20 Groovy '70s Makeup Looks, Updated for 2024

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If Allure threw a party at Studio 54 in 1979, the room would be filled with '70s makeup trends like glittery eyeshadows, bushy natural brows, and graphic white eyeliner. (Bianca Jagger would have been invited, but we’d ask her to leave her white horse at home.) If we threw that same party again in 2024, we’d expect to see some familiar looks in the room.

The '70s brought us disco! The women’s liberation movement! Charlie’s Angels! So it’s only fitting that this groovy era would have also spawned beauty trends that could still hold their own on TikTok. Would-be Fleetwood Mac groupies will relish in bare skin and thick, natural brows. Club-goers will love bringing back glitter and spiked lower lashes. And Farrah Fawcett herself would approve of the pastel eyeshadows and dewy foundation.

To help us bring these trends into 2024, we asked the pros to break down the best '70s makeup trends and their must-have products to get the look.

Meet the experts:

• Michael Anthony is a makeup artist based in Los Angeles.

• Jenny Patinkin is a makeup artist and founder of an eponymous beauty tool brand.

• Natalie Dresher is a makeup artist based in Miami.

• Joseph Carrillo is a makeup artist based in New York City.

• Kristine Studden is a makeup artist based in Los Angeles.

• Dani Kimiko Vincent is a makeup artist and founder of brow-grooming brand KIMIKO.

Super Flushed Cheeks

It’s not just any blush. It’s blushy blush—the kind of color you’d get after a Harvey Wallbanger and a few hours on the dance floor. “It gives a youthful, healthy appearance, and it’s perfect for adding some character into your makeup without having to learn any precise technique,” says makeup artist Michael Anthony, who likes a buildable cream blush for this look. “It's easier to add more blush than to take it away, so start with a small amount and build up the color gradually until you achieve your desired intensity,” he says. “Focus on the upper mid-face and across the bridge of the nose.”

Make Me Blush Blurring Liquid Blush in Peachy Nude

$39.00, Nordstrom

Anthony likes the YSL Make Me Blush Blurring Liquid Blush, a super-pigmented and blendable blush that he recommends building up with a sponge or your fingers. Pinky Nude is the same natural color you’d get from a night of heavy disco.

Pocket Blush

$24.00, Rhode

He also recommends the Rhode Pocket Blush, a silky stick blush with hydrating ingredients like peptides and tamanu oil. We like Spicy Marg, which is a bit punchier for more of a head-turning flush.

Pearly Shadow

Shimmery, pearly lids are in the flower child starter kit (along with long wavy hair, micro braids, and a flower crown). While an all-over wash of frost is a quick and easy way to get the look, makeup artist Jenny Patinkin also likes a touch of light-catching shadow in just the corners of the eyes or along the lower lash line for a subtler look.

Midnight Shadows Lustrous Liquid Shadow in Lab Coat

$17.00, Ulta Beauty

The R.E.M. Beauty Midnight Shadows Lustrous Liquid Shadow in Lab Coat is the perfect frosty shadow and can be blended all over the lid with your finger.

Master Crystal Reflector

$24.00, Ulta Beauty

The Makeup By Mario Master Crystal Reflector powder shadow in Quartz will still give summer-of-love magic but be a bit more controllable than liquid. With this, if you want more, you can always add. Patinkin recommends applying the shadow before your concealer, in case any shimmer sprinkles onto your cheeks during application.

Crease Shadow

“Unblended crease liner was the [‘70s] precursor to the cut crease trend,” says Patinkin. To get the look, apply a swipe of deeply pigmented shadow in the socket line and resist the urge to blend the edges. Then choose color number two and apply it just on the lid. The result has a groovy two-tone effect with lots of depth.

Duo Eyeshadow in Kuala Lumpur

$35.00, Nars

A pre-paired shadow duo will help take the guesswork out of mixing and matching colors. We like this pairing in Kuala Lampur—a deep red in the crease, and a shimmery rose gold on the lid.

