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Everything You Need To Nail SS20's Absolute '80s Beauty Trend
Time to embrace the frizz and liberally apply blush.
SS20's biggest beauty trend is all about (stylishly) going back to the iconic '80s aka the decade that gave us leg warmers and acid-washed denim. The beauty looks, however, are a whole lot more wearable than coming into the office wearing a blazer with bigger shoulder pads than Kris Jenner and skin tight Day-Glo leggings.
From embracing your natural frizz to how to apply neon eyeshadow, we've got all the beauty tips you need to transport yourself back to the epic decade that was the eighties.
The Colour
Ditch the fluoro leggings and go for brights on the eyes, as seen at Iceberg, Olivia Rubin and Oscar De La Renta (pictured). Pack on with a flat, square brush for a bold hit of colour.
The Skin Basics
‘Lived-in skin’ is all about a perfectly balanced finish. Go too dewy and it ends up looking greasy, too matte and it adds a mask effect.
The best contour alternative? ‘Blush draping’: a style credited to celebrity make-up artist Way Bandy in the early 1980s, which recently made a return at Jason Wu.
Get The Look
Chanel Ultra Le Teint Velvet, £37, embraces your skin’s natural shine while leaving it powdery smooth. Apply with a brush using a stippling effect to give full coverage without wasting product.
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The retro 'draping' technique enhances your natural bone structure: blend the two tones in NARS Dual-Intensity Blush in Adoration, £30, from the apples of the cheeks up and along your brow bone. Sweep all the way down across the jawline for a full flush.
The Inspiration
Princess Diana’s legacy as a fashion and beauty icon endures. Redken’s global creative director Guido Palau paid tribute to her at Tory Burch, saying, ‘The hair reminds me of a well heeled English woman; a boyish spin on being feminine and proper.’
Get The Look
Prep hair with L’Oréal Professionnel Serie Expert Vitamino Color Masque - £18.
Then use the ghd Air Hair Dryer, £99, on full blast to add smooth volume to the hairline, leaving the rest natural.
The Nail Files
At Jeremy Scott, nails resembled a 1980s vintage jumper. ‘We’re doing an animal print meets Saved By The Bell reference,’ said nail artist Miss Pop.
Get The Look
Think geometric shapes in vivid shades like CND Vinylux Polish in Pink Leggings, £14.50. The good news? Shapes can be messy – apply dots using a cotton bud or use tape to create square shapes.
The Hair
At Tom Ford, hairstylist Duffy modernised the traditional mullet by being heavy-handed with mousse and moulding the hair to create a more defined shape, rather than the classic frizz.
Get The Look
Scrunch Virtue Moisture-Defining Whip - £34, into roots; this adds the perfect sticky texture, which you can then twist and pin into three messy knots on top of the head.
The Scent
Celine’s new Haute Parfumerie collection features 11 fragrances inspired by key moments in creative director Hedi Slimane’s life. With notes of tree moss and musk, Nightclubbing, £175 for 100ml EDP, evokes a heady, intoxicating scent reminiscent of Parisian clubs such as Le Palace, favoured by Slimane in the 1980s.
Charlotte Bitmead (she/her) is the Senior Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK. She has over six years experience writing about beauty and has previously written for ELLE and The Sunday Times Style, covering everything from politics to sustainability to inclusivity within the beauty industry. When she’s not writing in-depth features, testing out the newest skincare fad or trying to decide what nail art to get, you can find her overspending in bookshops or shouting at Arsenal matches. Find her on LinkedIn
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