British Icons & Catwalk Royalty
British Beauty has been largely influenced by the “it girls” of the decade, from Hollywood glamazon Marilyn Monroe in the 1950s, to more homegrown icons in the 60s and beyond. Here are the British style icons who best captured the make-up trends of the decade.
1960s - Twiggy
The sixties look was all about the mod look, with heavy focus on a bold eye. Fluttery lashes and thick black liner was an absolute must, as was a rather large amount of hairspray.
1970s - Jane Birkin
As the slick, shiny mod look lost pace, it was quickly replaced with the hippy era of the seventies. Long, tousled hair, natural skin and perhaps a touch of bronzer or shimmer for that glowing look.
1980s - David Bowie
Ok, probably not who you were expecting as an icon of makeup, but David Bowie perfectly encapsulates the glam eighties look. Pale foundation with a bold lip and eyeshadow, particularly bright colours like fuschia and purple.
1990s - Kate Moss
The nineties brought with it a trend for grungy, darker makeup trends. Gone were the pinks and purples of the eighties, instead it was all about earth-toned lipsticks and the smoky eye.
2000s - Girls Aloud
From grunge to cutesy, the noughties was all about the fresh-faced, girl-next-door look. Glossy lips and rosy cheeks were in, earth-tones were most definitely out.
2010s - Emilia Clarke
The most recent decade saw the rise of contouring and matte lipstick, creating a flawless, sculpted almost airbrushed look.
What does the next decade have in store for makeup trends? We can guarantee it won’t be boring, that’s for sure!Bold Brows
Track British Beauty through the decades and there’s one ever-changing trend… the brow. From the caterpillar brows of the 80s to the over-plucked arches of the 90s, we’ve gone from one extreme to the other. In 2020, we’re thankfully enjoying more of a natural look, courtesy of Cara Delevigne, which is just as well really, with trips to the brow bar off the cards for the foreseeable future!
Salon Skincare
In the UK, we love bringing salon skincare into our homes, with less emphasis on having professional spa treatments as some of our European counterparts. Of course, that doesn’t mean we’re willing to sacrifice on quality!
Elemis
The UK’s top anti-ageing skincare brand, Elemis combines science and nature to create products that deeply nourish and improve the skin. Using plant-based botanical extracts from around the globe, their award winning skincare is heavenly for all skin types.
REN Clean Skincare
Sustainably sourced and packaged, REN Clean Skincare places as much focus on their ethics as producing quality products. With skincare for even the most sensitive of skin types, it's no surprise they’ve been a household name since 2000.
Aromatherapy Associates
British women as a whole love essential oils, whether it be lavender for relaxation, tea tree for healing or rosemary for energizing. Aromatherapy Associates use these oils to create sensual fragrances and skincare products that bring the spa experience to you.
Discover other British skincare, bath and body brands such as Molton Brown and NEOM.
Prestige Perfumes
Although there may not be a standardised perception of beauty across our country, one thing we can say for sure about the Great British Public is that we adore a good fragrance. England may not be the country most often associated with high-end perfumes, our neighbours across the channel take that prize, but London is home to a number of world-renowned, designer perfume brands.
Floris
Creating handcrafted fragrances since 1730, Floris is a British, family-run perfumery which still operates from their original establishment at 89 Jermyn Street, London. Having provided fragrances for names including Winston Churchill, Marilyn Monroe and Princess Diana, the brand is well-respected across the world. As a firm favourite of the James Bond writer, Ian Fleming, Floris No.89 is even worn by 007 himself in various books.
Penhaligon’s
With its flagship store in Covent Garden, Penhaligon’s has created perfumes for London’s best and brightest since the 1860s. Started by William Henry Penhaligon, a barber who created his own products for his customers, the perfumer quickly became a respected name in prominent circles, eventually becoming the official perfumer of Queen Victoria. Although the brand is no longer UK owned, it will forever remain quintessentially British. Try Penhaligon’s Quercus, an allbeauty favourite.
Creed
Originally established as a tailoring house, Creed was founded by James Henry Creed in London in 1760, but has only been creating perfumes for the past 45 years. It’s widely understood that the perfumes are created by two noses, Olivier Creed and his son Erwin Creed from their base in Paris. There is much mystery surrounding Creed, but what we know for sure is that they create phenomenal perfumes, including Green Irish Tweed, Aventus and Aventus For Her.
Discover other British perfume brands such as Miller Harris, Dunhill and Burberry.
British Brands, Naturally
In recent years, British Beauty has seen the rise of ethical and organic producers who offer a range of products that prioritise quality, local ingredients, cruelty free practices and sustainable manufacturing. We’re delighted to stock many of these certified organic brands at allbeauty, including haircare brand Smith England, Noble Isle, Cowshed and Neal’s Yard Remedies.
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