Les 4 Ombres in Code Elégants

$68.00, Chanel

Metallic shadows give more of a ‘70s Bond girl look. Any two shadows in the Chanel Les 4 Ombres in Codes Elegants—a bronzy quad palette—would give femme fatale. For the most contrast, try the dark brown in the crease and a wash of ivory below it.

Blue Eyeshadow

Says makeup artist Natalie Dresher, “Blue eyeshadow gives chic PanAm flight attendant,” a glamorous, pond-hopping dream job in the ‘90s. (The haul from London to Cozamel is always sexier with a chilled cocktail in hand.) It also happens to be a cheeky look in 2024, whether you keep it simple with a wash of baby blue or smoke out a swipe of deep blue eyeliner with a matching shadow.

All Day Smudge & Set Waterproof Gel Eyeliner in Electric Lapis

$23.00, Amazon

Dresher recommends the Stila Stay All Day Smudge and Set Waterproof Gel Eyeliner in Electric Lapis as the base for a nighttime look. Apply along the lashlines and use your fingers or a dense shadow brush to diffuse the edges.

Eye Duo in Dark Star 006

$46.00, Pat McGrath Labs

Complete the look with a similar rock-n-roll blue eyeshadow like the Pat McGrath Labs Eye Duo in Dark Star 006. This shadow set has a sparkly sapphire powder and, if you want to redirect that PanAm flight into outer space, a prismatic eye gloss for a look with even more shine.

Thick Eyeliner

Seventies-era Cher would never turn her nose up at an eyeliner moment, and in 2024, neither should you. Patinkin recommends sketching your desired shape with a pencil before going all-in with pigment. It will save you some serious heartache if you mess up.

Optic Intensity Eco Waterproof Gel Eyeliner in Black Onyx

$22.00, Sephora

The Haus Labs Optic Intensity Eco Waterproof Gel Eyeliner in Black Onyx glides on easily and leaves a sharp line, making it ideal for drawing on the borders of a thick wing.

Eye Tint Long-Lasting Liquid Eyeshadow in Ebony

$38.00, Nordstrom

Once the shape is in place, fill in the gaps with the Armani Beauty Eye Tint Long-Lasting Liquid Eyeshadow in Ebony. The applicator has a sharp precision tip, but you could also use a smudge brush if you have more real estate to cover.

Monochromatic Makeup

Though ‘70s brought us a wide variety of makeup looks, they pretty much all fell into one of two distinct vibes: One was the sparkle and excess of disco (your Donna Summers and Chaka Khans) and the other was a beachy Endless Summer (where you’d find your Goldie Hawns and Jaclyn Smiths). For the latter, a simple, monochromatic makeup look was key to looking youthful, natural, and sweet—like you were born on a beach and never left. It’s an easy trend to do in 2024: Look for multisticks that you can use on your lips, cheeks, and eyes, and use your hands to apply and blend.

Baby Cheeks Blush Stick in Coquette

$48.00, Nordstrom

If you could look up the perfect beach babe pink in the dictionary, Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Blush Stick in Coquette would be pictured. The multistick looks great on the cheeks and lips with just a swipe or two of mascara to top it off.

Multi-Stick Cream Blush + Lip Tint in A Fine Romance

$36.00, Nordstrom

The Ilia Multi-Stick's hydrating formula is especially great for sensitive skin (thanks to avocado oil and shea butter) and comes in a few colorways that would bring the ‘70s into 2024. A Fine Romance is great for a deeper, sexier flush and Dear Ruby makes for something more cheerful.

Frosted Lips

Imagine being at the state fair with a swirl of cotton candy on a stick. If you just barely pressed your lips to the spun sugar, you might come away with that same sparkly, frosted, baby-pink color on your lips. Luckily, Dresher says this ‘70s look is trending in 2024, so you can buy it bottled.

