Retro Lipstick Shades You Can Rock At Any Age

Scrolling through Instagram these days, you'll probably see vivid pictures of bold makeup looks encompassing unique lipstick colors like blue or green. While it may be tempting to try an editorial color, there's nothing quite like a classic, timeless lipstick color that you can always fall back on. After all, there's a reason certain lipsticks created in the 1950s still exist to this very day. Whether it's Helen Mirren's signature red or Meryl Streep's soft pink, retro lipstick shades are ones everyone of all ages, from working women to Hollywood celebrities, continue to wear as staple lip colors.

If you want to stock up on evergreen retro lipstick shades, then it's important to look through brands that offer classic colors and pick the decade you want to emulate. Different decades come with varying lipstick shade trends such as the glamorous reds of the 1950s, mod pinks of the 1960s, natural nudes of the 1970s, vibrant electric colors of the 1980s, and the grunge-inspired browns of the 1990s. 

And of all the lipstick brands, Revlon offers lipstick colors that reflect every decade's trends since the 1950s, per Remix Magazine. In fact, Revlon's inventory of lipstick shades is like a library of lipstick history, as several of the shades have existed for years. Other brands that offer retro shades include Dior, Besame, and Almay (via Evie Magazine). With so many options out there, there's bound to be a retro-inspired lipstick shade that will suit your needs.

One of the most common vintage lipstick shades is red. Considered the go-to shade for vintage Hollywood starlets, red lipstick is an evergreen color that works on every skin tone. Several red lipsticks that glamorous actresses from the 1950s wore in movies are still available today — many of which are Revlon.

One of Revlon's oldest lipstick shades that is still available for purchase is the Super Lustrous Lipstick in Love That Red. Created in 1951, this shade is a classic, universally-flattering red lipstick that's one of Marilyn Monroe's favorites and suits various skin tones (via Laura Jane Atelier). In 1952, Revlon released its iconic Fire & Ice marketing campaign that came with a personality quiz, featuring a stand-out, fiery orange-red lipstick (per Allure). Bustle reports it was the first time a makeup ad empowered women to wear makeup to express themselves, rather than to impress men. Then in 1953, Revlon debuted Cherries in the Snow — the more sophisticated, raspberry pink-based red counterpart to Fire & Ice, according to Allure. 

Another popular brand for the perfect red lipstick is Dior. Actress Grace Kelly often donned a crimson red Dior lipstick, which gave a look of timeless elegance (via CR Fashionbook). To get Kelly's signature red, CR Fashionbook recommends trying Dior Rouge Lipstick in 999. Southern Living reports the shade was created in 1953 as a universal red that can be worn with all outfits and combined existing shades at the time.

There's nothing more timeless than a neutral lipstick that brings out your natural features, rather than overpowering them. While the 1950s were known for ravishing red lipsticks, the 60s became more known for softer pink shades that played up the eyes, according to Byrdie. In 1961, Audrey Hepburn popularized soft neutral-pink lips and was rumored to be wearing a Revlon shade that still exists today in the iconic movie "Breakfast at Tiffany's" (via Evie Magazine). 

If you want the perfect lipstick to wear during a lovely brunch with your girlfriends, then you'll want to try the Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Pink in the Afternoon. Sophisticated sheer dusty rose shades also became popular, as seen on Anita Ekberg in the 1960 Italian drama "La Dolce Vita," as Vogue reported. If you want to recreate this look, go for the NARS Lipstick in Dolce Vita, which was inspired by the film.

In the 1970s, tan, peachy shades that emphasized a bronze glow became popular (per Evie Magazine). Actress Sharon Tate popularized the neutral, concealer lip during this time, which can be recreated using Almay Lipstick in Skip the Gym or Go Wild. Farrah Fawcett was also known to wear light neutral lipstick. To recreate Fawcett's lip look, try the Envie Farrah Lipstick  — a recreation of her signature shade. Glossy lips in peachy tones were also an ultra-flattering trend that you can try using the L'Oreal Infallible Pro Gloss Plump in Lucid Glow (via Glamour).

While Revlon's red shades dominated in the 1950s, the company also brought out bright colors. In 1955, Revlon released their lipstick Love That Pink, a pinkish coral shade (per Laura Jane Atelier). The shade is perfect for those who want to try a pop color without the fear of looking washed out. Per Vogue, electric-colored lipsticks took off In the 1980s, with Yves Saint Laurent Pur Couture Lipstick's No. 19 shade released in 1979. The vivid orchid pink continues to be a bestseller and is a terrific throwback to the bold 80s that won't look gaudy.

The 1990s supermodel era brought out a more refined take on bold lips that suits everyone — the brown lip. Makeup artist Bobbi Brown launched her lipstick line in the 1990s, which included the trend-setting Bobbi Brown Lipstick in Brown (per Vogue). This understated color helped the grunge 90s brown lipstick look take off, with supermodel Cindy Crawford famously donning the reddish-brown shade, Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Toast of New York, according to Southern Living. 

Cult-favorite Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey also became a must-have in the 90s (via Kiss 95.1). The Black Honey shade emerged in 1971, and was re-released in its current bullet form in 1989. The shade looks dark in the bullet, but applies as a sheer rosy tone that can be built up to a darker brick-red and suits people of all skin tones and ages.