Beauty campaigns through the ages
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- Stylist Team
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More than just marketing magic and kitsch catchphrases, beauty campaigns have documented the changes in women's lives throughout the 20th century - from 1940s wartime austerity and 1950s aspiration, through to sexual liberation, equality and a more diverse attitude to beauty. We've delved into the archives to bring you this retrospective of some of our favourite beauty campaigns from times gone by.
Click an image to launch the gallery.
Chanel, 1921
Before the wide-spread use of photography, illustration was a popular form of artisitc expression. This whimsical illustration shows a flapper girl lusting after Chanel No. 5 perfume, one of the first advertising the now-iconic fragrance.
Maybelline, 1930s
This 1930s advert for Maybelline products promises that women of every age can have perfect skin.
Guerlain, 1930s
An artistic poster for Guerlain lipstick from the 1930s.
See retro images from Cannes Film Festival through the ages here
Savage, 1935
A dramatic art deco image to promote Savage blusher - priced at just ten cents.
Elizabeth Arden, 1945
A mother and daughter illustration encouraging women to "build your beauty on your youth", which featured in Vogue.
Max Factor, 1940s
The Wizard Of Oz actresses Judy Garland advertises Pan Cake foundation.
Max Factor, 1941
Another Hollywood actress, Merle Oberon, is used to advertise Pan Cake make-up.
See retro images from Cannes Film Festival through the ages here
Lux Soap, 1945
A campaign for Lux soaps promising "Lux soap facials, every day, make skin lovelier".
Revlon, 1950s
A glamorous campaign for liquid make-up, promising to "turn the clock back 5 years".
DuBarry, 1956
This advert for Pink Fire lipstick from American make-up brand DuBarry reads "The pink lipstick with the heart of flame, to make you look born beautiful!".
See retro images from Cannes Film Festival through the ages here
Elizabeth Arden, 1951
A monochrome Elizabeth Arden advert is made "striking" with a flash of red lipstick.
Revlon, 1953
Revlon's iconic Cherries in the Snow shade was launched with this advert in 1953 featuring one of the world’s first supermodels, Dorian Leigh. Its sense of fantasy, opulence and escape from everyday domesticity made the brand popular with 1950s housewives.
Avon, 1956
An early Avon advert, featuring products only available to buy through official Avon representatitves.
See retro images from Cannes Film Festival through the ages here
Miss Clairol, 1957
An advert for Miss Clairol natural-looking hair dye.
Maybelline, 1960s
A campaign for Maybelline's Ultra Lash mascara.
Avon, 1960s
A candy-coloured, mod-style campaign that sums up sixties style.
Eylure, 1960s
A kitty-inspired advert for Eylure false eyelashes.
Max Factor, 1967
Max Factor invents new words with this psychedelic lipstick campaign.
Yardley, 1967
Famous for her statement lashes, Twiggy became the face of Yardley's falsies.
See retro images from Cannes Film Festival through the ages here
Revlon, 1970s
Revlon's Charlie Girl is the brand's most famous perfume, launched in 1973. The fragrance personified the independent woman of the 1970s, and the advert was the first perfume ad to feature a woman wearing trousers.
Maybelline, 1970s
A rose-tinged advert for Lickety Slicks lip crayons, with the model sporting a classic 1970s hairstyle.
Clinique, 1970s
A campaign for Clinique skincare, claiming "this is no ordinary moisturiser". The brand used simple line illustrations in many of their adverts.
Gee, Your Hair Smells Terrific, 1970s
A cheesy but amusing advert for unusually long-named shampoo brand Gee, Your Hair Smells Terrific.
Coppertone, 1970s
Coppertone adverts became famous for showing fit, toned and tanned bodies, and promoting safe sunbathing.
Chanel, 1970s
Chanel has long had chic women as the face of Chanel No 5. Here Catherine Deneuve fronts the campaign - Nicole Kidman and Audrey Tautou would later follow in her footsteps.
Christian Dior, 1972
An advert for perfume Diorella! by Christian Dior, drawn by renowned fashion illustrator René Gruau.
Christian Dior, 1972
Another perfume advert, this time for Miss Dior, also drawn by René Gruau.
Max Factor, 1972
An advert for Max Factor's first waterproof eyeshadow.
Sun-In, 1972
Remember using Sun-In during your teenage years? Here's an early ad campaign explaining how the product works.
Clairol, 1973
Herbel Essences didn't always have such provocatively soundtracked ad campaigns - this dreamy illustration perfectly encapsulates the hippy era.
Yves Saint Laurent, 1977
YSL's Opium caused a stir with its controversial name and brought accusations that brand designer Yves Saint Laurent was condoning drug use. The same perfume came under fire in the 1990s for the controversial ad with a naked Sophie Dahl.
Maybelline, 1980s
Maybelline promoted their new pearlised nail polishes with a beach scene.
Maybelline, 1980s
Maybelline introduced a lines of lip glosses inspired by the signs of the zodiac with this campaign from the 1980s.
Maybelline, 1991
Supermodel Christy Turlington features in this campaign for Illegal Lashes mascara.
Christian Dior, 1993
An now-iconic image advertising Dior's Rouge lipstick and nail polish.