Forget the Filler Lip Plumper Line Smoothing Gloss in Candy Sky

$26.00, Amazon

This gloss in Candy Sky is a dead ringer for pink sugar and has a plumping effect, so you’ll look good enough to smooch.

Soleil Sunlit Rose Lip Balm

$62.00, Sephora

If gloss is too sticky for your taste, you might prefer this shimmery tinted lip balm in Sunlit Rose, which has a comfortable satin finish.

Freckles

If your ‘70s vibe is more “Summer Breeze” than “Saturday Night Fever,” a smattering of freckles across bare skin is all you need. Unfortunately, not all of us have been blessed with such natural cuteness, but there are ways to fake it (or even add more to your existing collection).

Freckle Pen

$15.00, Revolve

This soft, felt-tipped pen is a perfect amber brown that’s just subtle enough to tickle your nose with specks (too dark and it’ll look like your mascara exploded on your face).

Flyliner Liquid Eyeliner

$24.00, Sephora

You can use a brown liquid (like this one in Big Truffle) or gel eyeliner to get the same freckle-smattered effect. (A harder pencil will create uniform dots, which won’t look natural.)

Statement Lower Lashes

If your upper lashes are the lead single on the album, your lower lashes are the underrated B-side. We often overlook them—but they’re sometimes even sexier than the hits. To get Ivy Getty’s '70s Cher-inspired lash, Patinkin recommends starting with a tubing mascara to avoid a wet, clumpy mess. "Point the applicator at a perpendicular angle to the eye and swipe mascara back and forth over the lower lash line," she says. If you want an even more dramatic spike, Patinkin recommends using small tweezers to pinch sections of lashes together into little packets of spikes.

Come Hell or High Water Tubing Mascara

$24.00, Sephora

"Caliray’s mascara works well for this look because you can control the application without getting big wet blobs,” says Patinkin. “I find that it doesn’t flake off throughout the day."

Norvina False Bottom Lashes

$12.00, Anastasia Beverly Hills

Some of us don’t have the patience to flip the record over for the B-side (isn’t that what Spotify is for?) If that’s you, a pre-spiked lower lash strip will save you the time and effort.

White Eyeliner

Nothing pairs with a pair of bell bottoms quite like cheeky white eyeliner. "Even the slightest bit can be so impactful when strategically placed," says makeup artist Kristine Studden. Line the inner corner of the eye to widen, the waterline to open it up, create a white flick for a wink of fun, or try a negative space liner for something graphic like Janelle Monae. "The options are endless," says Studden.

Chromagraphic Pencil in Pure White

$19.00, MAC

Studden likes this trusty MAC liner in Pure White. "The color is really rich and pigmented so it pops off the skin," she says. A pencil works especially well for inner corners and water lines.

Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner in Snow

$24.00, Amazon

If you’re looking to create a sharp flick or play with more abstract shapes, a crisp liquid liner pen will glide on more easily. Stila’s Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner is a beloved fan favorite.

Soft Pink Lips

Every decade has its own pink. The '50s were filled with baby pink poodle skirts. The '80s were all about neon. Hell, the millennials even have their own chewed bubblegum-hued pink. In the '70s, pink was a soft, satiny, almost-nude shade. Charlie’s Angels pink. "Blow a kiss and beat the bad guys" pink. A ‘70s pink lip is the perfect trend to bring into 2024 because there’s a hue for every skin tone.

GloWish Super Jelly Lip Balm

$21.00, Huda Beauty

"If you're just starting to play with pink, I think it's best to start with a lip balm," says makeup artist Joseph Carrillo, who recommends this green-to-pink balm. "It leaves just a wash of color, but enough to be noticeable," he says.

Luxuriously Lucent Lip Colour in Love of My Life

$36.00, Lisa Eldridge

For a slightly bolder version, Carrillo recommends this satin-finish lipstick in Rosy Shell. "It has cool and warm undertones for a wider range of skin tones, and it's so pretty."

