Ever since Netflix’s The Serpent hit our screens last year, we haven’t been able to get enough of 70s fashion. From brown hued flared trousers to knitted vests, sales of nostalgic pieces have sky-rocketed during the past couple of seasons. Now, it’s beauty’s turn with 70s makeup and hair sweeping our feeds and inspiring our everyday looks.
When it comes to makeup, the 70s can largely be categorised into two camps. The first, copper tones, nude glossy lips and bronzed, sun-kissed skin. The other is the bolder of the two, with accents like blue eyeshadow, statement lower lashes and winged eyeliner.
“I think there were two definite beauty movements coming out of that decade,” says Terry Barber, Director of Makeup Artistry, M·A·C Cosmetics. “There was the outdoorsy tan, bronze, beige movement (think Lauren Hutton) or of course the glossiness and high glamour of disco and glam rock.”
While the trend might be a throwback to a bygone era, it’s had a modern twist thanks to some key updates. “The refinement and choice of textures in modern products means that achieving a 70s style glam can look more effortless and less retro,” says Terry. “Heavy highlighter can be more of an all-over glow, a pop of colour on the eyes can be worn against an otherwise stripped back face, a bright blush can be a healthy flush rather than a stripe and a glossy lip can have a more balmy, less drippy finish. It’s about picking out the details of the 70s but not necessarily wearing them all at once. It is nice however to keep that sense of decadent dance-floor drama that the 70s embodied but with a lighter touch.”
Without further ado, we take a closer look at the details, techniques and trends you’ll need to know about in order to nail the 70s beauty trend.
TANGERINE TONES
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The 70s were all about burnt orange tones and warm brown shades, used across the complexion to create a monochrome makeup look. Take your cues from Jamie Genevieve, makeup artist and founder of Vieve, whose signature look involves an array of velvety autumnal shades from copper to peach to chocolatey brown.
BLUE EYESHADOW
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Blue eyeshadow is the calling card of 60s makeup, but it’s also a 70s staple. The key difference is that the 70s saw a disco update to the trend, with more vibrant colours and metallic finishes. We love this interpretation of the trend by makeup pro Danielle Marcan, who has paired a bold feline flick with icy blue eyeshadow.
WHITE EYELINER
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It doesn’t get more 70s than white eyeliner. The hero product was commonly used in the water line to make eyes look wider and brighter – and the same goes for today, except makeup artists are extending application to over the waterline to create an even more eye-opening effect.
GLOSSY PEACH
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After the matte lipstick trend of the 60s, the 70s saw an influx of lip gloss in peachy shades or a clear finish as well as a more dewy finish on the skin. For a simple, modern finish and to allow the gloss to stand out, use muted tones on lips, cheeks and eyes.
STATEMENT LOWER LASHES
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The 70s saw the start of a new focus on the lower lashes to create standout, graphic looks as well as a continuation of the doe-eyed lashes of the 60s. For a modern twist, take inspiration form makeup artist Raoul and amp up the edginess of look by incorporating eyebrows as well.
For more throwback beauty ideas, check out these 60s inspired beauty looks as well as the best 90s hair looks.
