80s Makeup Guide: Iconic Looks and How to Do Them

Electric blue eyeshadow up to the brows. Blush swept towards the temples. Fuchsia lips, bold brows and hair as big as the shoulder pads. 80s makeup was never about looking natural. It was about colour, confidence and having fun, and that's exactly why it keeps coming back.

Whether you're getting ready for an 80s party, a Halloween costume or you simply want to borrow a little of that boldness for everyday, this guide covers it all: where the looks came from, the signature elements, six iconic 80s makeup looks, step-by-step tutorials (including a wearable version), shades for every skin tone, tips for mature skin, and how to take it all off again properly.

Why 80s Makeup Looked the Way It Did

The 1980s was a decade of excess, and makeup reflected it. A few big influences shaped the look:

• Music videos. MTV launched in 1981, and suddenly pop stars were seen as much as they were heard. Makeup became part of the performance, designed to stand out on screen.
• The New Romantics. In London clubs at the start of the decade, the New Romantic scene made dramatic, theatrical makeup cool for everyone, including men. Boy George and Adam Ant brought the look into the charts.
• Power dressing. Shoulder pads and sharp tailoring called for strong brows, defined lips and polished skin.
• The fitness boom. Aerobics brought neon, Lycra and a bright, flushed, sporty glow.
• Colour cosmetics for everyone. Bright, affordable eyeshadow palettes, frosted lipsticks and coloured mascaras filled the high street, so experimenting was cheap and fun.

Icons such as Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, Grace Jones, Annie Lennox, Joan Collins, Whitney Houston and Princess Diana, with her famous blue eyeliner, each made the decade's makeup their own.

80s Makeup at a Glance

The Signature Elements of 80s Makeup

Bright eyeshadow

The defining feature of 80s makeup is colour on the eyes. Blue, turquoise, purple, fuchsia and green were all fair game, often two or three at once. Shadow was blended from the lash line all the way up to the brow bone, sometimes fanning out towards the temples in a wing shape.

Bold eyeliner

Thick black kohl smudged around the eye was everywhere, from rock stars to pop princesses. Coloured liners in electric blue, purple and green were just as popular, especially in the waterline.

Coloured mascara

Blue and purple mascara were a true 80s signature. Even when lashes stayed black, the look was full, thick and spidery rather than separated.

Strong, natural brows

After the very thin brows of the 70s, the 80s brought them back thick and full. Brows were left bushy and brushed upwards, and the look was strong but natural.

Draped blush

Instead of the apples of the cheeks, blush in pink, plum or coral was swept from the cheekbones all the way up to the temples, often in a visible stripe. This technique, called draping, is now back in fashion in a softer form.

Statement lips

Fuchsia, hot pink, coral, berry and classic red were the shades of the decade, often in a frosted or glossy finish. Lips were defined with a lip liner, sometimes a darker shade than the lipstick.

Matte skin

80s skin was matte and powdered, with a full coverage foundation. Highlighter as we know it today hadn't arrived, so glow came from shimmer and frost instead.

6 Iconic 80s Makeup Looks

1. Pop princess

Think bright, playful and a little bit messy: blue or pink eyeshadow, lots of black liner and mascara, bold brows, pink blush and fuchsia or frosted lips. Add big earrings, a lace bow and plenty of bangles.

2. New Romantic

The most theatrical 80s look, born in London's club scene. Dramatic colour sweeps across the lids towards the temples, with sharp liner, a defined contour stripe under the cheekbones and a deep lip. Androgynous, artistic and made for a night out.

3. Power glamour

The soap opera glamour of the decade: smoky plum or bronze eyes, strong lashes, groomed bold brows, defined rose blush and a perfect red or deep pink lip. Pair it with big hair and statement shoulders.

4. Rock and punk

Heavy black kohl smudged all around the eyes, pale skin, little blush and a dark red or nude lip. Messy, moody and effortlessly cool.

