in a 1940’s makeup bag:
- Pancake foundation for a flawless base
- Cake mascara, applied with a wet brush
- Eyebrow pencils for definition
- Cream rouge for cheeks and lips
- Loose face powder to set the look
- Bright red lipstick in a metal tube
Vaseline was a multi-purpose product, often used to add shine to eyelids or moisturize lips.
Despite shortages, women found creative ways to maintain their beauty routines using these iconic products.
Creating the Look: Step by Step
Preparing the Canvas: Skin Care and Foundation
Start with a clean face. Apply a light moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated. Use a liquid or cream foundation that matches your skin tone.
Blend it evenly across your face and neck for a flawless finish.
Set your foundation with a light dusting of powder. This helps create a matte look, popular in the 1940s.
Don’t forget to apply a rosy cream blush to the apples of your cheeks for a healthy glow.
Eye Makeup: Techniques and Styles
Your eyes are the focal point of 1940s makeup. Start by creating bold, arched eyebrows. Use an eyebrow pencil to define and extend your natural brow shape.
For eyeshadow, stick to neutral tones:
- Apply a light shade across the lid
- Use a slightly darker shade in the crease
- Blend well for a subtle, elegant look
Line your upper lash line with a thin black line, extending it slightly beyond the outer corner. Finish with several coats of mascara on your upper lashes for a dramatic effect.
Lipstick and Contours: Defining the Face
Choose a bold red or deep berry shade for an authentic look. Apply lipstick carefully, using a lip brush for precision. Blot and reapply for lasting color.
To contour, use a slightly darker powder along your cheekbones and jawline. This creates subtle shadows, enhancing your facial structure.
Apply a touch of highlighter on your cheekbones for a gentle glow.
For the final touch, dust some loose powder over your face to set your makeup and achieve that classic 1940s matte finish.
Top 15 40’s Makeup Looks
Classic Red Lips: Bold red lipstick was a staple of 1940s glamour.
Arched Eyebrows: Well-defined, high arches were essential for the 40s look.
Natural Foundation: A matte complexion was achieved using powder to set a liquid foundation.
Rosy Cheeks: Subtle pink blush gave a healthy, youthful glow.
Winged Eyeliner: Thin, elongated cat-eye looks were popular.
Neutral Eye Shadow: Soft, muted tones enhanced the eyes without overpowering.
Mascara Magic: Black mascara was used to create long, fluttery lashes.
Cupid’s Bow Lips: Emphasizing the upper lip’s curve was a signature 40s touch.
Flawless Skin: Pancake makeup helped achieve a smooth, even complexion.
Subtle Contouring: Light sculpting enhances natural facial features.
Victory Rolls: While not makeup, this hairstyle complemented the era’s beauty looks.
Defined Lip Shape: Lip liners were used to perfect the lipstick application.
Pencil-Thin Brows: Some women opted for very narrow, precisely drawn eyebrows.
Au Naturel: The 1940s also embraced natural beauty, especially during wartime shortages.
If you liked this blog article about the topic: “1940’s Makeup Looks”, don’t forget to leave us a comment down below to tell us about your experience.
