60’s Makeup & Its Legacy
As a makeup lover, 60s mod makeup changed the way women could express themselves. It was a fresh and bold statement for the time period, but it revolutionized the makeup industry and how people today reference the same techniques.
Twiggy and Bridget Bardot are examples of women who experimented with mod makeup. The mod subculture originated in London in the mid 60’s. They were “modernists” who used makeup and clothing to rebel against the older generations. The switch from the housewife look in the 50’s to this bold glamour created a whole new era of makeup that would continue in different ways for generations to come.
In 2016, the cut crease resurfaced among beauty gurus on YouTube. I was HEAVILY influenced by this era. I still remember the first day I tried a cut crease, and feeling so accomplished after spending three hours sitting on my bathroom vanity. Being obsessed with the 60s growing up, it just made sense. I liked how dramatic the 2016 versions became, and one of my favorite looks was doing an icy blue cut crease. It’s interesting how techniques stay virtually the same, but the aesthetics grow in so many ways over time.
Toward the end of the 60s to early 70s when disco was on the rise, rhinestones began to show up in everyday makeup. This era of glam influenced a plethora of media around 2019 when Euphoria became popular. Rhinestone cut creases, and different placements using rhnestones and eyeliner recreated a mod era in our lifetime. Before the era of 2016 makeup, the looks were giving very much BASIC. We had bold lips and normal eyeliner, but once those cut crease tutorials hit YouTube, we haven't been the same since.
Personally, the cut crease has become my signature look. I think everyone has their own style when it comes to makeup. There is a learning curve for sure, but once you practice, it can dramatically change your eyeshadow game. If I’m feeling lazy, I’ll do a half cut crease, and it looks like I put in more effort than I did (a little hack lol). Learning about the history of makeup is so fun because you can make a lot of connections with the trends in today’s world and be inspired by different eras.