5. Aerobics neon

Neon pink, green or orange shadow, bright flushed cheeks and a glossy coral lip. It's the most fun 80s look, perfect with a headband and leg warmers.

6. Supermodel natural

By the late 80s, the supermodel era brought a more polished, natural face: soft brown shadow, full lashes, bold brows, warm blush and a muted rose lip. This is the easiest 80s look to wear every day.

How to Do 80s Makeup: Step by Step

This is the full, classic 80s look, perfect for a party or themed night out. It takes about 30 minutes.

1. Prep your skin. Cleanse, moisturise and use a primer so the bright colour lasts all night. For a natural glow underneath, try one of my DIY natural beauty recipes the day before.
2. Prime your eyelids. An eyeshadow primer or a little concealer stops bright shadow creasing or fading and makes colours look more vivid.
3. Apply your base. Use a matte foundation and set the T-zone with powder. You don't need to go fully matte all over; a little life in the skin looks more modern.
4. Add the brightest shadow. Pat your main colour, such as electric blue, onto the lid with a flat brush.
5. Blend it up. Use a fluffy brush to blend a second colour, such as purple or pink, into the crease and up towards the brow bone. For a full 80s effect, sweep it out towards the temples.
6. Line the eyes. Smudge black or coloured kohl along the upper and lower lash lines and into the waterline if you like. Don't worry about perfect lines; smudgy is authentic.
7. Mascara, and lots of it. Apply two or three coats of black mascara, or finish with blue or purple on the tips.
8. Brush the brows up. Fill any gaps with a pencil, then brush the brows upwards with a clear or tinted gel for a full, fluffy look.
9. Drape the blush. Smile, then sweep pink or coral blush from the top of your cheekbones up towards your temples in a C shape, blending the edges into the eyeshadow.
10. Line and fill the lips. Line your lips with a pencil in a matching or slightly darker shade, then fill with fuchsia, hot pink or red lipstick. Add gloss or a frosted top coat for shine.
11. Finish with sparkle. A touch of cosmetic glitter on the lids or cheekbones adds a real disco feel.
12. Set it. Mist with setting spray so everything survives the dance floor.

Quick 10-Minute 80s Party Makeup

Short on time? Focus on three things:

1. Pat one bright eyeshadow all over the lid and up towards the brow.
2. Add black liner on the lower lash line and two coats of mascara.
3. Swipe on a bright pink blush towards the temples and a fuchsia lipstick.

Add big earrings and a side ponytail, and you're done. It's also a brilliant last-minute Halloween costume. If you're hosting, my guide to Halloween decorations has ideas to set the scene.

How to Wear 80s Makeup Every Day

You can borrow the best of the 80s without looking like you're in costume. Choose one statement feature and keep everything else soft.

• Coloured liner: a cobalt or violet pencil on the lower lash line with neutral shadow.
• Coloured mascara: navy or plum mascara, which looks surprisingly wearable.
• A soft drape: cream blush blended from the cheekbones towards the temples for a lifted, healthy look.
• One bright lip: a satin fuchsia or classic red with bare eyes.
• Bold, brushed-up brows: the easiest 80s trend to wear and it suits almost everyone.

Pair it with a relaxed outfit, such as the polished basics in my chic casual outfits guide, so the makeup feels modern.

80s Makeup Shades for Every Skin Tone

Bright colour suits everyone. The trick is choosing the right intensity and undertone.

A few general rules:

• Cool undertones (veins look blue) suit blue, lilac, fuchsia and blue-based reds.
• Warm undertones (veins look green) suit turquoise, coral, gold, peach and orange-based reds.
• On deep skin, choose highly pigmented shadows and use a white or coloured base under bright shades so they show up true to colour.
• On fair skin, build colour slowly with a fluffy brush so it doesn't look patchy.

The same colour principles apply in interiors too. My step-by-step guide to choosing the perfect colour palette explains how warm and cool tones work together.

