The iconic blue eyeshadow look is bold, unapologetic and endlessly reinvented. Once a staple look during the sixties, its electric hues have transcended trends to become a symbol of fearless self-expression. Whether washed over the lids in a dreamy pastel or smeared on in a punky metallic, blue eyeshadow proves that some beauty statements are simply timeless.
A Staple of its Time
For many, the thought of blue eyeshadow is synonymous with the swinging sixties. The cultural decade was the start of the second wave of feminism, which at the time consisted of scandalously high hemlines and the revolutionary invention of contraceptive pills. As women swiped on their baby blue shadow, there was an energy in the air. One of hope for a more liberated future.
But do you know where the idea of blue eyeshadow really originated from?
The concept of eyeshadow actually dates back to ancient Egypt. Men and women would cover their eyelids with mineral powders to prevent and ward off bacterial infections. However, it wasn’t nearly as iconic as it was back then as it is today. For that we have Elizabeth Taylor to thank. It was her role as Cleopatra, in the movie “Cleopatra,” when she first adorned the blue lid. Since then the rest has been history.
“Blue’s Your Color”
However, blue eyeshadow did not reach its iconic status without a fight. For decades, it has been written off as tacky and garish. Often associated with outdated beauty trends, over the top glamour and more insidiously, the stigmatization of sex work. The color quickly became shorthand for a kind of femininity that mainstream culture deemed to be “too much.” If a woman was seen wearing blue eyeshadow she was thought to be hanging onto ideas of beauty that did not uphold the more conservative and “proper” feminine norms.
“This woman that used to walk the streets had all this makeup and hair, high heel shoes. I thought she was so beautiful. And everybody used to say, ‘Oh, she ain’t nothin’ but trash.’ And I used to say, ‘Well that’s what I’m gonna be when I grow up trash!’” -Dolly Parton
But beauty is cyclical and what was once dismissed is now being reclaimed. We are seeing more and more celebrities, makeup artists and fashion icons wearing the vibrant hue, transforming it into a statement of confidence, creativity, and self expression. Creative minds such as Billy Porter, Chappell Roan and the makeup artists on Euphoria’s bold looks have helped reframe blue eyeshadow as something that is high fashion and avant-garde, rather than tacky. No longer a symbol of ridicule, blue eyeshadow is now a statement of confidence, self expression and the rejection of outdated beauty hierarchies.
It’s More Than Just an Eyeshadow
Blue eyeshadow is more than a cosmetic choice. It’s a cultural statement. So often it is dismissed now as a relic of a past era or a daring misstep. However, the fact that this look never truly goes away and always has a resurgence signals something deeper. The unapologetic embrace of self expression. From the sixties soft baby blue, to the electric tones of the eighties this color choice defies the expectation of neutral, “wearable” shades proving that makeup is not just about enhancement but rather individuality. In a world that often dictates how beauty should look, a sweep of blue across the lids is a quiet rebellion, playful, confident and entirely one’s own.
Feeling inspired to rock that baby blue lid? If so, tag us on Instagram, @VALLEYmag, with a selfie of your blue look!
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