In celebration of Aspect County’s 30th Aniversary, we’re taking a look back at a typical beauty régime of the late 1980s. That’s right, get ready to reminisce about coloured eyeshadow, bright lipsticks and lots and lots of hair spray.
Moisturiser
Anti-ageing products started to make a name for themselves in the 1980s. These products were formulated with collagen and other extracts, many of which are still used by brands today. These anti-ageing creams were marketed towards older women, promising to smooth fine lines and wrinkles. Unsurprisingly, these products have only become increasingly popular. Today women of all ages are using these products, with some dermatologists recommending that both men and women start incorporating anti-ageing skincare into their routine by their mid-twenties.
Scrubs
Believe it or not, in the 1980s scrubs were actually thought of as a type of anti-ageing product. This is because they were marketed as a product that could help keep skin looking fresh and youthful.
Of course, it’s important to highlight that these facial scrubs weren’t like the gentle buffers we have today. No, these scrubs were coarse, abrasive and would often leave your cheeks feeling a bit raw. You know what they say, right? Pain is beauty. Thankfully, the big beauty brands have created scrubs that are gentler on our cheeks, helping us get fresh and luminous looking skin, pain-free.
Make-up remover
Removing your makeup is one of the most time-consuming steps in a beauty régime. During the 1980s, the process was a whole lot worse. Not only was the process of removing your pink and purple eyeshadow time-consuming, the products of 1989, quite simply, couldn’t remove makeup. It wasn’t unusual for your eyelids, lips and cheeks to be stained for days after a night out on the town.
Makeup
1989 was not the year to be afraid of colour. The ‘natural look’ that’s trending today was non-existent — it was go big or go home, ladies. We’re talking coloured eyeshadow or eyeliner (sometimes lashes, but let’s not get into that now) paired with a pink or red lipstick and a matching blush. Deep berries and mauves were reserved for special occasions or events.
Shampoo and conditioner
Every man and woman needed the very best in haircare in 1989. How else were you going to wash out the residue of hair spray left in your locks? Salon Selectives was the big haircare brand of the 80s and 90s. If you didn’t have any of their iconic pink bottles in your shower, your tresses were missing out.
Hair spray
Nope, we’re not talking about the musical. The trending hairstyles of the 80s and 90s were big, bold and heat styled. As such, strong-hold sprays were a haircare essential, especially if you wanted to keep your hair looking perm-perfect like Meg Ryan’s.
The perm
Bendy rollers, so you could get the volume of a perm or without the heat damage. Just twist and bend these rollers into your hair and leave in overnight for the perfect 80s bounce. I guess you could call them the hair rollers of the 1980s.
Nails
Nailcare was actually surprisingly
simple during the 1980s. All you had
to do was paint the lacquer colour of choice on long push-on nails and you
were good to go — well, at least until
the not-so-sticky strips of the press
on nails gave up. Which, if we remember correctly, was rarely longer than three hours.
Written by Aspect County
Health & Beauty Editor
Samantha Allaker.
