A collection of vintage makeup colour charts and application guides from the 1930s. As can be seen, makeup colours were limited during this decade. Even so, products were often co-ordinated into colour groups. This was designed to help women decide which shades would be best for them based on their hair colouring, skin tone or eye colour. Costume colour would also be a deciding factor in what makeup shades to wear.
Makeup Colours of the 1930s
1932
Extracts from a beauty book by Virginia Vincent, simply called “Makeup”.
The face powder colours available from Max Factor. As you can see, they were all pink and pale.
1934
This makeup chart shows the limited colours that were available.
1936
Covermark was a concealing product by Lydia O’Leary. It was designed to cover blemishes, veins, birthmarks, and any other aspects one wanted to conceal. It could be used on the face and body.
The Elizabeth Arden colour charts are from about 1936-7, but the exact date is unknown. The V&A Museum acquired the book in December 1937 and estimated the publication date to be 1936.
Colours from a 1936 Avon catalogue.
1937
1938
Makeup charts organised into “colour harmony” groups.
Part of a Maybelline advert from Silver Screen magazine (December 1938) showing some of their latest products and colour options.
1939
Max Factor’s Pan-Cake was initially developed in 1935 for the requirements of Technicolor film. Actresses loved it so much that they took it from the studios to use at home for personal use. Max Factor saw the potential and, with a few tweaks to better suit everyday usage, released it to the public a few years later.
I’m impressed by the colours they had – I didn’t think it would be as many. Lovely to see thanks.
Thanks Jan ?