How to Do Eighties Makeup

More choices are good when it comes to makeup.

The 80s was an era of wild hair styles, brightly colored makeup and big bushy eyebrows. Madonna and Cyndi Lauper inspired this look, and women of the 80s followed this trend. While it may be too eccentric to wear this look on a daily basis today, it can still be fun to rock out an 80s look every now and then -- especially since some 80s fashions made their way to the 2010 runways.

Things You'll Need

• Toner
• Moisturizer
• Concealer
• Black or blue eyeliner
• Black or blue mascara
• Eyeshadow
• Liquid foundation
• Powder
• Hot-pink blush
• Eyelash curler
• Lip gloss
• Makeup brushes
• Eyebrow brush
• Brown eyebrow pencil

Instructions

1. 

   Cleansing the face will help with a smooth application.

   Wash your face. A clean face ensures the makeup will go on more smoothly and essentially creates a canvas to start this look. Apply a toner and follow with a light moisturizer. Pat dry.

2. 

   Apply Concealer to all Imperfections.

   Apply concealer to all imperfections. Choose a concealer about two to three shades lighter than your skin tone. Dab the concealer onto dark circles, blemishes, red areas or any other areas that need covering. Blend using either a clean makeup sponge or clean fingers by patting the area until the concealer is blended in. This allows for a natural look.

3. 

   Apply foundation to smooth skin's appearance.

   Dab liquid foundation on each corner of the face; one dab on each cheek, one dab on the chin, one dab on the forehead, and one dab on the nose. This ensures that the foundation will be evenly distributed across the face. Be sure to choose a foundation that matches your skin tone. Blend in each dab of foundation by smoothing it all over the face with a makeup sponge. This will ensure that the skin looks smoother and more radiant, almost like porcelain, which was a key makeup feature in the 1980s. Seal in the liquid foundation by pressing a powder foundation on top.

4. 

   A brightly colored eyeshadow palette will help create an 80's makeup look.

   Gently brush a bright or dark colored eyeshadow across each eyelid, using an eye makeup brush. Start at the corner of each eyelid closest to the nose, and make gentle brush strokes to the outer corner of the eyelids. Brush a lighter pastel color on top of the dark or bright color in the same manner. Start on the inner corner of each eye closest to the nose and extend to the middle of each eyelid, rather than all the way to the outer corners. Gently brush the light color from the crease of the eyelid, all the way up to the brow line.

5. 

   An eyelash curler is used to make lashes curl and look longer than if left straight.

   Curl your eyelashes and apply one to two coats of black or blue mascara to top and bottom lashes.

6. 

   Applying eyeliner as close to the lash line as possible.

   Trace along your top and bottom lash lines with black or blue eyeliner. In the 1980s, women would trace the entire eye with eyeliner to make the eyes really vibrant. Ensure that your eyeliner is applied as close to the lash lines as possible so that the eyeliner looks even and straight, without any gaps.

7. 

   Brushing eyebrows to keep them in place and to look more maintained.

   Brush your eyebrows with an eyebrow brush. Women in the 1980s wore their eyebrows bushy. Chances are that your eyebrows are very well groomed and arched, so you will need to add some eyebrow dimension by creating several little strokes using your brown eyebrow pencil to make them appear larger and fuller.

8. 

   A blush brush with hot pink blush helps authenticate the 80s look.

   Sweep a hot pink blush onto the apples of the cheeks using a big blush brush. You may be afraid to apply such a bright and wild color to your cheeks, but applying it moderately will add radiance to your skin and give it an authentic 1980s appearance.

9. 

   Any lip gloss shade -- frosted, nude, or bright -- will work for an 80s look.

   Apply lip gloss. Any color should be fine, especially a bubblegum pink, tangerine, cotton candy pink, hot pink, or another bright color. In the 1980s, bright lipstick and lip gloss were pretty big, although many women would also wear a more pale, subtle shade on their lips. Go for colors that would compliment the colors you chose for the eyes, and a color that compliments your skin tone.

Tips & Warnings

• To complete your 80s look, tease your hair and apply tons of hairspray. Without an 80s hairstyle, people might not understand the makeup look you are trying to pull off.

• Compliment your 80s makeup look with accessories. You can usually find vintage accessories in thrift stores. Big earrings, hair scrunchies, leg warmers and an arm full of bracelets were common looks in the 80s.

References

• Eye Makeup Help
• Applying Makeup