Clean girl aesthetics and barely-there makeup may have ruled the last few years, but Studio 54 energy is officially staging a comeback. Heading into summer, expect Instagram feeds and red carpets to shift into full ’70s makeup looks, with lots of glittery lids, bold natural brows, sun-warmed skin and graphic white liner. The difference this time is all in the execution—the drama is still there, just refined, softened and made wearable for 2026.
And the timing couldn’t be more intentional. According to Google Trends, searches for "70s makeup" have surged over 5000%, signaling a very clear pivot away from minimalism and back toward expressive, personality-driven beauty. It’s not about recreating the decade exactly—it’s about pulling the best parts forward and updating them for how we actually wear makeup now.
Because in the 1970s, makeup was a loud expression of the era. On one end of the spectrum, icons like Donna Summer and Diana Ross brought full disco makeup drama with spiky lashes, metallic lids and blush that survived the entire night on the dance floor. On the softer side, Farrah Fawcett defined effortless sun-kissed minimalism. It was a choose-your-own-beauty-moment, and this '70s aesthetic revival is bringing it all back.
If you’re ready to lean into a little shimmer and self-expression again, this is your starting point. Ahead, pro makeup artists break down 11 iconic makeup looks from the '70s that making a comeback—and exactly how to wear them now.
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'70s makeup wasn’t about perfect symmetry or precision—it was about energy, expression and a little bit of beautiful imperfection. As Amanda Gabbard, celebrity makeup artist and esthetician who has glammed the likes of Kamala Harris and Brooke Shields, explains, "skin was fresh, bright and real, while eyes or lips took the focus," creating a balance that felt effortless rather than overly constructed.
"Nothing was overly structured," she says, and the goal was always to enhance, not mask. Think sun-kissed skin, glossy lids and lips, playful washes of color and lashes piled on top and bottom to frame the eyes.
Celebrity makeup artistNatalie Dresher (who has worked with Campbell Puckett and Kouvr), echoes that sentiment, noting that the era was defined by "bold colors, washes of frost and experimenting with bold geometrical shapes and colors."
From metallic shimmer to pastel eyes and unexpected color placements, nothing was off-limits. It was makeup that showcased your mood—and that spirit is exactly what’s being revived today, just with a softer, more wearable twist.
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Which '70s Makeup Trends Are Making a Comeback?
Gabbard says there's a move to "luminous, hydrated skin instead of matte finishes" as the foundation of the look. From there, metallic and glitter eyes are back, but "used strategically, not overdone," giving just enough shimmer to catch the light without tipping into full disco overload.
High-placement blush is also resurfacing, lifting the face in a way that feels fresh and slightly sculpted, while defined lower lashes bring back that soft, wide-eyed '70s openness without heavy liner. The finish is kept easy with sheer, glossy lips that feel more lived-in than lacquered.
What makes the comeback feel so current is how texture is being reinterpreted. Dresher points out that "frosts are huge right now, whether it’s frosty eyeshadow or pearlescent lipsticks," but the modern approach is softer and more blended than the stark finishes of the past.
Even brown lipsticks are having a moment again, acting as a neutral base that still "deliver[s] a bit of color to the face" without overwhelming it. It’s that balance—shine without weight, color without heaviness—that’s defining the new wave of 1970s beauty.
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The secret to making '70s makeup feel modern is restraint—don't overdo it. "If you pair too many '70s trends together it can start to look dated or costume-y," Dresher says, which is where most retro looks go wrong—they lean too literal instead of selective.
Instead, "Pairing a frosted lipstick with a matte, crisp liner can modernize an otherwise ‘older’ look," explains Dresher, while "pairing a frosty shadow with no liner gives a modern look."
That idea of balance carries through every step of application. Lori Taylor Davis, Smashbox Global Pro Lead Artist, breaks it down simply: "The key is balance—keep one element retro, and the rest modern." That might mean glossy skin with a bold eye, or a disco-inspired lid paired with a clean nude lip.
Skin, in particular, should stay current—think sheer coverage, spot correction so the complexion still looks like skin, just enhanced. Even tools like liner should feel intentional rather than heavy-handed, with metallics or soft washes of color doing more work than thick definition.
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11 Best '70s Makeup Looks, Updated for 2026
1. Best Frosted Pastel Eyes
Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
Frosted pastels are having a full-circle moment. Gabbard explains that "soft color with a reflective finish is very '70s, and very current," especially when pastels are kept sheer and luminous instead of chalky or flat.
The trick is all in the blend—she recommends using cream or liquid shadows and diffusing the edges with a neutral tone so the color feels like a wash rather than a block. The result is playful, light-catching and exactly the kind of eye that feels nostalgic without looking stuck in the past.
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2. Best Glossy Nude Lips
Jamie McCarthy/WireImage
This is the kind of lip that quietly steals the spotlight. Gabbard calls it "effortless and flattering," noting how it works seamlessly with both minimal and bold eyes depending on the mood.
The application stays soft—lined just enough for shape, a nude base for balance and gloss layered on top for that high-shine finish, with a subtle cupid’s bow overline to enhance fullness. The payoff is modern, fresh and endlessly wearable.
