How to Recreate Stunning 1920 Makeup: A Flapper Girl-Inspired Tutorial

Let’s take a little trip back in time to the glamorous 1920s—an era of jazz, bold fashion, and makeup that made a statement. If you’re into romantic, sultry eyes and glowy skin, you’re going to love this look. Inspired by the classic flapper girl vibe, this 1920 makeup tutorial is all about drama, shimmer, and vintage glam. I wore it to a Great Gatsby-themed party with my fiancé and, no joke, people could not stop raving about it!

Why I’m Obsessed with 1920 Makeup

So here’s the scoop. Last weekend, I went full flapper at a Gatsby party and wore this exact makeup look. After posting photos on social, a ton of you asked for a tutorial. Honestly, it was one of the most fun nights ever, and this makeup made me feel like a total vintage queen. Think smoky burgundy eyes, glowy cheeks, and a glossy pout. This post is your step-by-step guide to recreating that magic—with everything from ish Cosmetics, a brand I recently tried and now totally love.

Starting with the Skin: Let’s Get That Glow

I kicked things off with the ish Probiotic Tinted Moisturizer. Real talk—I wasn’t sure about it at first. It comes out white and I was like, “Uh, this can’t be right.” But once you start blending it, it adapts to your skin tone like magic. It’s not full coverage, but it surprised me with how well it evened everything out.

For a 1920 makeup look, a smooth, natural base is everything. This product gave me just enough coverage to blur imperfections while still looking like skin. I didn’t have ish concealer or bronzer, so I used my own, but the rest is all ish.

1920 Makeup: Eye Makeup That Brings the Drama

Here’s where things really come to life. The eyes are the showstopper in this 1920 makeup look.

Step 1: Build Your Base

I started with the natural matte eye trio—super simple but so good. I used the nude shade in my crease as a soft transition. It’s the kind of color you can wear every day and it blends like a dream.

Step 2: Deepen It Up

Next, I grabbed the chocolate brown from the same palette and layered it into the crease and outer corner. I kept it low to keep the look sultry and avoid overwhelming the eye.

Then came the fun part—burgundy! I used the burgundy eye trio and went in with the matte burgundy shade. This gave me all the vintage feels. Rich, bold, and totally flapper-inspired. If you love burgundy tones like I do, you’re going to obsess over this palette.

Step 3: Shimmer and Shine

Now for the magic touch: Mystic Maroon liquid eyeshadow. Holy moly—it’s gorgeous. I swiped it across my lids and it gave me that perfect metallic shimmer. Super opaque, super easy, and totally wow-worthy.

To add even more dimension, I used the Love Spell cream shadow on top. It’s a warm brown with this beautiful shimmer that gives so much depth. I used a concealer brush and patted it over the dried liquid shadow. Blending was a breeze, and it really gave me that glamorous, layered look.

For that classic halo eye effect, I tapped a little on the inner corners too. Watching The Great Gatsby the night before had me all inspired—those vintage eye looks were everything.

Subtle Liner with a Modern Twist

I didn’t want anything too bold, so I used the ish winged eyeliner in black just along my upper lash line. No dramatic wing, just a soft line to define the eyes. It’s got a slim felt tip that makes it easy to control, which I love.

Then I tight-lined my upper waterline with a black pencil—just to give my lashes a little extra pop.

Smoky Lower Lash Line Vibes

Using a flat brush, I smudged Love Spell along my lower lash line. It tied everything together and gave that smoky, flirty finish. I brought it all the way to the inner corner for a complete, cohesive look.

1920 Makeup: Let’s Talk Lashes

The ish Elevated Lash Mascara is everything. The wand is slim and precise, which is perfect if you tend to poke yourself in the eye with bigger brushes (guilty). It’s got aloe in it too, which is a nice little bonus.

This mascara gave me super long, fluttery lashes—especially on the bottom. I skipped falsies this time because the mascara really did the job, but if you want to go all-out Gatsby, falsies would definitely add some extra drama.

Time to Glow: Highlighter Moment

The ish Lavish Highlighting Palette is full of glowy goodness. I used the shade “Mesmerized,” a soft peachy-pink that looks amazing on the skin. I applied it to my cheekbones, nose, and cupid’s bow. It melts into the skin and gives that dreamy, candlelit glow that’s perfect for this vintage-inspired look.

Soft, Sexy Lips to Finish It Off

For the lips, I started with ish lip liner in “O Laa”—a gorgeous rosy terracotta nude. On top, I dabbed on the Noble lipstick, which is a peachy nude, and then topped it off with the Glow Hydra Gloss for a little extra shine.

The combo is soft, romantic, and so wearable—even if you’re not going full flapper.

The Final Flapper Touch

To finish the whole thing, I threw on a flapper-style headband I found on Amazon. It’s not necessary, but it really brought the look together. With or without it, this 1920 makeup look is pure glam.

Quick Recap: 1920 Makeup Steps

• Prep the skin with a transforming tinted moisturizer
• Use natural mattes for your transition and crease
• Layer burgundy shadows for drama
• Add Mystic Maroon liquid shadow for metallic shine
• Top with Love Spell cream shadow for depth
• Line softly along the upper lash line
• Smoke out the lower lash line
• Lengthen lashes with Elevated Lash Mascara
• Highlight with Mesmerized for a glowy finish
• Rosy nude lips to complete the look
• Optional flapper headband for full vintage vibes

1920 Makeup: Final Thoughts

There’s something so special about 1920 makeup—it’s bold yet elegant, dramatic yet wearable. Whether you’re heading to a themed party or just want to switch things up, this look delivers all the glam with none of the stress.

Give it a try, and don’t forget to tag me if you do! You don’t need an occasion to channel a little old-school beauty. Sometimes, getting glammed up for the fun of it is the best feeling in the world.