A Century of Lip Trends to Inspire Your Look

If lips could talk… what stories they would tell!

Ever since the first ‘talkies’ emerged in the late 1920s, inspiring women to emulate their favorite starlets, we’ve been hooked. And, from decade to decade, we’ve continued searching for the look that captures the mood of the moment, and imprinting it—loud and clear—right in the center of our face.

Join us on a journey that spans a century of turmoil, trends and triumphs, as told by one of the most iconic symbols of womanhood: our lips. Oh, and because lips are *kinda our thing* we thought it’d be fun to pair each decade with one of HENNE’s signature lip tints. Each one was thoughtfully created to bring a natural glow to your personal style.

Got lip goals? Whether you’re out to recreate a classic look or simply feel a sense of nostalgia as you reach for your favorite hue, we’re confident that this celebration of lip color will inspire you on your own journey of personal expression.

1930s - Coral

The Great Depression had at least one bright spot in it: women’s lips. Instead of foregoing frivolities during this era of economic hardship, women continued to spend as much (if not more) on cosmetics, a phenomenon that’s come to be known as The Lipstick Effect. The Golden Age of Hollywood helped lift women’s troubled spirits during these years, when many of them first had to enter the workforce to make ends meet. A rosebud-shaped mouth in flushed tones of coral or deep pink was all the rage.

What’s your preferred look for a daytime lip? Our fresh and cheerful Coral offers an effortless, no drama look perfect for a morning at the cafe, or a busy day at the office.

BE CHEERY WITH CORAL

1940s - Intrigue

Far from stifling women’s commitment to glamour, the war years emboldened gals on the home front to accentuate their feminine features. Sure, they had to roll up their sleeves and do men’s work, but they were going to look like absolute 10s doing them! Red lipstick in particular became an emblem of valor, as women resolved to keep up appearances in an effort to inspire men to keep up morale.

Need to tap into your inner Rosie the Riveter? A swipe of Intrigue, our charming and formidable red, will make you feel as spirited, strong and courageous as those women from the Greatest Generation.

STAND OUT WITH INTRIGUE

1950s - Desire

If there was ever a time in U.S. history when lipstick could be said to have had its moment, it was the affluent postwar years. From space-age technology to ladies’ lipstick, everything was booming. Now more popular than ever, lipstick was commonly worn in either warm or cool shades of red with a glossy finish. The elegance of Grace Kelly’s shapely, defined mouth and Marilyn Monroe’s alluring rose-red pout are a few of the many reasons we, to this day, regard the 1950s as the era of beauty icons.

If you’re feeling an iconic moment of your own coming on, reach for the sultry yet subtle Desire—sure to elevate you to stardom. New Year's Eve? Romantic anniversary? New dress that’s as hot as you? This tint will match that mood.

TURN UP THE HEAT WITH DESIRE

1960s - Sunlit

As the turbulent 1960s shifted societal norms, a newfound individualism replaced the collectivism of the 40s and 50s. Lipstick, instead of serving as a means of conformity, now offered an opportunity for self-expression. The hippie counterculture put the brakes on the va-va-voom reds of prior decades, in favor of barely-there pastels (think ballet pink and frosted peach). No one better embodied this au naturale beauty than the free-spirited trendsetter Jane Birkin.

Love late-day strolls on the beach? You’ll look all the lovelier with the gentle hue of Sunlit on your face. Its peachy keen sheen catches the light just enough to keep people guessing if you have anything on your lips at all.

ILLUMINATE WITH SUNLIT

1970s - Bare

Lips of the 1970s were unquestionably WILD—whether in the ‘outrageous’ or ‘overgrown-garden’ sense of the word. Disco divas with larger-than-life eyes and lips dominated the nightlife. Daytime looks donned an artistic aesthetic with plenty of nods to the natural world. No one captured this better than the boho-inspired flower child with nude lips and a wreath of daisies in her hair.

Looking to get in touch with your own wild child? Bare, our nude/dusty rose, is unassuming but plenty lively. It gives a flattering, finished look to lips when you want them to take a backseat to eye makeup but still appear polished. Bare is perfect for the mellow mood of a sleepy Saturday; but feel free to build it up for a more defined look. And if it inspires you to twirl around in a field at sunrise in an ethnic print maxi dress… no one will blame you.

BASK IN BARE

1980s - Azalea

The more-is-more 80s left their mark not only on the economy but on women’s faces as well. Like the 70s, lip colors were all over the place but took a bolder turn, away from neutral hues to more brazen and intensified looks. Music video and stage stars donned brilliant, shimmering colors on their eyes, cheeks and lips to capture the theatricality of rock-and-roll glam. From neon nails to fuchsia lips, it’s no wonder people couldn’t stop exclaiming ‘Radical!’

