12 Celebrity Beauty Looks From The '70s That Everyone Remembers To This Day

The '70s were an iconic time for beauty, and celebrities helped lead the way when it came to the latest trends. From heavy blush and colorful eyeshadow to glossy and frosty lipsticks, the era was all about having fun and experimenting with loud, bold beauty. Several eye-catching looks that stars rocked on TV, in magazines, and on the red carpet have stood the test of time too, because they're still living rent-free in our heads today.

There was Fleetwood Mac singer-songwriter Stevie Nicks' light eyeshadow and boho hair, which ensured all eyes were on her, while model Jane Birkin's signature dramatic lower lashes and bangs cemented her as a trendsetter. And how could we forget singer Donna Summer's notoriously colorful makeup palette that was totally disco? It's impossible to forget these celeb looks — whether you were there or not. They underscored the most popular beauty trends of the '70s and defined the decade.

Blondie musician Debbie Harry adopted one of the most notorious beauty looks of the '70s. During a 1978 performance in London, the star underscored her signature grungy-yet-glam look with a silver smoky eye (metallic shadows were a major trend) featuring very dark outer corners and strong, structured eyebrows. She added frosty pink lipstick (another '70s staple). "She comes alive when she has that classic look. There's this personality that comes out," her longtime makeup artist Miss Guy told Refinery29. 

Though the star has since adopted a more modern approach to makeup, her edgy '70s look — anchored by her bright blond, choppy, and slightly unkempt hair — is still admired today. "Debbie Harry is flawless from head to tail. She epitomizes gorgeous rocker women of the late 70s for me. And don't forget she's an ultra mega HAIR INSPIRATION!" one Reddit user wrote in 2014.

Model Beverly Johnson was all about trendy makeup when she made history in 1974 as the first African American woman to appear on the cover of American Vogue. Johnson wore her hair in voluminous curls and applied shiny, metallic gold eyeshadow on her lids, demonstrating the rise of metallic and disco-influenced makeup. She paired it with trendy, glossy, burnt-orange lipstick and well-defined lip liner. She also wore orange blush (orange products were also a '70s makeup staple), which looked gorgeous against her dark complexion. But this look sticks in the public's memory for a far more important reason than just how well she abided by the decade's biggest trends.

Johnson told Vogue there weren't many notable Black makeup artists or hairstylists who were on hand to help her with her look in the '70s. She also revealed there were few foundation shades for people of color, which made her glowing skin and perfectly lined lips all the more impressive. She didn't confirm if she did her own makeup during this shoot; she told People it was far from uncommon for her to be her own makeup artist and hairstylist until she started working with Black makeup artist Joey Mills.

When Johnson celebrated the milestone 50 years later on Instagram, the impact her cover had was clear. "My Mom had this magazine. She was an 'Essence' subscriber, but she had this. Thank you for walking through those doors," one Instagram user wrote. "I remember this epic 'VOGUE' cover," another confirmed, recalling looking up to the model as she broke down barriers.

Anjelica Huston's 1975 Oscars look demonstrated peak '70s style. "The Addams Family" actor wore frosty, glossy red lipstick and bronzy eye shadow, which fit with the decade's penchant for sparkly, disco-inspired makeup. But what truly made Huston's beauty choices so memorable was how she turned her back on the era's major tan trend. When other celebs rocked golden glows on the red carpet, Huston proudly showed her fair complexion with no dusting of bronzer in sight. Not sticking too closely to trends and embracing her pale skin have since become part of Huston's signature look, and her dedication to standing out and embracing her true self continues to inspire.

Makeup artist Pati Dubroff used Huston's beauty aesthetic as inspiration for actor Dakota Johnson's makeup at the 2015 premiere of the movie "Black Mass." "I was going with a nod to the '70s [...] I was doing a lot of research online, looking at late '60s and early '70s makeup and the brunettes of that era, and I started seeing pictures of Jaclyn Smith and Anjelica Huston, who both were iconic beauties from that time," she told People.

Cher has undergone a complete transformation since the '60s, including multiple memorable beauty looks in the '70s. Few more so than her 1974 Grammy Awards aesthetic, though. The "Believe" singer fully embraced the decade's colorful eye trend with her purple eye shadow, which she paired with super long faux lashes, dramatic blush, and a glossy lip (also go-tos for the time). She also led the charge on superstraight locks. And we mean superstraight. Celebrity hairstylist and colorist Harry Josh told Refinery29 the singer and actor would sometimes use a clothes iron to straighten out her mane. This time, she highlighted her long, dark hair with a large, bedazzled butterfly clip, which matched the embellishment on her white dress.