Pastel Eyeshadow

Somewhere during our Palm Royale binge-watch, we developed a hankering for poolside vacation and pastel eyeshadow. The Palm Springs vacation is pretty pricey, so we’re sticking with the sugar-sweet color wash shadow trend in light blues, lavenders, and pinks. (Pair this trend with the pink lips from above and Charlie will make you an honorary Angel.)

Nyx Professional Makeup Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk

$6.00, Amazon

Pastels, by nature, tend to disappear into the skin. To give the color some punch, Carrillo recommends starting by covering the lids with a white primer or eyeliner, like this one by Nyx Professional Makeup.

Perfect 10 Eyeshadow Palette in So Bright Now

$10.00, Amazon

This E.L.F. palette hits all the trendy '70s hues—denim blue, lilac, sage, and then some. Layer a wash of color on top of the white base to get the most color payoff.

Dewy Foundation

Foundation in the '70s was hydrated and dewy—like you had just spent the afternoon at the roller rink and had a light glisten going. (You know, the sexy kind. Not the drenched-in-sweat kind.) "Dewy is and forever will be the fountain of youth," says Carrillo, who adds that a damp Beautyblender will help to keep things light.

Light Reflecting Advanced Skincare Foundation

$52.00, Nordstrom

Carrillo recommends applying this buildable foundation, which has a "gorgeous sheen" on the face, ears, neck, and décolleté.

SuperDew Highlight Balm

$18.00, Amazon

For an extra "ABBA just came on and I hit the rink hard" glow, dab this shimmer-free highlighter along the cheekbones for a touch of sweet dewiness.

Bushy Brows

"'70s bush" wasn’t a term coined for brows but we think it contains multitudes. A bushy brow has '70s free-spirit energy, but in 2024, we curate where they land a bit more. "Just brush your brows lightly into place with gel," says Patinkin. "Step away from the tweezers."

The Brow Sensei

$35.00, Moda Operandi

Patinkin highly recommends this clear brow gel. "It gives great hold without drying stiff or crispy," she says.

Glossier Boy Brow

$22.00, Glossier

If your brows are a lighter color or even just a little sparse, a saturated tinted brow gel like Glossier’s Boy Brow will help to give a bushier look without having to painstakingly paint on individual hairs.

Bronzed Skin

The very first Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue was printed in 1964. By the 1970s, the special edition was already a cultural phenomenon with icons like Cheryl Tiegs and Christie Brinkley gracing the cover. Many turned to tanning beds and SPF-less tanning oil to get that sandy, '70s surfer look. We’re a lot smarter now about achieving our beach babe aesthetic. "I love a bronzed look, but only when it’s from a bottle and it mimics the look of tanned skin with products to add that bronzy glow," says makeup artist Dani Kimiko Vincent.

Natural Glow Self Tanner Lotion

$12.00, Amazon

This gradual tanning lotion has won Allure’s Readers Choice Award for self-tanner many, many times over thanks to its ease of application (no gloves required).

Unisex Healthy Glow Tinted Moisturizer

$46.00, Nordstrom

For face, Vincent recommends this moisturizing tint "which can be used alone or mixed into your moisturizer or SPF for some added glow."

Glossed Lips

"I love the playfulness of the ‘70s sheer lip gloss look," says Vincent. "It’s fun, carefree, youthful, and refreshing." Like driving a Firebird with the windows down and Electric Light Orchestra on the radio. Vincent recommends reaching for a simple gloss or lip oil, but prep for this trend will go a long way. "As with any lip product application, it begins with exfoliated lips so there are no snags in the finish."

Lancome Juicy Tubes Lip Gloss

$25.00, Nordstrom

Vincent recommends this glassy, thick gloss which comes in several nude and sheer shades with a touch of shimmer.

Lip Glow Oil

$40.00, Nordstrom

"These lip oils are non-sticky, and have a rich, balmy texture," says Vincent. "I love the mirror gloss shine and the lip-caring formula," which includes nourishing cherry oil.

