• Beauty & Skincare
    • Beauty Supply
    • Nails How-Tos and Tips
    • Natural Beauty 101
    • Quick Beauty Tips
    • Skin Care Advice & Products
  • Makeup
  • Hairstyle Tutorials
    • Women’s Hairstyles
    • Men’s Hair
  • Fashion & Style
    • Baby Clothes
    • Budget Style
    • Celebrity Style
    • DIY Fashion
    • Jeans and Denim
    • Men’s Fashion
    • Lingerie – A Style Guide
    • Personal Style
    • Plus-Size Fashion
  • Tattoos & Piercings
  • Lifestyle
    • Career Management Tips, Advice
    • Cultural Feature Stories
    • Education
    • Food & Drink
    • Health and Wellness
    • Homes and Interiors
    • Travel
    • Dating and Relationships
  • Shoes, Bags
  • Accessories
  • Jewelry
    • Diamonds Guide
    • Engagement Rings
    • Gemstones Buying Advice
    • Jewelry Advice & How To’s – Jewelry Tips
    • Jewelry Trends & News
  • More
    • Special Occasions
    • Fashion Blog
  • Contact
  • About
What's Hot

Find A New Pair Of Glasses For Cheap

June 30th, 2022

Best Men’s Fashion Eyeglasses

June 30th, 2022

8 Ways to Look Cool in T-shirts

June 30th, 2022
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Pinterest YouTube Instagram Facebook
Blufashion – Best Beauty Blog
Contact US
  • Beauty, Skincare & Hairstyles
    • Women’s Hairstyles
    • Men’s Hair
      • Care & Styling
      • Product Reviews
    • Hairstyle Tutorials
    • Skin Care Advice & Products
    • Natural Beauty
    • Beauty Tips
    • Beauty Supply
    • Makeup Tips & Tutorials
      • Body Basics
        • Face Fundamentals
    • Nails
    • Tattoos & Body Piercings
  • Fashion
    • Women’s Fashion
    • Men’s Fashion
    • Personal Style
    • Shopping Tips
    • Budget Style
    • Celebrity Style
    • DIY Fashion
    • Jeans & Denim
    • Plus-Size Fashion
    • Swimwear & Bikinis
    • Lingerie
    • Baby Clothes
  • Lifestyle
    • Food & Drink
    • Health & Wellness
    • Homes and Interiors
    • Travel
    • Career
    • Culture
    • Education
  • Shoes, Bags & Jewelry
    • Bags, Handbags and Purses
    • Jewelry
      • Engagement Rings
      • Antique Jewelry
      • Jewelry Tips
      • Jewelry Trends
      • Body Jewelry
      • Diamonds Guide
      • Gemstones Buying Advice
      • Earring – Shop for Earrings
      • Pearls
    • Accessories
    • Watches
    • Shoes
      • Women’s Shoes
      • Men’s Shoes
      • Kids & Baby Shoes
      • Shoe Styles
      • Online Shoes Stores
      • Shoe Repair, Care & Storage
  • More
    • Special Occasions
    • Tattoo
    • Eyeglasses and Sunglasses
    • Fashion Blog
    • Pet Care
    • Parenting
    • Dating and Relationships
Blufashion – Best Beauty Blog
Home » Hair, Skincare & Makeup Tips » Makeup Tips and Trends » Lipstick History
Makeup Tips & Tutorials

A Brief History On Lipstick Colors Through The Decades

Iskra BanovićBy Iskra BanovićDecember 7th, 2021Updated:December 7th, 2021No Comments4 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr WhatsApp VKontakte Email
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email
Lipstick History

It isn’t just lipstick formulas that have changed a lot over time. Take a look at the changing lip colors through history.

We tend to think of lipstick as a modern thing, but lipstick’s history goes back to ancient times. Of course, they weren’t applying tubes of Revlon they picked up from the drugstore the way we are, but they did have their own products to add a pop of color to their lips.

(Related: A Brief History On The Changing Shapes Of Eyebrows)

If we just focus on the “modern” lipsticks that we know now, they have changed over the past 100 years. They’ve become more accessible, available in more and more colors and the formulas just kept getting better at better.

While there has almost always been a range of lipstick colors to choose from, there always seemed to be one shade (and finish) that defined a decade. Just think about the 1950′s red or the 1990′s brown.

Take a look at how lipstick colors have evolved over time:

1920′s

Headshot portrait of American silent film actor Clara Bow (1905 - 1965), known as the 'It' girl, resting her chin on her shoulder, 1920s. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images).
Headshot portrait of American silent film actor Clara Bow (1905 – 1965), known as the ‘It’ girl, resting her chin on her shoulder, the 1920s. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images).

It’s difficult to tell from the black-and-white photos, but the favored lip colors of the 1920′s were rich garnet and scarlet reds as popularized by stars like Clara Bow. They applied the color in a thin shape with a delicate cupid’s bow.

