Travel Back to the Roaring Twenties with This 1920s Makeup Look

The roaring ‘20s are known for the iconic flapper beauty look. This was the first era in the United States where women really delved into wearing full faces of makeup, so the looks that came out of that time are really something special. Think scarlet lips and voluminous lashes—what’s not to love? Wish you could take a trip back in time to experience roaring ‘20s makeup? We know the next best thing! Grab your makeup bag and keep reading for a step-by-step tutorial on creating a stunning 1920s makeup look.

STEP #1: PREP YOUR FACE

Before we get to the good stuff, you’ll want to prep your face with a makeup primer. This will help to ensure your makeup lasts all day while smoothing out any imperfections. Use the L’Oréal Paris Pro-Matte Makeup Lock Primer to smooth and blur your skin while keeping oil at bay.

STEP #2: PERFECT YOUR COMPLEXION

Believe it or not, 1920s makeup looks were all about having a flawless, even complexion (and layering on powder after powder). Achieve the same level of perfection with the L’Oréal Paris True Match™ Super-Blendable Compact Makeup. The formula provides the flawless natural coverage, weightless feel, and seamless blendability of a liquid foundation with a texture that matches your skin.

STEP #3: COLOR YOUR CHEEKS

Women in the ‘20s were no strangers to blush. Rouge, a red shade, was the go-to blush hue, and it was applied quite prominently. These days, blush is usually worn more subtly. To revamp this 1920s makeup look and make it slightly less dramatic (especially if you have fair skin), you can use a berry or rose blush, like the L’Oréal Paris True Match Naturale Blush in Soft Rose. Pop the blush onto the apples of your cheeks for a bright flush of color.

STEP #4: PERFECT YOUR BROWS

While the ‘20s were all about thin, perfectly-tweezed eyebrows, that trend definitely isn’t coming back in 2020. For a similar look without sacrificing your brows, use an eyebrow pencil, like the L’Oréal Paris Brow Stylist Definer Waterproof Eyebrow Mechanical Pencil, to define and sharpen their shape.

STEP #5: GET SMOKY

For this flapper makeup look, you’ll want your eye makeup to be centered around your eyeliner. Sultry, smudged black liner is a must for any ‘20s makeup look. You can use the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Never Fail™ Eyeliner in Black, which has a built-in smudger, to create the look. First, line along your upper lash line and wing out your liner. Then, use the smudger to blend out your line. Do the same on your lower lash line before sweeping on a few coats of mascara. Try the L’Oréal Paris Unlimited Lash Lifting and Lengthening Washable Mascara for an instant lash lift effect.

STEP #6: PAINT YOUR POUT

Ready to complete your 1920s makeup look? It’s all about the lips—or the “cupid’s bow” lip, to be specific. This particular lip makeup technique made a name for itself in the ‘20s as a way to emphasize the feminine curves of one’s lips. To get the look, use the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Matte Lip Liner in In-Matte-Uated With You to outline the curve of your cupid’s bow. Don’t follow-up by lining your upper lip as per usual, instead continue lining at a sharp angle from the curve of your cupid’s bow down toward your lower lip. This will make your upper lip look smaller, which is a defining feature of the cupid's bow lips that were so popular for flapper makeup.

Then, outline your bottom lip slightly outside the lines to create a fuller appearance. Complete your pout by filling in your outlined shaped with the L’Oréal Paris Rouge Signature Matte Lip Stain in I Am Worth It.

STEP #7: SEAL THE DEAL

Of course, after all that hard work, you’ll want to make sure your 1920s makeup look stays in place. Spritz the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Spray & Set Make-Up Oil-Free Setting Spray in “X” and “T” motions to ensure your roaring ‘20s makeup look appears “just applied” all night long!

Want more throwback makeup ideas? Head on over to our article, The Biggest Makeup Trend From the Year You Were Born.