These 10 vintage makeup looks are leaving the beauty archives and making a modern comeback

Audrey Hepburn, forever a beauty icon, is known for her strong, face-framing brows. She let them take centre stage, keeping her base makeup softly pared back.

Lily Collins brings Audrey’s timeless beauty to the modern red carpet. Her strong brows take the focal point, while the rest of her makeup stays understated — just a hint of bronzer and blush to add warmth and definition.

Twiggy, the icon of Mod beauty, was never shy when it came to experimenting with makeup. Her signature doe-like eyes were amplified with a sweep of blue eyeshadow.

Sophie Ellis-Bextor, much like Twiggy, isn’t afraid to go bold (clean-girl makeup, who?). She updates blue shadow with a brighter, aqua-toned hue that instantly makes her eyes pop.

Beyond her incredible hair, Farah Fawcett’s frosted makeup also made a mark in the beauty books. The pearlescent lip and complexion brings instant radiance.

A beauty trend fit for royalty: the Princess of Wales brings the frosted lip up to date, balancing the icy tones with warm blush and softly bronzed skin for a look that feels fresh.

Brigitte Bardot’s cat-eye liner was the defining feature of her sultry makeup. Swept across both the upper and lower lash lines and finished with a wing, it brings flattering definition and lift.

For a modern update, Angelina Jolie wears the sultry cat-eye with a smokier twist, softly smudged for a diffused effect – the eye-enhancing magic is undeniable.

The ‘It Girl’ of the 1920s, Clara Bow, is instantly recognisable from her thin, downturned brows. The starlet shaved her off her brows, pencilling them in for precision.

Pamela Anderson controversially brings thin brows into 2026. While many of us are still haunted by 90s over-plucking, Pammy proves they can look surprisingly chic, especially when balanced with fresh, minimal makeup.

Long before the age of TikTok and highly swept cheekbone blush, blusher took a softer, more natural approach. Jane Birkin wore hers concentrated on the apples of her cheeks, creating a fresh, flushed effect, rather than using colour to sculpt.

Jennifer Lawrence channels Jane Birkin with a peachy blush, swept softly on to the apples of her cheeks for a natural, fresh finish.

Old Hollywood actress Marlene Dietrich’s sultry smokey eye felt ahead of its time. It’s said she mixed soot with Vaseline to achieve the look (though we certainly wouldn’t recommend trying that at home).

Today, Victoria Beckham arguably holds the crown for the smokey eye, which she loves for its face-lifting effect. Thankfully, she has an entire line of Victoria Beckham Beauty products to perfect it — a far more advisable option than soot.

Sophia Loren added extra drama to the classic cat-eye with an additional lower wing, enhancing its elongating effect. The double-eyeliner look feels unmistakably 60s.

The Housemaid actress Sydney Sweeney paid homage to the 60s at last year’s Met Gala. Liner along the lower lash line was subtly winged out, creating a graphic, retro finish,

Actress Elizabeth Taylor brought all the shine with her glossy, cherry-red lips. It’s a look that feels just as striking today as it did then.

Nicole Kidman offers a modern version, embracing a softer cherry-hue and just a touch of sheen for an easy, wearable finish.