1930′s

Actress Greta Garbo 1930s Lipstick

The Great Depression effected makeup colors in the ’30s. The rich reds of the Roaring Twenties were replaced with more subdued reddish brown shades, as seen on Greta Garbo. Furthermore, the lipstick shape was fuller and slightly elongated.

1940′s

Actress Rita Hayworth

You might think that war would have perpetuated the trend for somber lipstick colors, but actually, the opposite happened. Women were encouraged to wear bright lipstick in an effort to boost morale. A striking orange-red shade with a glossy finish was the preferred color of the decade. If this photo of Rita Hayworth was in color, her lips would pop.

1950′s

Marilyn Monroe Red Lipstick

The 1950′s was the decade of famous divas, and they had the lips to match. Bold red lips were the classic look of the 1950′s. Just think about Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor.

1960′s

circa 1960:  Studio portrait of actor and model Brigitte Bardot wearing a light blue off-the-shoulder dress.
circa 1960: Studio portrait of actor and model Brigitte Bardot wearing a light blue off-the-shoulder dress. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images).

Bold lipsticks had been popular for a few decades, and the 1960′s saw a drastic change. The eyes suddenly became the focus, so lips were kept neutral so they wouldn’t compete with the graphic eyeliner of the decade. Soft pinks and nudes like the shade seen on Brigitte Bardot were the faves.

1970′s

Singer Donna Summer poses for an album cover session
LOS ANGELES – MAY 16: Singer Donna Summer poses for an album cover session on May 16, 1978, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry Langdon/Getty Images).

The 1970′s gave us disco, and when people were going out dancing, they needed a fun party look. Bold lipstick colors in ultra-glossy finishes were the favorite among disco queens like Donna Summer and Jerry Hall.

1980′s

Joan Collins 1980s Lips
Joan Collins 1980s Lips.

The 1980′s philosophy was “more is more,” and that definitely applied to makeup. Just take a look at Joan Collins. The brighter the lipstick, the better, with bold reds and pinks being the favorites. They were paired with heavy eyeshadow and lots of blush.

1990′s

A Brief History On Lipstick Colors Through The Decades: Cindy Crawford
Cindy Crawford (Photo by SGranitz/WireImage).

After the over-the-top ’80s, the 1990′s saw a pared-down look. Neutral lips were the most popular, especially brown tones with a slight red undertone, or what we called “earth browns.”

2000′s

Joan Smalls Met Gala Purple Lipstick
Joan Smalls Met Gala Purple Lipstick.

Today there are lots of lipstick trends. Velvety matte finishes are extremely popular at the moment, and 1990′s browns are making a comeback, along with all of the decade’s clothing styles. Crazy-colored lipsticks have also reached massive popularity. We’re no longer limited to just reds, pinks, and nudes. You can get everything from pastel blue to metallic purple. Joan Smalls’ statement lip at the Met Gala is still one of the best looks.

(Photos: Getty Images)

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr WhatsApp Email
Previous ArticleA Brief History On The Changing Shapes Of Eyebrows
Next Article Family Nurse Practitioners: What do they do, and how can you become one?
Iskra Banović
Iskra Banović
  • Website
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram

Hello out there to all you fashion-hungry Blufashion.com readers! My name is Iskra Banovic, and I'm a fashion writer. As the fashion expert for www.blufashion.com, I wish to bring a creative, informative, and inspiring aspect to the fashion content you have come to trust.

More Great Posts

Lip Gloss: Top 5 Brands For 2022

June 23rd, 2022

How to Achieve the Perfect Look using the Perfect Diary Beauty?

June 16th, 2022

How to Apply “Out the Door” Makeup in 10 Minutes or Less

June 15th, 2022

Tips To Achieve the Ultimate Summer Makeup Look

June 14th, 2022

Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

Latest Articles

Find A New Pair Of Glasses For Cheap

June 30th, 2022

Best Men’s Fashion Eyeglasses

June 30th, 2022

8 Ways to Look Cool in T-shirts

June 30th, 2022

6 Best Ways To Rock Your Adidas Slides

June 30th, 2022
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
Don't Miss
Quick Beauty Tips

How to Make The Mother of all DIY Face Peels

Today, we have for you a guide to making the big-daddy of home-made face-peels. And…

Is Lancome Artliner Really Worth The $30 Price Tag?

May 30th, 2019

5 Tips to Increase Jewelry Store Sales

April 29th, 2019

LoweLew Review – High Quality Designer Replica Handbags

April 18th, 2020
Facebook Instagram Pinterest YouTube
  • About
  • Contact
  • Press
  • Team
  • Disclaimer
  • TOS
  • Privacy Policy
  • Ethics Policy
  • Affiliate Disclosure
© 2022 Blufashion - Best Beauty Blog.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.