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3. Best Disco Blush
Doug Peters/PA Images via Getty Images
Blush in the '70s wasn’t shy, and it isn’t now either. "High placement blush lifts the face and adds energy," explains Gabbard, especially when applied high on the cheekbones and swept toward the temples.
Cream formulas give that lived-in flush. And when topped with a soft powder or highlighter? The effect becomes multidimensional rather than flat. It’s sculpting, but with color instead of contour.
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4. Best Soft Smudged Smoky Eye
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for SXSW
Davis recommends leaning into imperfection here, calling it "perfectly imperfect" look, which is "exactly the goal." The modern smoky eye is less about precision and more about softness, using cream shadow sticks, eyeliner and mascara that can be smudged before it sets.
The finish should feel lived-in, slightly blurred and intentionally undone—like it evolved throughout the night rather than being painted on once and left alone.
5. Best (Faux) Sun-Kissed Glow
Gilbert Flores/2026GG/Penske Media via Getty Images
This is the I’ve-been-outside-all-day look, without actually baking in the sun. Davis is clear that "glow should look natural, not overdone," which is why placement matters more than intensity. Instead of layering product everywhere, the focus is strategic—mattifying primer stays in the T-zone to control shine where needed, while the rest of the face is left to breathe with a healthy, believable luminosity.
Tinted moisturizer evens things out without masking skin and cream contour plus a soft highlight bring back warmth and dimension. The goal is bronzed dimension that mimics real life.
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6. Best Ultra-Defined Eyeliner
Gilbert Flores/Variety/Penske Media via Getty Images
This is where '70s experimentation gets a sharper, more modern edge. Instead of heavy, all-around liner, the focus is on controlled definition that shapes the eye without closing it in.
Think precision at the lash line, subtle flicks that lift rather than drag and a finish that feels intentional but not overdrawn. The modern update keeps the graphic spirit of the decade, but pares it back so it enhances expression instead of overpowering it.
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7. Best Glitter Eyeshadow
JC Olivera/Variety via Getty Images
Davis is all-in on glittery eyeshadow, calling the look "unapologetic disco," defined by the "bold, reflective and high-impact, Studio 54 vibes." But the 2026 version is all about control beneath the sparkle.
The key is "anchoring shimmer on a primed, slightly tacky base" so it stays put and doesn’t migrate. From liquid liner to shimmer sticks layered over soft base tones, everything is built to catch light strategically rather than scatter it everywhere. The result is maximum shine, minimal mess and all the payoff of disco without the fallout drama.
8. Best High-Gloss Glam
Taylor Hill/FilmMagic
Gloss is no longer just a lip moment—it’s a full-face philosophy. As Davis explains, the goal is to "keep gloss and glow on the same high points for cohesion." Skin starts luminous with hydrating primer and tinted moisturizer, then builds into subtle sculpting with cream blush and highlight placed on the high points of the face.
And of course, lips are layered with high-shine gloss to tie everything together. You want your skin to look reflective in a way that feels dewy, not slippery.
9. Best Spiky Bottom Lashes
Karwai Tang/WireImage
Bold bottom lashes are pure '70s nostalgia with a playful edge. Gabbard calls it the "Twiggy effect," adding that it’s "the fastest way to create a wide-eyed, vintage feel." The technique is simple but impactful—lower lashes are coated in mascara, then gently separated into small, defined spikes for that graphic, doll-like finish. It instantly opens the eyes and brings back that exaggerated lower-lash moment that defined the decade’s most iconic beauty looks.
Related: The 11 Mascaras That Actually Lengthen Lashes, Tested by Pro Makeup Artists
10. Best Glossy Plum Lip
JC Olivera/WWD via Getty Images
A deep lip is one of those ’70s callbacks that immediately adds attitude—but the modern version is all about softness, not sharp edges. Davis explains that it should feel "retro but still modern," which comes down to how it’s applied.
Instead of a strict outline, the color is pressed and blended so it fades slightly at the edges, creating that lived-in stain effect. A liner builds structure, while gloss layered on top keeps it juicy and dimensional rather than flat or matte. The result is rich without feeling heavy, moody without feeling strict—the kind of lip that looks better the more you move.
11. Best Bohemian Skin Look
Gilbert Flores/Billboard via Getty Images
This is the closest thing to effortless beauty in the entire '70s lineup. Gabbard’s philosophy here is simple: "Resist the urge to perfect." Instead, skin should be kept sheer and breathable with a slight tint, while brows are brushed up rather than sculpted into place and lips get just a touch of balm for subtle life.
Even base products are customized—foundation is often mixed with shimmer for a bronzy glow that melts into skin instead of sitting on top of it. Cream bronzer is swept across cheeks, temples and even eyelids for a cohesive, sun-warmed effect. It’s simple in the most intentional way possible—exactly what makes it feel so current.
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Sources:
Amanda Gabbard, celebrity makeup artist and estheticianNatalie Dresher, celebrity makeup artistLori Taylor Davis, Smashbox Global Pro Lead ArtistHence then, the article about 11 gorgeous 70s makeup looks updated for 2026 was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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