All of the 1920s Makeup Inspo You Need to Get Inspired (2024)

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Ashley Rebecca

Ashley Rebecca is an NYC-based makeup artist and a regular contributor for Byrdie covering makeup, skincare, and haircare.

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Updated on 12/08/22 10:36AM

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Decades past have given us some of the best makeup inspiration time and time again, especially the magic and pizzazz that existed during the 1920s. From young and energetic flappers who led the way with creative costumes and doll-faced beauty to silent cinema that had many transfixed on up-and-coming stars, the '20s have given us many gifts that keep on giving when it comes to modern favorites like dark lips, smoky eyes, defined brows, and a touch of sparkle.

While there's so much to take away from this influential decade, creating makeup looks that showcase the best parts about the '20s isn't as difficult as you might think. Ahead, we've compiled a list of 1920s makeup looks that might in fact teleport you right back to a scene you've read from The Great Gatsby.

Magical '20s Makeup

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Take the most magical parts of 1920s makeup and what do you get? A makeup look filled with all the inspiration we need. With thin brows, dark lips, and exaggerated lashes, everything looks so beautiful when paired together. What's not to love?

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The Roaring '20s

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The brows, the blush, the lips—everything works together here to give us total roaring '20s feels, not to mention the colors together are everything we want to see in a makeup look. Can we just take a moment and acknowledge that gorgeous blush color? To intensify your blush tones, try applying a cream formula first to the apples of your cheeks, then follow up with a powder formula to set it and enhance the color.

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Modern-Day '20s

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Take all the great aspects of 1920s makeup (bold lips, precise brows, rosy cheeks) and mix them with today's techniques: You'll get a modern-day look that is the perfect nod to the '20s, yet extremely wearable now. The gorgeous skin, eyes, and lips here reflect such a fun time in makeup history, yet can be worn anywhere today.

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'20s Diamond Glam

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Everyone wore sparkles galore in the '20s, and this makeup look is nothing short of a glistening silver dream reminiscent of diamonds themselves. A defined and structured lip paired with glowing skin adds just the right components to tie it all together. For the silver eyes, swipe Lorac's Lux Diamond Creme Shadow in Cashmere ($22) on the lids.

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Doll Faced Beauty

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With beautifully flushed cheeks and lips as well as lashes that create a wing-like effect, this makeup is reminiscent of a doll from the 1920s, modernized in the best way possible.

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Great Gatsby Vibes

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Smoky eyes and deep berry lips are giving us all the Great Gatsby vibes and feels, the drama is in all the right places with this makeup look that teleports us back to the 1920s instantly. To re-create a dark lip like this one here, try Patrick Ta Beauty's Lipstick in shade She Must Be New ($32).

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Abstract '20s

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The eyes and lips have it all here. Classic winged liner turned abstract shows us how trends have evolved over time since the '20s, yet the lip color reminds us that classic looks never go out of style, no matter how much time has passed. Practice wearing eyeliner in different styles until you find the one you really love: The options are endless.

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Flapper Pearls

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Pearls were a staple of the 1920s, as the most gorgeous of flappers loved using this detail to enhance their looks. This inspirational makeup look uses pearls on the eyes that would have so fit in during the '20s, don't you think? Eyelash glue can double as the perfect solvent to keep pearls glued to the skin.

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Shimmy and Shimmer

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The highlighter on this look makes us want to shimmy and never stop. The cheekbones are accentuated, the skin is glowing, and we're ready to dance the night away in a burlesque club. For shimmering cheeks, try this Nars powder highlighter in the shade Albatross ($38).

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Gorgeous Glam

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Deep lips and crushed pearlescent highlights showcase two popular trends of 1920s makeup that we can't stop looking at. The elegance of this look makes us want to celebrate all night, roaring '20s-style. To get this stunning purple lip, apply the Danessa Myricks Beauty ColorFix 24-Hour Cream Color Metallic in shade Wild Orchid ($18).

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1920s Art

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Artistically brilliant, this look combines the power of color with the distinct trends that soared in the 1920s. We're obsessed with the Marlene Dietrich eyebrows and tiny shaped lips, along with the whimsical color choices on the eyes. To recreate this shadow look, you can be as playful as you'd like with whatever colors you have in your palettes at home.

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Smoky Dreams

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After seeing these smoky eyes, we're inspired to step up our game and create something similar, reminiscent of 1920s makeup's sultry glamour. The dark purple tones are a celebrated change from classic black and brown smoky looks.

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'20s Retro Wings

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Eyeliner was a staple in 1920s makeup, and since then, not much has changed. A dramatic wing, like this one pictured here, pairs well with anything—it's not like we need to give you any more excuses to try it out for yourself. Don't let winged eyeliner intimidate you: Finding a product with a precisely pointed tip will help you create the shape you want with practice.

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Modern Twist

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A modern twist on makeup from the 1920s, this look encapsulates the best of everything from the eyeshadow to the lip color. Boldly defined eyebrows and contoured, sculpted cheeks bring this look to life—we can't stop staring.

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