The look clearly still lives rent-free in so many people's heads. It's become a popular Halloween costume, while multiple social media users have shared tutorials to recreate Cher's vibrant makeup. But the fun, feminine, and youthful aesthetic isn't the only reason this beauty vibe hasn't faded from memory over the decades. The "Mask" actor was seemingly looking to get noticed, which may also explain why she opted for such eye-catching shades and accessories. The 1974 Grammys marked her red carpet debut with record executive David Geffen following her split from her late husband, Sonny Bono.

Think of the late actor Farrah Fawcett, and you'll likely envisage her voluminous blond locks (one of the era's most notable haircuts) and girl-next-door makeup. The "Charlie's Angels" star was a firm fan of the '70s bronzed look and was often spotted with a healthy-looking glow. In one of her most notable photo shoots from 1975, Fawcett flashed a big smile with subtle, trendy orange blush on her cheeks, plus shiny, orangey-pink lips. She perfected the made-up yet still understated eye look too, as she wore trendy, light eye shadow with subtle eyeliner and mascara.

Fawcett's look has truly stood the test of time. Actor and model Olivia Culpo transformed into the star (complete with pastel shadow and light lips) during a 2015 photo shoot for Refinery29. "I love everything '70s right now and it's always been a dream to be made up to look like Farrah Fawcett," she said. Beauty experts have also touched on how iconic Fawcett's aesthetic was, particularly her full-bodied hair. "When I think of the 70s I think about flared jeans, Jane Birkin and of course Farrah Fawcett. She has perhaps one of the most memorable hair styles of all time," "Made in Chelsea" star Rosie Fortescue told The Standard.

During a 1970 photo shoot for Vogue, Jane Birkin's lashes and bangs took center stage. The British actor became notorious for her choppy, eyebrow-grazing bangs, so much so that the fringe style became known as Birkin bangs. It was also one of the hottest haircuts of winter 2023/2024. She seemingly wore a white eyeliner pencil in her waterline to help open up the eyes and make them pop for a doe-eyed look. Then there are Birkin's fluttery lower lashes, which she seemingly achieved via several coats of mascara. She kept the rest of her makeup simple, with subtle blush and lipstick that represented the '70s laid-back, hippie aesthetic.

People are still inspired by Birkin's bangs and lash combination today, with several social media users sharing beauty looks and tutorials mimicking her iconic aesthetic. But Birkin had her own inspiration. "I think I was just very typical of the times. I wanted to look like Jean Shrimpton, like everybody else—divine Jean Shrimpton. For me, I'm a copy of Jean Shrimpton and not as beautiful as Françoise Hardy; I look back on her photos and gasp!" she told Vogue.

During a 1976 Vogue photo shoot, supermodel Iman became the poster girl for colorful '70s makeup. The star wore heavy, vibrant purple eye shadow, with a lighter shade under her brow bone and a darker shade over her lid. She added deep pink blush and contour under her cheekbones, along with dark burgundy, glossy lips. The look was in keeping with many of the decade's biggest makeup trends, but perhaps the most impressive thing about Iman's look was her flawless foundation.

The iconic supermodel revealed in the book "The Beauty of Color: The Ultimate Beauty Guide for Skin of Color" that 1975 marked her first time wearing foundation. She recalled working with a makeup artist who mixed multiple shades to get her perfect color (via "Today"). After that, Iman was inspired to mix her own foundation while working as a model, after discovering other makeup artists expected her to bring her own products or use one of the few available shades.

Country music superstar Dolly Parton dressed up in Playboy Bunny-esque attire for a 1978 photo shoot — including a black bodysuit, pink sequin cuffs and a matching collar (with a bedazzled, white bow tie), plus black bunny ears. Her hair and makeup were just as memorable as her eye-catching 'fit, though. Parton tapped into the era's bold eye shadow trend with her pink lids, paired with deep, shiny pink lipstick and very heavy blush. Her signature blond hair was styled into a big, curly bouffant that fully embodied the era's love of massive hair. Also very much of the time? Parton's long, vampy red nails.

What makes this beauty look so memorable is that it was one of the appearances that marked the start of Parton's staple colorful, bold makeup look, which she's never deviated from. In fact, she's a celeb who very rarely (if ever) goes makeup-free and is almost always seen with colorful lids and vibrant lips. "When people started changin' their hair styles, I wasn't ready to quit — I just kept makin' it bigger and bigger," she told Rolling Stone in 1977. "But people come to expect that of me and I come to expect it of myself, the flashy clothes and jewelry and all the gaudy appearance. I guess I did invent that part of me," she added.

