London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Mar 06, 2026

Top Beauty Trends of Each Decade of the Past Century

Top Beauty Trends of Each Decade of the Past Century

Have you ever felt like you were born in the wrong decade? Well, here's a beauty blast from the past that might fuel your nostalgia as L'OFFICIEL recaps the top beauty trend of each decade.

Much like fashion fads, beauty trends go in and out of style. The last 100 years has seen its fair share of fails when it comes to funky makeup looks and wild hairdos. From over-plucked brows to brown lipstick, it is clear that trendsetters of the past were willing to try anything once. However, among the many strange trends, there are countless iconic ones. We know that style is cyclical, so who knows? In a year we might be embracing Twiggy-inspired eyelashes all over again. Moreover, nostalgic looks have been wholly embraced by the mainstream-everyone wants to channel their inner personal '90s off-duty model. In celebration of the vast array of trends that have emerged out of the past century, join L'OFFICIEL in looking back on the most notable beauty trends of each decade.

1920s: Finger Wave Hair




Finger waves were developed in the 1920s as the go-to hairstyle for the Flapper, a young liberated women who moved against the grain of society. The wavy style intended to soften the appearance of bobbed hairstyles. It was achieved by using a wet comb and, of course, one's fingers. At this point in history, curling irons were not yet invented, causing the process of creating fingerwaves to be very complex.

1930s: Thin Eyebrows




This is one beauty trend we just can't seem to shake. However, the women of the 1930s can take credit for its inception. During this decade, eyebrows were styled with a rounded upward bend. The trend was inspired by the women who appeared in silent films. Their eyebrows were made thin to help emphasize their facial expressions.

1940s: Victory Rolls




Victory rolls were especially popular during World War II. Some say that the circular curls were meant to imitate the aerobatic maneuvers of planes that would spin horizontally in the sky as a sign of victory or celebration.

1950s: Red Lips


By the 1950s, people began to embrace color, so red lips naturally became in vogue. At first, red lips were closely linked with women who embraced sensuality and beauty. Stars such as Grace Kelly and Marilyn Monroe were some of the first to wear red lipstick, making the bold trend synonymous with Hollywood and glamour.



1960s: Twiggy Lashes




Infamous supermodel, Twiggy, is recognized for her many contributions to makeup. From bold eyeshadow to dramatic eyelashes, the trendsetter was the face of every fashion and beauty trend that graced the '60s. Her intense eyelashes were especially imitated by everyone, everywhere.

1970s: Pastel Eyeshadow




The 1970s brought about the birth of retro. Funky colors and crazy shapes came together to create an evocative and youthful way of dressing that enegrized young people all around the world. Consequently, pastel eyeshadow became an essential component of daily style.

1980s: Neon Lips




Madonna has set countless trends throughout her career, but neon lips may have been her first. The singer's affinity towards a bold lip was admired and reproduced by many. The neon trend, however, was not just limited to lips—people incorporated bright colors into their daily wardrobes as well.

1990s: Crimped Hair




Christina Aguilera, Tyra Banks, and Beyoncé are just a few style icons that rocked crimped locks during the '90s. This unexpected trend was the perfect precursor to Y2K fashion.

2000s: Thin Brows (Again)




And...they're back! In the 2000s, thin eyebrows were popularized once again by celebrites like Gwen Stefani, Angelina Jolie, and Kate Moss.

2010s: Bold Brows




The 2010s had enough with over-plucked brows, so bold and bushy eyebrows emerged as the newest fad. When the British supermodel Cara Delevingne took to the runway with her intense stare and thick brows the world went crazy. People began to embrace their natural shape and let their brows remain unwaxed and untouched.

