Over the past 100 years of movie makeup, factors like history, technology, and political climates, like the Great Depression, have shaped how makeup artists apply lipstick and eye shadow to our favorite stars' faces. Before the films were filled with technicolor moving images, MUAs had to cake heavy, dramatic makeup onto silver screen stars. This was the only way cameras could pick it up for black-and-white films. These days, we have high definition technology that can pick up every pore and crevice, so movie makeup is all about a lighter hand.
Thanks to Grace Kelly and Marilyn Monroe, the classic cat eye look we all know and love makes an appearance in the 1950s. Back then, makeup artists on set paired it with reddish-pink lipstick and pastel eye shadow. The look stayed strong through the '60s. However, Twiggy helped inspire lower-lash embellishments and lighter lipstick shades.
As you probably could've guessed, the '80s was the unofficial golden age of beauty experimentation. Brows got bolder (thanks for that, Brooke Shields!), hair got bigger, and makeup got wilder. All that was scaled back in following decades, but the looks live on in some of our favorite movies.
In the 100 Years of Movie Makeup video above, find out how Clueless transformed the movie makeup game — and when lip gloss finally made its big-screen debut.
More 100 Years of Beauty videos you should watch:
- See the Last 100 Years of Tattoos in Less than Three Minutes
- Watch 100 Years of Wedding Hair in 4 Minutes
- 100 Years of Brows in Under Five Minutes
Now, see 100 years of piercings:
