From flapper girls to pin-up dolls, vintage makeup ads not only sold cosmetics but also sold a lifestyle.

Join me as we dive into the captivating world of vintage beauty as seen in these iconic advertisements from the 1920s-1950s.

1950s vintage advertisement for Maybelline makeup-Before and after as seen on a 1950s woman.

(Note: These ads are also perfect vintage beauty / hair & fashion inspiration for when you are looking to recreate an authentic look from your era of choice.)

Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy , eBay are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase

Vintage Makeup Advertisements 1920s-1950s

“Try Maybelline Eye Shadow”. 1920s makeup ad featuring an fantastic example of dark eyeshadow on our 1920s lady.

1920s makeup ad for Maybelline eyeshadow featuring an illustration of a 1920s woman with dark eyeshadow. Fantastic 1920s makeup ideas

Source: Pinterest

A 1920s flapper applies her mascara in this vintage advertisement from Maybelline.

1920s vintage makeup advertisement for mascara from Maybelline featuring a 1920s flapper

Source: Pinterest

“Touches of Loveliness by Vivaudou” -1920s advertisement for talcum, face powder, lipstick & rouge.

1920s vintage makeup advertisement for Vivaudou cosmetics featuring an art deco illustration of beauty products

Source: eBay

“It’s THIS NEW MAKE-UP that is Hollywood’s Secret of Attraction”. 1930s Max Factor ad featuring four 1930s movie stars showing off the makeup.

Vintage 1930s Max Factor Cosmetics Print Ad featuring classic Hollywood movie stars promoting their makeup.

Source: eBay

“Artists and Models say…Choose your makeup by the color of your eyes”. Marvelous The Eye-Matched Makeup by Richard Hudnut. 1930s advertisement.

The Eye-Matched Makeup by Richard Hudnut - 1930s vintage magazine ad / 1930s vintage makeup ad.

Source: eBay

1937 Avon Cosmetics advertisement…”Gifts you friends will love”.

Fun Liz fact: I sold Avon in the 90s but I did a horrible job and I only bought them which made me no money. Ha!

1937 AVON COSMETICS advertisement. Fun 1930s makeup ad.

Source: eBay

1939 Pond’s Ad: “Now Fashion Says: “Be Feminine”. Pond’s answers with 4 soft Summer Shades of powders”

1930s vintage makeup ad: Pond's Ad: Four New Summer Shades of Pond's Powder ! from 1939 featuring a young woman in a late 1930s evening gown with a young man and then at the beach in a late 1930s bathingsuit.

Source: eBay

“Matched spring make-up….Dorothy Gray Portrait Make-Up Set”.

I love the 1940s hairstyle on the illustrated woman showing off the lipstick, face powder & rouge.

Source: Pinterest

“Soprano over the Atlantic”- A 1944 DuBarry advertisement.

During WW2 when the Women went to work on the Homefront or abroad, maintaining a beautiful look was considered mandatory. This started with red lipstick.

“Miss Damant is doing a man’s job for the duration (air traffic control). But she’s keeping pretty and womanly as ever with DuBarry Beauty Preparations”. “She is shown here wearing “Rose Cerise”, that exciting DuBarry Lipstick keyed to Spring’s new costume colors”.

Further Reading: World War 2 Women’s Contributions & Homefront Posts

1940s vintage makeup advertisement / 1940s vintage ad featuring a woman during WW2 working as an Air Traffic Controller while wearing makeup by DuBarry.

Source: eBay

1940s vintage ad: Pond’s face powder and lipstick.

Another cute 1940s vintage hairstyle example as well.

1940s vintage advertisement for lipstick and face powder from ponds featuring an illustration of a 1940s woman with a 1940s hairstyle

“Revlon’s Fashion Plate Cream Wafer”. 1948 make-up ad featuring a very fashionable model in the style of the “Dior New Look“.

1948 Revlon Make-Up Vintage Ad for cream foundation you just use your fingers to apply. The image features a woman in late 1940s dress and hairstyle. Very much the "Dior New Look".

Source: Etsy-PlentifulPages

“2 make you twice as lovely”. “Make-up Cake + Powder..Shade-Matched…Both in one box. New Jergens Twin Make-up”. 1940s magazine advertisement.

1940’s Jergens Twin Cake Makeup Cosmetic Beauty Magazine Ad

Source: eBay

1950s makeup advertisement for ‘Madam Walker Cosmetics’ featuring makeup for darker skins tones.

INTERESTING FACT: Madam C.J. Walker looms large among Black pioneers. She was a sharp businesswoman in the late 1800s and early 1900s, becoming the country’s first self-made female millionaire after turning her beauty / hair-care company into an empire—employing up to 20,000 sales agents and opening an eponymous manufacturing company in Indianapolis in 1910 (source).