80s Makeup for Mature Skin

If you wore 80s makeup the first time round, you can absolutely wear it again, with a few updates:

• Choose satin over frost. Heavy frosted textures can settle into fine lines; a satin or soft shimmer finish looks fresher.
• Use cream products. Cream blush and cream eyeshadow sticks blend seamlessly and look more natural on mature skin.
• Keep colour close to the lash line. Rather than blending all the way to the brow, sweep colour across the lid and slightly up.
• Go lighter on base. A hydrating, skin-like foundation is more flattering than full matte coverage.
• Lift the blush. A drape towards the temples is actually very flattering, as it draws the eye upwards.
• Line the lips first. A lip liner stops bright lipstick bleeding into fine lines.

Your 80s Makeup Kit

You don't need to spend much. Bright eyeshadow palettes and coloured liners are widely available on the high street, and the 80s look is meant to be fun, not precious.

Complete the 80s Look

• Hair: volume is everything. Try crimping, a side ponytail, a perm-style curl with hot rollers or teased, backcombed roots with plenty of hairspray. Finish with a scrunchie, a big bow or a headband.
• Accessories: oversized geometric or hoop earrings, stacked bangles, lace gloves and a chunky belt.
• Clothes: shoulder pads, neon, denim jackets, ra-ra skirts, leg warmers or a power suit, depending on your look.
• Nails: bright pink, red or neon polish.

Skin Safety and Makeup Removal

Bold makeup needs a little extra care:

• Patch test new or very pigmented products, especially if you have sensitive skin.
• Only use eye-safe products near the eyes. Some bright neon pigments are not approved for use around the eye area, so check the label.
• Use cosmetic-grade glitter only. Craft glitter can scratch the eye.
• Don't share eye pencils or mascara, to avoid infections.
• Remove everything before bed. Double cleanse with a cleansing balm or oil to dissolve the colour, followed by a gentle cleanser. Use a dedicated eye makeup remover on coloured liner and mascara.
• Moisturise afterwards to soothe the skin.

Common 80s Makeup Mistakes

• Using too many colours at once. Pick two or three that work together.
• Skipping primer, so bright shadow creases or fades.
• Harsh edges. Even in the 80s, eyeshadow and blush were blended.
• Forgetting the brows. Thin brows instantly make the look feel less authentic.
• Doing every trend at once for everyday wear. Choose one statement feature.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was 80s makeup like?

80s makeup was bold and colourful: bright blue, purple and pink eyeshadow blended up to the brows, heavy eyeliner, full brows, blush draped towards the temples, fuchsia or frosted lips, and a matte, powdered base.

How do you do 80s makeup?

Prime your lids, apply a bright eyeshadow and blend a second colour up towards the brow, add smudged black or coloured liner and lots of mascara, brush your brows up, drape pink blush towards your temples and finish with a fuchsia or red lip.

What eyeshadow colours were popular in the 80s?

Electric blue, turquoise, purple, lilac, fuchsia, hot pink and green were the most popular eyeshadow colours in the 80s, often worn together.

What lipstick colours were popular in the 80s?

Fuchsia, hot pink, frosted pink, coral, berry and classic red were the defining lipstick colours of the 1980s.

How can I make 80s makeup look modern?

Choose one statement feature, such as coloured liner, a bright lip or draped blush, keep the rest of your makeup soft and use a skin-like base rather than heavy matte foundation.

Who were the 80s makeup icons?

Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, Grace Jones, Annie Lennox, Boy George, Joan Collins, Whitney Houston and Princess Diana were among the biggest makeup icons of the decade.

Bring Back the Boldness

80s makeup is about colour, confidence and not taking yourself too seriously. Go all out for a party with bright shadow, draped blush and fuchsia lips, or borrow just one element for every day. Either way, have fun with it.

For more beauty ideas, browse my beauty articles, or find outfit inspiration in my guide to summer dress trends.