The Eyeshadow Colors You Should Use To Get A '60s-Style Look

Many iconic pop culture moments come from the 1960s. For instance, mention of the decade might make you instantly think of the charming "Welcome to the '60s" song from the loveable musical "Hairspray." Or, maybe you think of Twiggy, the tiny, ultra-famous supermodel with short hair and dramatic eyes. Either way, there's no denying that the colorful '60s vibes live on into modern times.

The 1960s were all about British Mod culture. According to All That's Interesting, Mods believed in equality, freedom, and androgynous dressing, enjoyed jazz music, put significant effort into their hair, spent a lot of time in coffee shops, and rode Vespas. Plus, Mods were modern — hence the name "Mod" — as they wanted women to be able to work and go out on their own. Many people are still inspired by the Mod look in the 2020s, as we often see fashion and makeup first worn by this sub-culture of people still thriving today. If you want to channel the '60s, here are the best eyeshadow colors to try out.

Something about blue eyeshadow just screams the '60s (even though pale blue was popular in the '00s as well!). "Silvers and royal blues are giving classic '60s makeup a 21st century, almost sci-fi look," Omayma Ramzy, a celebrity makeup artist, told The Zoe Report. After all, blue eyeshadow looks so clean and vivid. Royal blue eyeshadow is perfect for putting a more modern spin on '60s-style eyeshadow, but any blue hue should do the trick. Try adding some sparkles, or use a shiny blue to get the best of both worlds.

Pink is typically every girly-girl's go-to color, so if that sounds like you, don't be afraid to rock a pink eyeshadow for your '60s-inspired look. Many people wore lip products with pink hues and pink blush in the 1960s, per Central Casting, so try doing that and adding a pink eyeshadow to master the moody monochromatic makeup trend with some 1960s energy. Pastel shades were trendy in the '60s, too, so consider leaning into that look with a pastel pink eyeshadow for an ultra girly vibe.

If you can't decide between wearing blue or pink eyeshadow, purple is an excellent compromise, as it provides hints of both shades. Makeup enthusiast and TikTok user @imsimplysteph shared a '60s-inspired eyeshadow look on the platform in which she used light purple eyeshadow with a touch of darker purple. The result made her brown eyes pop to perfection. Why not follow her lead with some lavender eyeshadow, plum shadow, or both for your next 1960s-style eye makeup look?

Green is another fun color to explore for eye makeup, whether you want to opt for a dark or light shade. Makeup industry guru @elysereneau shared a '60s-inspired eyeshadow look on TikTok as she discussed the disturbing truths about Priscilla Presley's relationship with Elvis. For this look, the makeup expert used very light green eyeshadow and precisely lined dark eyeliner. She also wore mascara on her upper and bottom lashes to enhance the effect. If you want to try this look, use a super light green shadow and break out your eyeliner and mascara.

This next idea depends on the color of your eyes, so it won't be the same for everyone. According to Hair & Makeup Artist Handbook, it was a popular practice for people to match the hue of their eyeshadow to their eye color in the '60s. Thus, people with blue eyes wore blue eyeshadows, green-eyed people chose green, and people with brown eyes often wore brown eyeshadows. Take this vintage trend as your sign to play up your beautiful eye color with similar eyeshadow.

Don't assume that everyone only wore colorful makeup in the '60s. Believe it or not, a lot of people relied on their gray shadow as a trustworthy option to flatter their eyes throughout the decade, despite the abundance of bright blues and greens flooding popular culture (via L'Oréal Paris). So, if you want to start exploring a '60s-inspired look but aren't a fan of light or bright colors, any shade of gray is an excellent option for you. 

The cut crease was super popular in the 1960s, and makeup-loving people still use this technique today. To create a cut crease look, you can start by lining your eyes and creating an intense wing, and finishing the wing shape higher up on the eyelids, too, just under the eyebrows. Fill in this shape with a bold or pale eyeshadow color, or sparkles, or both. Whichever eyeshadow color you use, this look will exude a fun '60s vibe.