1950s vintage makeup ad for women with darker skin tones featuring a Black model with her makeup from Madam Walker Cosmetics.

Source: vintagehairstyling.com

1950’s Solitair “Moisture Miracle Make-up” contest ad. “Your vote will help choose Campana’s College Beauty Queen”. The winner will then go on a 10 day trip to the luxurious Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Hawaii. WOW!

What Beauty Queen would you have voted for?

1950's Solitair "Moisture Miracle Make-up" contest ad. "Your vote will help choose Campana's College Beauty Queen". 1950s vintage makeup advertisement

Source: eBay

1954 Angel Face by Pond’s. “Today’s #1 make-up-in two glorious Summer shades!”

I was drawn to the fun polka-dots in this ad and just had to add it.

1950s Makeup Ad / 1950s vintage advertisement for Angel Face by Ponds-Face Powder.

Source: Etsy-PlentifulPages

If you needed a little extra money you could always sell the makeup you wear, as seen in this Lucky Heart cosmetics 1950s (possibly early 1960s) advertisement.

“Lucky Heart “Color-Keyed” Cosmetics can bring you $65 to $250 extra, regularly!”

Further Reading: The Vintage Advertisements for “Work from Home!” Jobs

Source: vintagehairstyling.com

Do you need help with your vintage makeup look? Then look no further then the following tutorials booklets you can buy right now (note: they are in PDF format, so you can start working on your makeup right away)!

“1940 The New Art of Make-Up” booklet. Inside includes instructions from Max Factor on applying makeup which is demonstrated by some of the popular actresses of the time such as Ida Lupino and Eleanor Powell.

1940s Vintage Makeup Instructions: "1940 The New Art of Make-Up" booklet. Inside includes instructions from Max Factor on applying makeup which is demonstrated by some of the popular actresses of the time such as Ida Lupino and Eleanor Powell. Fantastic vintage 1940s hairstyles on the cover.

Source: Etsy-livydarling

“Glamorize Yourself the Hollywood Yay..Make-up-and LIVE!” 1953 beauty tip booklet that includes guidance on skincare and make-up as well as some information on nailcare and haircare.

1950s Vintage Makeup: "Glamorize Yourself the Hollywood Yay..Make-up-and LIVE!" 1953 beauty tip booklet.

Source: Etsy-livydarling

What a fun post to put together! And so many advertisements, I might have to break this post down in the future into various categories (like just lipstick or hair products).

Please share in the comments section below what you favourite ad was, or any fun stories / memories you might have around this topic. I love hearing from my readers!

Further Reading: Vintage Advertising 1920s-1960s (archived posts)

Thank you for dropping by!

Liz

This weekend I was with a group of friends and one of them mentioned that they would love to see a “Terrazzo flooring” post. This is a much bigger research project but for today I thought it would be fun to focus on vintage advertising for all types of “Flooring” from the 1930’s to the 1960’s.

1960 Flintkote Floors Vintage Ad featuring various early 1960s people posing with their floors.

1960s Flintkote fashion floors. Source: Etsy-Plentiful Pages

Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy , eBay are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

NOTE: If you click on any of the items featured below and they are not available, don’t fret! Hit the search button and see what else is on the websites. There are 1000’s and 1000’s of items being listed daily.

Vintage Flooring Advertising 1930s-1960s

1940s vintage ad for Armstrong’s Linoleum Flooring, featuring cool flooring ideas for when you turn that “unused attic into a one-room apartment”.

How big is that attic?

Further Reading: One of my top blog posts is entitled, “The Beautiful World of 1940s Linoleum Flooring” and features a bevy of fantastic flooring ads. Please take a look after your done with this post.

1940s vintage ad for 'Armstrong's Linoleum Flooring' featuring cool flooring ideas for when you turn that "unused attic into a one-room apartment".

Source: Etsy-Plentiful Pages

1937 Armstrong’s Linoleum Floors ad featuring “Five Rooms In ONE!”.

“It’s a study, a den, a sewing room, a fitting room and a guest room”.

1930s vintage ad: 1937 Armstrong’s Linoleum Floors advertisement featuring "Five Rooms In ONE!". Super vintage home interior design ideas.

Source: American Century Shop

1951 Amtico Rubber Flooring, featuring a stylish early 1950s bedroom and hallway.

“Tommi Parzinger calls Amtico Rubber Flooring “Designer’s Delight!” (he was a designer).

1951 AMTICO RUBBER FLOORING Vintage ad featuring images of early 1950s bedroom and hallway flooring.

Source: Etsy-KristensVintagePaper

“Splash away, Betty! Congoleum Rugs like water”. This ad is from the March, 1933 McCall’s magazine.

