History of 1920s Makeup

1920s Makeup -Before the 1920s Edwardian ladies would keep out of the sun as much as possible, carrying a parasol if it was warm and shutting their heavy curtains indoors in case the sun dare show itself to them. This was because it was considered ladylike to be pale : perhaps this is where the saying “pale and interesting” comes from.

Pale and Interesting

A female who had a sun-tan was not considered ladylike because it was a give away sign that she had to work outdoors for a living whereas a female who was pale would in all probability be a lady who didn’t work. In fact some ladies would go as far as to be injected with dangerous substances, risking their health, just so their complexions were pale.

Coco Chanel Fell Asleep!

In the 1920s, pale and interesting became a thing of the past when it became fashionable to have a sun-tan. We can thank Coco Chanel for this as it is said she tanned while sleeping in the

sun Most people in the 1920s couldn’t afford a holiday abroad so it was common place to acquire a tan from a sun-lamp. This practice as we know continues today. Sadly this fashion was dangerous and it’s only in the last 10-15 years that we have begun to realise the risks of skin cancer caused by the sun.

Makeup Was Frowned Upon

In Victorian times it would have been frowned upon to wear make-up and considered only to be worn by women who were not respectable such as actresses and prostitutes. But by the '20s, times had changed and by then ordinary housewives enjoyed looking beautifully made-up.

Helen Rubenstein and Elizabeth Arden

In the 1920s, make-up was mass produced, making it obtainable and affordable to most women. Helen Rubenstein and Elizabeth Arden had salons in London and were leading pioneers in the make-up and skin care revolution. In Hollywood, Max Factor was making a success in the film industry.

Eyes, Lips and Nails

Eye-brows were coloured with a pencil : it was popular to make them slope downwards. Eye shadows were often heavy and grey in colour.

Up until 1915,

lips-sticks came in a pot which were messy and greasy to apply - using your finger. By the 1920s, lipstick in a tube appeared, which made applying so easy it was a success overnight and different shades of red began to appear on the shelves.

As the mass-produced skin and make-up hit the high streets so did nail polish, and for the first time women started to not only paint their

finger nails but also their toe nails. Open toe sandals became fashionable with newly red painted toes peeking out.

Today make-up is available in pharmacies, supermarkets and even corner shops. Rigorous tests are carried out to make sure products are safe to apply to the skin unlike early make-up which was often made out of dangerous lead. Today you can create any look you want with make-up.