Get the Look: ’80s in Vogue

A pop icon put makeup on the map in the 1980s with her outrageous style and bright, over-the-top beauty looks. Recreate her smokey eyes and cherry-red lips with this easy-to-follow guide. The no-makeup makeup of the 1970s quickly turned into bold, look-at-me beauty with the arrival of the 1980s. During this decade, beauty had a fun, over-the-top edge that encouraged women to really play with colour and different styles. Pop stars traded in their barely-there mascara and neutral eyeshadow for lots of black smokey eyeshadow and eyeliner and bright lipstick. Not only did makeup do a complete 180 from the previous decade but hair also reached new heights. Big, teased hair loaded with hairspray and mousse was the look of choice, and many women rocked bleached-blonde locks with dark roots to emulate the pop stars of the decade. This makeup look is all about having fun and getting creative! Follow along to learn how to apply eyeshadow to get a smokey eye and how to rock it with a bold lip. All you need is an eyeshadow palette and your go-to bullet of red lipstick.

Steps for hair

Step 1:
Start this hairstyle off with smooth, dry hair. You can create this look with freshly washed hair or second-day hair.

Step 2:
Curl hair with a small-barrel curling iron. You want plenty of small curls, rather than big waves, to give your hair height; a small curling iron will help you achieve this. As you curl your hair, pin each curl up with bobby pins or duckbill pins.

Step 3:
Leave your pinned curls to cool and set, about half an hour. Once they are cooled, remove the pins, flip your head upside down and shake out the curls. Run your fingers through your hair to break up the curls and add volume. The more you break them up, the bigger your hair gets, so you can tailor the look to suit your style.

Step 4:
With a fine-toothed comb, smooth down hair and part the front section in a deep side part next to your ear. Smooth the hair close to your head and pin on the other side of your head, just past where a middle part would be. Fluff up your loose curls and shape the style. Finish off the look with a spritz of hairspray for added hold.

Steps for makeup

Step 1:
Start with bare lids. Using an eyeshadow brush, apply Paradise Enchanted Eyeshadow Palette #8 all over your lid. Once your application is even and blended, use a fluffy blending brush to buff Paradise Enchanted Eyeshadow Palette #9 into the crease and at the outer corner of your eye. This is what will give you the smokey eye effect so you can go as light or as heavy as you’d like with your eye makeup.

Step 2:
Starting with your lower lash line, use Infallible Original Eyeliner Black to define your lower waterline. Using the same pencil, draw on your upper lash line to amp up your smokey eye. To avoid your eyes watering (which often happens when you apply eyeliner to your upper waterline), look down when you’re applying the liner.

Step 3:
Once your top and lower waterlines are done, apply pencil liner to your upper lash line. Layer Paradise Enchanted #12 Eyeshadow over your pencil liner and smudge it out with an angled brush.

Step 4:
To give your lashes a voluminous boost, apply one or two coats of Lash Paradise Mascara to top and bottom lashes.

Step 5:
Now that your eyes are done, it’s time to add some definition to your cheeks. Using a fluffy blush brush, apply Lumi Bronze-It in Medium 2 to the hollows of your cheeks.

Step 6:
The final step to bring this beauty look together is bold lipstick. Infallible 2-Step Lipstick in Crimson is a long-wearing two-step colour. Apply the red hue to bare lips and let dry.

Step 7:
The ’80s were all about a glossy finish on the lips. Layer a slick coat of gloss overtop the colour to hydrate your lips without disturbing your lipstick.

Feel like an ’80s pop star yet? This beauty look perfectly showcases the vibe of the over-the-top and ultra-glam 1980s. You’ve successfully applied a sultry smokey eye and glossy red lip and you’re ready to show off your hard work. Whether you’re hitting the town with your girlfriends or heading out on a date, this look is sure to turn heads.

Liked the look? Check out our tutorial for 90s makeup & hair look for more inspiration.