1930s vintage ad: 1933 Congoleum Gold Seal Rugs Vintage Flooring Advertisement.

Source: Etsy-Plentiful Pages

I LOVE THIS MID-CENTURY ROOM in this 1961 Armstrong vinyl floors ad!

What a fun party area to spend time with friends in while listening to records or having a drink at the bar and then relaxing on the leopard print sofa. Special shoutout to the record player screen and the tiki themed decor.

1960s vintage floor ad for Armstrong Vinyl Floors from 1960. What a fun party area to spend time with friends in while listening to records or having a drink at the bar and then relaxing on the leopard print sofa. Special shoutout to the record player screen and the tiki themed decor.

Source: Etsy-KristensVintagePaper

‘Kentile Vinyl’ floor ad from Better Homes and Gardens magazine, Spring 1959. “Metallic Chip – adds the glitter of gold to luxurious solid vinyl”.

1950s Vintage Advertisement: 'Kentile Vinyl' floor ad from Better Homes and Gardens magazine, Spring 1959 featuring a fashionable 1950s couple

Source: Etsy-MidCenturyPrintAds

1947 Kentile Asphalt Tile advertisement featuring flooring ideas for your basement or a classroom (the basement party / game room looks fun!).

1940s vintage floor ad: 1947 Kentile Asphalt Tile Vintage Ad featuring flooring ideas for your basement or even a school classroom.

Source: Etsy-Plentiful Pages

Hello Mid-Century Family Room! If you watched Mad Men, this feels like some place Don Draper would of lived.

1968 Armstrong Vinyl Flooring ad.

1960s vintage floor ad from 1968 for Armstrong vinyl floor featuring a mid century family room / living room. Super vintage home decor & home design inspiration.

Source: Etsy-Plentiful Pages

“Thank your Stars Your Hair is Silver Gray”. 1941 Alexander Smith Rugs vintage ad.

“This is a room for a woman with silver-gray hair. She doesn’t just in it. She “wears” it-and it makes her radiant. For this is is a new idea in decoration-rooms created to flatter your hair and skin and eyes. It’s called Colorama…..”

Liz note: I am going white haired very quickly (have been since 16) and this 1940s vintage hairstyle on our model is fantastic inspiration for my next stage in life.

1940s Vintage Flooring Ad from 1941 for Alexander Smith Rugs featuring a woman with silver gray hair 1940s hairstyle posing in front of her livingroom with green carpet and yellow furniture.

Source: Etsy-Plentiful Pages

You can never have enough game room floor and interior design ideas. This is from a 1957 Armstrong Plastic Flooring ad and features not only a cool floor, but a pool table, bar, piano AND an indoor firepit (to the far left). How awesome is this room?!

1950s vintage floor ad: You can never have enough game room floor and interior design ideas. This is from a 1957 Armstrong Plastic Flooring ad and features not only a cool floor, but a pool table, bar, piano AND an indoor firepit (to the far left). How awesome is this room?!

Source: Etsy-KristensVintagePaper

Vintage ceramic flooring 1950s ad featuring the stunning modernist design of Harwell Hamilton Harris.

Further Reading: 1950s / 1960s Outdoor Patio Furniture Ideas

Source: Etsy-MidCenturyPrintAds

1941 SEALEX Linoleum Floors ad featuring a very posh dining room with a green linoleum floor. The ad also includes a wall covering interior design note.

Further Reading: Vintage Wallpaper Ideas from a 1940 Montgomery Ward Catalog & B e Inspired! Vintage Photos of Wallpaper Designs in Mid Century Homes

1940s Vintage Floor Ad: 1941 SEALEX Linoleum Floors ad featuring a very posh dining room with a green linoleum floor. The ad also includes a wall covering interior design note.

Source: Etsy-KristensVintagePaper

“A new floor in minutes!…just roll it out! Beautiful!…sanitary!…easy to clean!”.

Gold Seal Congoleum Rugs 1955 advertisement.

1950s vintage flooring advertisement for Gold Seal Congoleum Riugs 1955 featuring images of different rugs you could buy for your 1950s home.

Source: Etsy-Plentiful Pages

I loved doing this post, I just enjoy seeing how homes looked in all the different time periods (big fan of the 1950s and 1960’s mid-century interior designs).

What vintage ad did you enjoy? Or floor / design idea? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Further Reading: Vintage Home Decor / Interior Design archived blogs posts from the 1920s-1960s

Thanks for dropping by!

Liz

Category: Vintage Advertising

Vintage Makeup Advertisements 1920s-1950s

Vintage Flooring Advertising 1930s-1960s