13 '80s Makeup Looks You Completely Forgot You Were Obsessed With (2024)

Please step into the our time machine and join us for a journey all the way back to one epic decade: the 1980s. People were slapping bracelets on their wrists, bobbing their heads up and down to Queen and Blondie on their Walkman, and trying to defeat the ever-challenging Rubik's Cube. Along with those '80s trends, people were also doing a lot with their makeup. After crimping hair into those perfect bends or feathering their bangs, it was time to apply that iconic '80s makeup.

Who did everyone turn to for inspiration? None other than the singers, movie stars, and models who were busy making a name for themselves in the entertainment industry. These beautiful legends set a precedent for makeup lovers everywhere, and their choices were a major departure from the natural, groovy style of the 1970s. For us, '80s makeup looks are everything ... literally. What we learned is that you can never have too much of any product, especially when it comes to your cheeks (You can never have too much blush, right Madonna?). Though we wouldn't follow these stars' makeup tutorials today, we love looking back on these epic '80s makeup looks from your favorite entertainers of yesteryear.

Oh, Madonna, you defined '80s beauty. The lighter-hued face powder, dark cheeks, deep red lips, overly filled-in brows, and that fake beauty mark ... need we say more?

Blue eyeshadow came and went as a trend in the '80s. But we can now admire it in this oh-so-chic image of singer and actress Grace Jones in 1985.

If there's one person you can turn to for the most outrageous style (now and then), it's singer Cyndi Lauper. She did it all: overdone eyeshadow, foundation, blush, and lips. Her makeup is so wild that we almost didn't notice her crimped yellow hair and animal print fascinator.

Were there any '80s movies that didn't feature Molly? Her feathered bangs were so in, and so was that deep red lip color.

Drawing eyeliner all around your eyes might not be a trend now, but it was essential in the '80s. Here, the Grease actress and fitness star was a perfect example of this when she got physical with her eye makeup in 1983.

You can't mention the '80s without talking about Jane Fonda. During this decade, she became a fitness icon, and undoubtedly became an inspiration for women everywhere (I mean, who can resist that orange lip shade?).

About a decade before forming the most epic couple with David Bowie, Iman donned an extravagant red dress and posed for these glamor shots in 1981. Regarded as one of the most popular fashion models of all time, it's unquestionable that everyone was copying her look.

What's more '80s than your dress coordinating with your eyeshadow and blush? Blondie's lead singer did just that at comedian George Burns's 85th birthday in 1981.

Even in black and white, you can tell the British-Nigerian singer has that strong eye shadow and lipstick combo down. We saw her rocking the bold red lip in her music video for "Is It A Crime," but her beauty routine was anything but criminal.

The actress sported long, bold lashes and a matte red lip to the 60th Annual Academy Awards back in 1988. And these aren't necessarily beauty-related, but we can't stop gawking at her over-the-top statement earrings.