A 70s makeup look built around the face and lips focuses on warm, glowing skin, a cheek color that evokes a tan, and glossy rather than matte lips: three elements that together recreate the mood of the era without the need for elaborate eye makeup. This guide follows these three steps, from copper highlighter to finishing gloss, and deliberately leaves out eye makeup, because it falls outside the range of products we cover here.
- Warm, glowing skin is the starting point before adding any color to the cheeks or lips.
- Highlighter in the Copper shade works best on medium or tanned skin, applied with a light touch to the cheekbones.
- A warm-toned blush and clear gloss complete the look, leaving eye makeup for a separate routine or tutorial.
Two sides of 70s makeup: disco glow and hippie style
When people talk about 70s makeup, they are actually referring to two different aesthetics, and it helps to distinguish between them before choosing products. At the discos of the era, dancers went for makeup with glitter, sequins, and gold lamé outfits, designed to shine under the dance-floor lights (source: Disco – Wikipedia). At the same time, hippie culture embraced a much more natural, informal style: people who were part of it often wore flowers in their hair, a habit that gave rise to the name “flower children” (source: Hippie – Wikipedia). A third reference, shared by both aesthetics, is the tanned, glowing look made famous by Farrah Fawcett, with her hair lightened with lemon: even today, it’s one of the looks most often mentioned when people talk about the “70s glow” (source: Farrah Fawcett – Wikipedia). This article picks up on the common thread running through disco, hippie style, and the 70s glow—warm, glowing skin—and leaves aside the bold eye makeup that often distinguishes the two aesthetics from each other.
The base: glowing skin before adding color
Before choosing highlighter, blush, or gloss, it’s best to start with your complexion. The historical reference is skin that looks tanned and glowing rather than covered or matte, and this applies to both disco glow and hippie style. An even base that stays close to your natural undertone is what lets highlighter and blush read as a glow on the face, rather than as obvious makeup applied on top. There’s no need to change your foundation just for a themed party: if your usual shade is well blended, you can build the rest of the look right on top of it.
How to use copper highlighter for a bronzed effect
The step that most defines this 70s makeup look is highlighter in the Copper shade, designed for medium or tanned skin: its warm copper tone adds warmth to the complexion when applied to the cheekbones. A very small amount can also be applied to the shoulders or collarbone for a subtle glow that evokes the party spirit without becoming overpowering. The texture blends easily over foundation and lasts through the evening, so it’s best to start with a little product and add more if needed rather than applying too much from the outset.
Where to apply it for a natural look
For an effect that evokes the 70s glow without looking like makeup added on top, apply highlighter to the highest part of the cheekbones, where light naturally falls on the face, and blend it toward the temples with a clean brush or your fingers. If you want to apply it to your shoulders or collarbone too, use a tiny amount: the goal is a reflection of light, not an area that looks visibly darker than the rest of your skin.
How much product to use the first time
The first time you try this shade, pick up a small amount and apply it in layers, checking the result in natural light before adding more. Since the texture blends easily, it’s simpler to build up the color later than to correct an application that’s too heavy from the start.
Warm cheeks: the color that completes the glow
After highlighter, the next step is a cheek color in the same warm tones, rather than one that competes with it. A peach or coral blush, such as Sunset Rose, pairs well with the copper tone of the highlighter and keeps the face cohesive within a single color palette. Applied to the apples of the cheeks and blended toward the temples, it gives the impression of a sun-warmed flush rather than visibly layered makeup. If you prefer a lighter result, you can start with a little and add more gradually, checking the effect in natural light before continuing.
Glossy lips to finish the look
The final step in the “70s makeup” look is the lips: gloss completes the combination of skin, cheeks, and lips without the need for a defined lip line or matte lipstick, keeping the look soft. If you’re also wearing highlighter on your cheekbones, a clearer gloss keeps the face from looking too shiny overall: often, a light layer of product is enough. During an evening of dancing or eating, keep in mind that gloss wears off faster than lipstick, so you may need to reapply it several times during the party.
What this guide doesn’t cover: 70s eye makeup
The most popular 70s tutorials online often focus on bold eyeshadow or graphic eyeliner: this guide doesn’t cover that part, because it falls outside the range of face and lip products described here. If you want to complete the look around your eyes too, you can follow your usual routine or a tutorial dedicated to that specific topic; this article focuses on the skin, cheeks, and lips.
Ready for a 70s-themed party
The steps covered so far—glowing skin, copper highlighter, warm blush, and gloss—are enough to create a look that fits the 70s aesthetic on the face and lips, whether you want to evoke disco glow or hippie style. The easiest place to start is the copper highlighter used in this article, because it sets the color temperature for the rest of the makeup.
If you’re comparing other party looks, you can also check out the guide to 1920s makeup inspired by the Charleston style or the one about 90s makeup with darkly outlined lips. If you prefer a glossier, Y2K aesthetic, you can start with the guide to 2000s makeup. All the occasion-themed guides are collected in the blog index.