Bare Skin

If Janis Joplin wrote for Allure, she’d be singing the praises of beautiful bare skin. Patinkin agrees but understands if you have a few spots you might want to hide. "Bare skin that gets just a little touch up with concealer is a great way to balance wanting to look 'perfect' and wanting to look natural," she says. "I like to apply a creamy concealer under the eyes, around the nose, and on the chin."

Crème de la Mer Moisturizing Cream

$200.00, Nordstrom

If you’re going Janis Joplin bare, all you’ll need is a nourishing moisturizer. Studden likes the dewy shine of Creme de La Mer, either all over or used as a highlighting sheen on the cheekbones.

Ultra Facial Cream

$39.00, Amazon

For a more accessible option, try this juicy hydrating moisturizer with squalane that provides all-day hydration.

Amazing Concealer

$29.00, Amazon

If you do want to do a minor touch-up, Patinkin recommends this hydrating concealer. "It wears on the skin so nicely but still has nice coverage," she says.

Disco Eyes

If you’re looking for late-night dancing at Studio 54, glittery, shimmery disco eyes are the price of admission. "To get the look at home, finish off your eyeshadow look by using your finger to place a fine glitter or shimmer color over the entire lid, working your way to the outer corners of the shadow," says Vincent.

Spacepaste

$22.00, Revolve

If you want to go all in on glitter (and who doesn’t?), a gel or glitter shadow will coat the lid like a disco ball. We love how thick this paste-like formula goes on (and doesn’t shed).

Stay the Night Shimmer Topper

$18.00, Trixie Cosmetics

For more of a metallic Ziggy Stardust look, swipe on this buildable shimmery liquid shadow on top of your powder eyeshadow for an opaque finish.

Bold on Bold

If a statement lip is Marilyn Monroe and a statement eye is Sophia Loren, a statement lip and a statement eye together is '70s Diana Ross. Today, bold-on-bold is an even more heightened version of Diana’s look—try an orange-red lip and a smoked-out cat-eye in a color of your choice. "It's just makeup. It should be fun," says Studden. If this all feels like a lot, Carrillo recommends sticking to berry tones. "Using plums and cranberries is just as dramatic as a blue eyeshadow and orange lip," he says.

Satin Kajal Liner in Smoky Quartz

$32.00, Bluemercury

Studden recommends this blendable liner in a wearable color like Smoky Quartz if you’re just dipping your toes into the bold-on-bold trend, or opt for "a fun, bright tone like Sequin Green or Sour Apple."

Rouge Pur Couture Satin Lipstick in Le Rouge

$48.00, Nordstrom

Find a complementary lipstick color in a slick satin finish. (Studden loves this rich formula from Yves Saint Laurent.) We like "Le Rouge" to match a smoky black or gunmetal shadow.

Cut Crease Liner

Early '70s Twiggy made us rethink the shape of our eyeliner and in 2024, her legacy is still seen in our youngest, freshest superstars (Olivia Rodrigo is the patron saint of Gen Z, after all). It also boasts a little function with its stylish form: "One of the amazing things about a cut crease liner is it really can reshape an eye," says Carrillo. "If you have a monolid or a hooded lid, it can help to bring back depth."

The Eyelash Curler

$26.00, Dermstore

Carrillo recommends using the curve of an eyelash curler to trace your cut crease. "Kevyn Aucoin’s eyelash curler is amazing while you’re at it," he says. Because if you’re buying one for a cut crease, you may as well buy one that's great for curling lashes too.

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil

$23.00, Amazon

Urban Decay’s playful range of colors—from matte cobalt blue to metallic orange—make it the perfect pencil for building a playful look.

Now, more nostalgic trends:

• The 12 Best '90s Makeup Trends to Try Right Now

• 10 Totally ‘80s Hairstyles Made Modern

• 9 Y2K-Inspired Manicure Ideas That'll Take You Right Back to the Year 2000

Now watch Kelsey Merritt's 10-Minute Routine:

Originally Appeared on Allure