Glam Mod: Recreating the Iconic ‘60s Makeup Look
The ‘60s gave us some of the most iconic fashion, hair, and makeup moments.
In that era of flower power, one of the trends that really made a splash was the Mod aesthetic. A shocking departure from the demure looks of the ‘50s, the “modernists” (Mod, for short) were a group of style revolutionaries that shook up style with their bold looks.
Just like all great trends, the Mod look is starting to come back into style. That’s why we're going to give you a brief introduction to what makes a look Mod and give you five, simple makeup tips to step into your ‘60s glam era.
What Is the Mod Look?
When people hear Mod, there’s one person that always comes to mind — the “Face of 1966” British supermodel Twiggy. Twiggy sported a pixie cut, almost every fashion trend the era had to offer, and her classic, bold lashes look (more on this in the next section).
Mod style for men encompassed beautifully tailored suits, skinny ties, and Beatle boots, those irresistibly cool, black leather boots made famous by John, Ringo, George, and Paul. For women, Mod fashion included babydoll dresses, go-go boots, mini-skirts, and the occasional piece of men’s wear. Women at this time were also often seen in slim-fit suits or knee-high boots.
It was a style defined by the boundaries it pushed and the It-girls, like Twiggy, that brought it to the mainstream. For inspo, the icons at the forefront of the Mod movement would look to Italian and French movie stars. That’s probably where they got their taste for exquisite tailoring and swanky jazz clubs.
How Can You Recreate Mod Glam at Home?
Now that you have a basic idea of what the Mod movement was all about, it’s time to take a close look at how you can recreate Mod glam at home. Although their looks were bold and eye-catching, they’re not as complicated as you might think.
If you follow these simple steps and throw on a pair of go-go boots (if you need styling inspo, check out Florence Pugh), you’ll be living your best Mod life in no time!
Flawless, Fresh-Faced Base
When it comes to ‘60s Mod base makeup, simplicity is the name of the game. Unlike other eras, the ‘60s was all about a flawless, uncomplicated base. To achieve this look, grab your most trustworthy foundation (our matte foundation is a great choice) and apply it smoothly everywhere on the face and neck.
We recommend a matte foundation because Mod makeup was so minimal. Although it might sound like a shock to modern makeup-wearers, highlighter and bronzer weren’t really a part of the Mod makeup kit.
Once your foundation is applied, apply brightening concealer under your eyes, around the creases of your mouth, and anywhere else you want to lift and brighten. Make sure to use a setting powder once you’re done with your face makeup to ensure that it lasts all day long.
If you hate the thought of parting with your bronzer, don’t worry, we completely understand. To keep your glam Mod look on trend without totally parting with your bronzer, you can apply a few dots of matte bronzer to your cheekbones. This will give you a soft, subtle definition without straying too far from the Mod style.
Pastels, Pastels, Pastels
You have your base done, which means it’s time to move on to your cheeks and lips. Given that eyes are the focal point of a Mod makeup look, blush and lip colors tended to be neutral pastels.
For your cheeks, apply a light layer of babydoll pink blush. Again, subtle, matte shades should be your go-to here. Unlike more contemporary makeup looks that call for a heavy-handed blush application, you’ll only need a swipe or two to get the Mod look.
In terms of lip color, a matching pastel will do the trick. For your glam Mod look, leave the shocking reds and experimental shades in the drawer. Powdery nudes, ballet pinks, and peachy shades are what you’re looking for.
Big, Bold Eyeliner
With your face and lips ready, it’s time to move on to the true star of the show when it comes to Mod makeup: the eyes.
Graphic, bold eyeliner is a staple of the glam Mod look. To achieve this, you want to draw a half-moon with an eyeliner pencil from the inner corner of your eye, along the crease, to the outer corner. This will give your eyes the doe-eyed look that’s so evocative of ‘60s makeup.
Once you have the half-moon shape, use the same shade of eyeliner to trace your upper and lower lash lines. Make sure to connect the outside of the crease to these lines to give the look a cohesive shape.
You can go in after with an eyeshadow brush to soften the lines and give the look a slightly blurred effect. If you want to make the look even more dramatic and graphic, you can add a layer of liquid liner on top of the pencil.
Neutral Eyeshadow
Using a neutral eyeshadow palette, you want to follow the lines you’ve started to create with your liner. A darker brown shade should be used to trace the lines of your eyeliner. This will help it pop and draw attention to your eyes.
From there, you can use a softer, lighter shade to fill in your lid. Just like with the blush and bronzer, go for matte shades to keep the look Mod inspired.
Luscious Lashes
Long, luscious lashes are the final quintessential element of a Mod makeup look. You can wear lashes to go full Mod drama, or, for a more subtle approach, you can apply a few layers of your favorite lengthening mascara. Regardless of the route you go for on your top lashes, make sure you don’t forget about your bottom lashes when you’re doing your glam Mod look.
Drawing on Twiggy as our ultimate Mod inspiration, you’ll want to use a volumizing formula on your bottom lashes then gently use tweezers to create lash clusters with your bottom lashes.
If you don’t have long bottom lashes, you can achieve the same look by drawing on lash clusters with liquid eyeliner. The key to executing this technique is to make small strokes along the lash line.
Modern Touches
To experiment with Mod makeup, there are a few modern touches you can add. With a brown eyeliner pencil, you can dot freckles onto your cheeks and nose to add to the natural vibe of a Mod look.
Although they didn’t experiment much with color in the Mod era, you can make the look your own by adding a frosty blue or purple eyeshadow to your Mod look.
For those who love to stand out with their makeup, don’t be afraid to try out the classic Twiggy mascara look but with a colorful mascara shade! Experiment with the basics of a glam Mod to make this look truly your own.
Get Retro Ready With Glam Mod
You’re officially a glam Mod pro and ready to put your own spin on this timeless throwback style. Scroll through some Pinterest boards, dive into the Twiggy archive, and start to experiment with Mod makeup to find your next statement look.
From matte, flawless skin to those unforgettable, geometric eyeliner looks, there’s something for everyone when it comes to Mod makeup. Just like the ‘90s, the ‘60s is a decade full of fashion and makeup styles that are still making waves today.
As you start to define your take on glam Mod and post your newest styles, don’t forget to tag us. We can’t wait to see your take on the ‘60s!