Our vibrant and charming Azalea is the perfect ‘now’ version of an 80s lip—playful enough to be fun, yet grown-up enough to be sophisticated. Try it for your next girls brunch or impromptu date night.

GET PLAYFUL WITH AZALEA

1990s - Muse

In contrast to ‘the decade of decadence’, the 90s were known for the understated, as evidenced by the androgynous aesthetic of denim-based clothiers like Gap. Lips were not exempt from the grunge movement, and it was common to see heavy mauve tones blended with deep complexions or contrasting starkly with pale ones.

We’re think our beloved Muse is up for recreating the nonchalance and general moodiness of the 90s. In the tube it looks positively purple, although on the lips it’s a soft, midtone berry mauve—ideal for cool-toned complexions. The hue isn’t overpowering, so no worries about going all Wynona Ryder in Reality Bites… unless that’s your look, in which case we’ll say in our best 90s accent: "You go girl!"

FEEL MOODY WITH MUSE

2000s - Lip Serum

Entering a new millennium brought with it much excitement but also uncertainty. Things would be different… but how? Lips reflected this dynamic by donning an exaggerated yet vacant look. They went super-duper shiny (so, different) yet stuck with nude tones rather than defined colors (i.e. noncommittal). Yes, the lip gloss was real. Women who survived the 00s recall having their silky straight hair get stuck to their lips on a constant basis.

Get the glossy look but with the added bonus of anti-aging benefits with our hero product Lip Serum. If you haven’t experienced this simple yet decadent upgrade to lip gloss, there’s truly nothing quite like it. And the best part is—if a breeze happens to blow your hair across your face, it won’t stick to your lips like flypaper. We promise.

SHINE ON WITH THE LIP SERUM

2010s - Blissful

As women relaxed into the new millennium, lip trends normalized while still remaining slightly bizarre. We put down the lip gloss in exchange for lip liner, which was overdrawn to create the illusion of a larger pout. If that didn’t do the trick, lip fillers (mainstreamed during this time) came to the rescue. Beauty bloggers and social media influencers strove for a ‘no makeup’ makeup look, while (ironically) using more products and injectables than ever. Torn between an ever-more-accessible augmented reality and the desire to appear effortless online, it was an era of contradiction.

Fear not, though! We've found the perfect compromise for your no-makeup lip look. Meet Blissful, the tint that’ll have you looking like you just enjoyed a delectable raspberry sorbet. Headed to a baby shower? Picnic lunch? Farmer’s market? Blissful will give you that kiss of sweetness you’re looking for.

DELIGHT IN BLISSFUL

2020s - Nightfall

While the 2020s are still relatively young and matte lips have had their moment, we've clearly seen the transition from bold matte lips to more natural, moisturizing lip color. Sure, matte lips are lovely for a special occasion, but they can be a bit dramatic for daytime wear, not to mention how much they damage and wreak havoc on your lips.

With its moisturizing power, sheer, buildable color, ease of application and day-to-night versatility, lip tints are a perfect complement to ‘no-makeup’ makeup and if you’d like to give one (or several) a try… boy have you come to the right place!

Our newest and most dramatic shade Nightfall is equal parts fearless and fabulous—a true show-stopper. It can be confidently worn by even the fairest skin tones because of you are in full control of how faint or how strong the color is. We love the idea of wearing it all fall and winter long, whether it's running errands or wandering through the marble halls of a fine art museum. Just be prepared, though, you may be mistaken for one of the portraits.

TURN HEADS WITH NIGHTFALL

Time to Make History

Feeling inspired to become your own Marilyn? Our sheer yet buildable lip tints are ready and waiting to elevate your look to icon status. If you’re not sure which color(s) you'd like, we’ve made it super simple for you to sample each of them. Simply click either the black SAMPLE IT button or SAMPLE ALL (to sample all 9 shades at a discount) on any of the lip tint pages. If you add one full sized product to your order, we’ll even throw in 2 FREE samples so you can try the Lip Serum as well.

And, if you haven’t yet taken the plunge and ordered our Healthy Lips Kit, go ahead and treat yourself. It’s a discounted bundle featuring our most popular lip care wonders. The transformative power of these products, hand-crafted in the USA with the highest quality standards, cannot be overstated. But we tend to let our clients do the talking, so make sure to check out our 5-star reviews!

GET HEALTHY LIPS
It’s time to experience the most luxurious lips of your life, and Henné Organics is the perfect place to start… because healthy lips are always in style.