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

1950s & 1960s Vintage Vacation Photos: From sandy beaches to historic landmarks, each photograph tells a unique story and I am excited to share them with you today!

NOTE: This post is a part 4 of a series I started, which you can check out below.

Say Cheese! 1960s vintage photo of a couple taking pictures with their camera's while on vacation with dark skies behind them.

Source: Etsy-UncleDavesGarage

Liz Note: I’m off to Spain next week with the hubby to meetup with friends who are there for work and I cannot wait. Follow me on Instagram to see all the sunny fun!

1950s vintage vacation photo of a group of people posing in front of a large mountain covered in snow.

Source: Etsy-therescuedphoto

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.

1950s & 1960s Vintage Vacation Photos

1960s vintage photo: Visit to Bermuda must include everyone picking up the same souvenir purses – March 1960. How cute are these ladies?

1960s vintage vacation photo of 3 stylish Black Women holding Bermuda souvenir straw purses

Source: Etsy-JakeRoebucks

The next two images are from Vogue France, featuring vintage vacation photos from Capri Italy (technically set in the 1940s, but close enough to the 1950s for this post).

1940s photo (Ralph Crane): Three people lounging in a stunning Capri garden complete with a beautiful floral wall and a cute Patio Furniture set in 1949.

1940s vintage photo of a 3 people sitting in a garden by a large patio umbrella in Capri Italy in 1949. Vintage Vacation Photo

The Streets of Capri, 1958. OMG the Clothes are stunning!

P.S. Do you spot the 1950s circle skirt? I JUST did a post on Juli Lynne Charlot-The Creator of the Poodle Skirt / Circle Skirt so it’s cool to see the trend in Italy.

1950s vintage vacation photo of a street seen in 1958 of Capri Italy featuring people walking around in 1950s fashions.

Pool time! 1950s vintage photo of a woman in an adorable 1950s swimsuit posing at the pool at her Florida hotel.

Further Reading: Vintage Images of Swimming Pool Life!

1950s vintage photo of a woman in a 1950s bathing suit posing at her Florida hotel pool -vintage vacation photo & 1950s fashion

Source: eBay

At one time souvenir photos were very popular, like this one from the 1960s for ‘Gold Coast Cruises’ (Miami Beach, Florida).

Further Reading: Vintage 1950s Travel Brochures & Pamphlets

1960s vintage souvenir photo for Gold Coast Cruises featuring an image of a Black Woman happily posing on the boat while on vacation. Fun vintage vacation photo.

1960s vintage souvenir photo for Gold Coast Cruises -Vintage Travel Brochure

Source: Etsy-JakeRoebucks

1954 Guanajuato Mexico. A woman in an pretty 1950s dress, poses casually on a wall.

Source: eBay

1960s Photo: Were you really at ‘Mohave Point’ if you never took a picture at Mohave Point (Grand Canyon)? This 1960s couple did and even styled their outfits to match. Ha!

1960s vintage photo of a couple on vacation and posing at the Mohave point sign in 1960s fashions. -Vintage Vacation photo-

Source: Etsy-therescuedphoto

1950s photo: When your on vacation eating food you don’t typically eat at home is a big thing people do, like our 1950s family below. They are enjoying a wonderful buffet on their family vacation in a tropical location (cute Hawaiian shirt on our young man).