2020s: Glowy Skin




The 2020s have decide that matte is out and shiny is in. If your makeup doesn't resemble a glazed donut, you're doing it wrong. With an emphasis on skincare and a collective movement towards serum-based products and highlighters, glowy skin is evidently this decade's main priority.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Iceland Supermarket Drops Trademark Challenge Against Icelandic Government in Long-Running Naming Dispute
UK Defence Secretary Visits Cyprus Following Scrutiny of Britain’s Response to Drone Attacks
Questions Grow Over Britain’s Military Readiness as Response to Iran Conflict Draws Scrutiny
UK Offers Failed Asylum Seeker Families Up to Forty Thousand Pounds to Leave Voluntarily
Saharan Dust Could Bring ‘Blood Rain’ to Parts of the UK as Weather Systems Shift
UK Deploys Additional Typhoon Fighter Jets to Qatar and Helicopters to Cyprus Amid Rising Middle East Tensions
Experts Urge Britain to Accelerate Renewable Energy Push as Global Conflicts Drive Up Costs
British Public Shows Strong Reluctance to Join Wider War in Iran
First UK Evacuation Flight Departs Middle East After Lengthy Delay
United Kingdom Imposes New Visa Requirements on Travelers from St. Lucia and Nicaragua
Iran Conflict Strains U.S.–U.K. Alliance as Trump and Starmer Clash Over Military Strategy
UK Interest Rates Could Rise Above Four Percent Again if Energy Shock Continues, Think Tank Warns
Starmer Defends Britain’s Iran Strategy as Badenoch Urges Stronger Military Support
Labour MP Says She Saw No Sign Husband Broke Law After Arrest in China Espionage Investigation
UK Jobless Rate Overtakes Italy’s for First Time in Years as Labour Market Weakens
United Kingdom Suspends Student Visas for Four Countries in Unprecedented Immigration Move
Campaigners Warn UK Student Visa Ban Could Push Migrants Toward Dangerous Channel Crossings
First U.K. Charter Flight for Stranded Nationals Set to Depart Oman Amid Middle East Crisis
France and United Kingdom Deploy Warships to Eastern Mediterranean as Middle East Conflict Escalates
U.K. Arrests Three Men Including Lawmaker’s Partner in Suspected China Espionage Investigation
Trump Says UK–US ‘Special Relationship’ Is Diminished Amid Middle East Dispute
UK Economic Forecasts Face Fresh Strain from Middle East Conflict and Rising Energy Costs
UK Reaffirms Close US Ties After Trump’s Public Criticism
Reeves Stresses Stability and Fiscal Discipline in UK Budget Update as Growth Outlook Shifts
UK Deploys Royal Navy Destroyer HMS Dragon to Cyprus After Drone Strike on RAF Base
Green Party Surges Past Labour in New UK Poll as Traditional Party Support Crumbles
Majority of Britons Oppose U.S. Use of UK Military Bases in Iran Conflict
UK Intensifies Evacuation Efforts from Oman, Working with Airlines to Boost Flight Capacity
Trump Condemns UK and Spain in Unusually Sharp Rift Over Iran Military Action
Trump Repeats UK Claims That Diverge from Verified Facts Amid Diplomatic Strain
UK Arrests Prominent Figures Linked to Epstein Network as Questions Mount Over US Action
Trump Says UK ‘Took Far Too Long’ to Approve Use of Airbases for Iran Strikes
Scope of Britain’s Role in the Expanding Middle East Conflict Comes Under Scrutiny
Trump Says He Is ‘Very Disappointed’ in Starmer Over Iran Comments
U.S. Embassy in Riyadh Struck by Drones Amid Escalating Iran Conflict
Starmer Confronts Strategic Test After Drone Strike Near British Base in Cyprus
Rolls-Royce Chief Signals Openness to Germany Joining UK-Led Fighter Jet Programme
UK Stocks Slip as Escalating Iran Conflict Triggers Global Market Selloff
UK Overhauls Asylum System to Make Refugee Status Temporary
Starmer Warns of ‘Reckless’ Iranian Strikes Amid Escalating Regional Tensions
British Base in Cyprus Targeted as Drones Intercepted Amid Expanding Iran Conflict
Starmer Diverges from Trump on Iran Strategy, Rejects ‘Regime Change from the Skies’
U.S. and Israel Intensify Strikes on Iran as Conflict Expands to Lebanon and Gulf States
Violent Pro-Iranian Protesters Storm U.S. Consulate in Karachi
Missile Debris Sparks Fires at Dubai’s Jebel Ali Port Near Palm Jumeirah
Iran Strikes U.S. Fifth Fleet Headquarters in Bahrain Amid Wider Gulf Retaliation
When the State Replaces the Parent: How Gender Policy Is Redefining Custody and Coercion
Bill Clinton Denies Knowing Woman in Hot Tub Photo During Closed-Door Epstein Deposition
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton Testifies on Ties to Jeffrey Epstein Before Congressional Oversight Committee
Dyson Reaches Settlement in Landmark UK Forced Labour Case
×