The Playboy Bunny beauty look became so iconic that Parton recreated it in 2023 and sold T-shirts with the image emblazoned on the front. Two years later, fellow country star Megan Moroney got in on the fun. She donned a tall wig and amped up her makeup to dress up as the icon during the risqué shoot for Halloween.

Stevie Nicks' transformation is a sight to see, and that includes the oh-so-1975 pastel eye shadow and textured, feathered hair she wore during a photo shoot. Back then, the Fleetwood Mac singer championed the light shadow trend via her pearly white eyeshadow, but put her own twist on the look by adding a darker, unblended purple shade above the crease. That tapped into the era's experimentation with cut creases. She skipped mascara on her lower lashes and instead applied several coats to her bottom lashes, where she'd smudged dark purple shadow. The star kept the rest of her makeup simple to make her eyes the focus, but ensured she stuck to the era's lipstick trend via her frosty pink shade. Coupled with her layered, choppy locks, Nicks truly embodied the '70s boho vibe.

A clip from 1977 shared on Instagram showed the "Go Your Own Way" hitmaker doing her own makeup before a Fleetwood Mac gig. It proved how the star's beauty look is still influencing fans today, as fashion designer Liz Lange, who shared the post, captioned it, "Despite the '70s styling, it feels modern to me." And there are plenty of ways to bring Nicks' signature look into 2026, too.

Musician Donna Summer certainly wasn't afraid of colorful makeup, so much so that her vibrant cosmetics made her aesthetic one of the most notable of the decade. During a 1978 photo shoot, she made a case for metallic green eyeliner, pink eye shadow, and a light glitter shadow under her brow. She packed on even more color with her hot pink blush (which she placed high on the cheekbone) and glossy red lipstick. Though the shades shouldn't work together, the "Hot Stuff" singer's confidence and fun songs ensured she pulled it off. The star also brought fun and drama with her textured hair, which she wore down with curly bangs.

Summer's beauty vibe screamed disco, which matched her predominantly upbeat music, and made her beauty impossible to forget. Summer's aesthetic is still so influential in the modern era that multiple TikTok tutorials are recreating her bold '70s aesthetic. On Reddit, one user even dubbed her "The Queen of the Disco era."

For an iconic 1975 photo shoot, Diana Ross sported one of her most iconic beauty looks to date, complete with multiple layers of voluminous, full lashes and an extra-large afro. The "I'm Coming Out" hitmaker appeared to have faux lashes on her upper and lower lash lines, plus lashings of black mascara. Ross purposefully left the inner corners of her eyes free from lashes, which created a more dramatic, open-eyed look. Though the black-and-white snaps from the time make it difficult to see the exact shades she opted for, Ross also seemingly wore frosty lipstick that shone in the studio lights, creating a beauty look that screamed disco drama.

Decades later, Ross' influential doe-eyed makeup look is still the topic of beauty articles, while bold lower lashes are an old-school trend from the '70s we'd love to see return. Her throwback look has also become regular content across social media, where there are multiple tutorials for getting her dramatic lashes. "Diana ross's spidery lashes >>>" one X user even posted in 2025, proving the world has far from forgotten this larger-than-life aesthetic.

Barbra Streisand became known for her sharp, precise eyeliner in the '70s. In the 1970 movie "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever," the actor and singer's thick, pointed black liner was front and center, creating a neat yet bold aesthetic that had everyone talking. She paired it with a cut crease (also known as an unblended line of eyeliner or eye shadow in the socket or just above), a spillover '60s trend that continued into the new decade. Streisand was another celebrity who applied plenty of mascara to her bottom lashes, and she seemingly opted for a nude, semi-glossy lip.

But while "The Way We Were" singer's look was very much of the time, it also bucked other '70s trends. She swapped dewy foundation (which rose to prominence in the decade) for matte and didn't tap into the decade's desire for disco-inspired glitter and sparkle, either. Streisand's impressively neat liner and cut crease style are still remembered by fans today. There are beauty articles from the 2020s praising her beauty aesthetic, as well as tutorials explaining how to copy the look. Though fans are still waiting for advice from the woman herself. "My dream is that Barbra Streisand someday releases an eyeliner tutorial on YouTube," one fan tweeted in 2018.