London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Nov 21, 2025

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
Students Challenge AI-Driven Teaching at University of Staffordshire
Pikeville Medical Center Partners with UK’s Golisano Children’s Network to Expand Pediatric Care
Germany, France and UK Confirm Full Support for Ukraine in US-Backed Security Plan
UK Low-Traffic Neighbourhoods Face Rising Backlash as Pandemic Schemes Unravel
UK Records Coldest Night of Autumn as Sub-Zero Conditions Sweep the Country
UK at Risk of Losing International Doctors as Workforce Exodus Grows, Regulator Warns
ASU Launches ASU London, Extending Its Innovation Brand to the UK Education Market
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to Visit China in January as Diplomatic Reset Accelerates
Google Launches Voluntary Buyouts for UK Staff Amid AI-Driven Company Realignment
UK braces for freezing snap as snow and ice warnings escalate
Majority of UK Novelists Fear AI Could Displace Their Work, Cambridge Study Finds
UK's Carrier Strike Group Achieves Full Operational Capability During NATO Drill in Mediterranean
Trump and Mamdani to Meet at the White House: “The Communist Asked”
Nvidia Again Beats Forecasts, Shares Jump in After-Hours Trading
Wintry Conditions Persist Along UK Coasts After Up to Seven Centimetres of Snow
UK Inflation Eases to 3.6 % in October, Opening Door for Rate Cut
UK Accelerates Munitions Factory Build-Out to Reinforce Warfighting Readiness
UK Consumer Optimism Plunges Ahead of November Budget
A Decade of Innovation Stagnation at Apple: The Cook Era Critique
Caribbean Reparations Commission Seeks ‘Mutually Beneficial’ Justice from UK
EU Insists UK Must Contribute Financially for Access to Electricity Market and Broader Ties
UK to Outlaw Live-Event Ticket Resales Above Face Value
President Donald Trump Hosts Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at White House to Seal Major Defence and Investment Deals
German Entertainment Icons Alice and Ellen Kessler Die Together at Age 89
UK Unveils Sweeping Asylum Reforms with 20-Year Settlement Wait and Conditional Status
UK Orders Twitter Hacker to Repay £4.1 Million Following 2020 High-Profile Breach
Popeyes UK Eyes Century Mark as Fried-Chicken Chain Accelerates Roll-out
Two-thirds of UK nurses report working while unwell amid staffing crisis
Britain to Reform Human-Rights Laws in Sweeping Asylum Policy Overhaul
Nearly Half of Job Losses Under Labour Government Affect UK Youth
UK Chancellor Reeves Eyes High-Value Home Levy in Budget to Raise Tens of Billions
UK Urges Poland to Choose Swedish Submarines in Multi-Billion € Defence Bid
US Border Czar Tom Homan Declares UK No Longer a ‘Friend’ Amid Intelligence Rift
UK Announces Reversal of Income Tax Hike Plans Ahead of Budget
Starmer Faces Mounting Turmoil as Leaked Briefings Ignite Leadership Plot Rumours
UK Commentator Sami Hamdi Returns Home After US Visa Revocation and Detention
UK Eyes Denmark-Style Asylum Rules in Major Migration Shift
UK Signals Intelligence Freeze Amid US Maritime Drug-Strike Campaign
TikTok Awards UK & Ireland 2025 Celebrates Top Creators Including Max Klymenko as Creator of the Year
UK Growth Nearly Stalls at 0.1% in Q3 as Cyberattack Halts Car Production
Apple Denied Permission to Appeal UK App Store Ruling, Faces Over £1bn Liability
UK Chooses Wylfa for First Small Modular Reactors, Drawing Sharp U.S. Objection
Starmer Faces Growing Labour Backlash as Briefing Sparks Authority Crisis
Reform UK Withdraws from BBC Documentary Amid Legal Storm Over Trump Speech Edit
UK Prime Minister Attempts to Reassert Authority Amid Internal Labour Leadership Drama
UK Upholds Firm Rules on Stablecoins to Shield Financial System
Brussels Divided as UK-EU Reset Stalls Over Budget Access
Prince Harry’s Remembrance Day Essay Expresses Strong Regret at Leaving Britain
UK Unemployment Hits 5% as Wage Growth Slows, Paving Way for Bank of England Rate Cut
Starmer Warns of Resurgent Racism in UK Politics as He Vows Child-Poverty Reforms
×