Bésame Cosmetics has always been more than a makeup brand — it is a historical archive disguised as a vanity table. Their lipstick line, especially the original shades, reflects founder Gabriela Hernandez’s commitment to preserving beauty history with museum‑level accuracy. Each shade is a revival of a real colour worn by women in the 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 950s, 1960s and 1970s, re-created from vintage samples, advertisements and cosmetic artifacts.
These lipsticks are not “retro‑inspired.” They are authentic restorations of the shades that defined entire eras of glamour.
The Philosophy Behind the Shades
Bésame’s original lipstick collection was built on a simple but radical idea: Women should be able to wear the exact colours their mothers, grandmothers and Hollywood icons once wore.
To achieve this, Hernandez sourced:
- vintage lipsticks from estate collections
- original cosmetic bullet molds
- mid‑century colour charts
- archival makeup advertisements
- Hollywood studio makeup references
Every shade is matched to its historical decade, giving each lipstick a story as rich as its pigment.
The Iconic Shades
1920s – Deep, Dramatic Reds
The 1920s favoured bold, deep reds — shades worn by silent‑film actresses and flappers. These colours were dramatic, matte and un-apologetically expressive. Bésame’s early‑era reds capture the rebellious spirit of women who were redefining beauty and independence.
1930s – Blue‑Based Hollywood Reds
The 1930s introduced cooler, blue‑under-toned-based reds that photographed beautifully under studio lighting. These were the shades worn by early Hollywood icons, giving lips a sculpted, glamorous look. Bésame’s 1930s reds recreate the elegance of pre‑war cinema.
1940s – Victory Reds
The 1940s were the decade of Victory Red — a patriotic, morale‑boosting shade encouraged during wartime. Women wore red lipstick as a symbol of strength, resilience, and national pride. Bésame’s 1940s reds are historically accurate to the wartime formulations and tones. Lipsticks of this era if it weren’t Victory Red, it was true reds, perfect balance between orange and blue under-tone-based red lipstick.
1950s – Bright, Feminine Reds
The 1950s were the decade of polished glamour. Beauty advertising exploded, Hollywood was at its peak and red lipstick became a symbol of confidence and femininity. Shades were bright, saturated and camera‑ready — the kind worn by Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Dorothy Dandridge, and Grace Kelly. These reds were designed to complement the era’s creamy foundations, powder‑matte finishes and sculpted brows. Post‑war optimism shaped the palette: cheerful cherry reds, vivid blue‑reds and classic Hollywood crimsons. Bésame’s 1950s reds re-create these exact tones, capturing the decade’s blend of elegance, playfulness and iconic femininity.
1960s – Mod Reds and Youthquake Brights
The 1960s introduced a completely new attitude toward lipstick. Beauty shifted from classic Hollywood glamour to the bold, graphic “Mod” aesthetic — and red shades evolved with it. Instead of deep, sultry reds, the decade embraced brighter, punchier hues with clearer undertones. These were the lipsticks worn by fashion icons like Jean Shrimpton and early‑era Jane Birkin: vivid, youthful reds that photographed sharply in colour film and complemented the era’s clean lines and dramatic eye makeup. Bésame’s 1960s‑inspired shades capture this transition perfectly, offering crisp, lively reds that reflect the decade’s playful, modern spirit.
1960s – Mod Reds, Pink‑Nudes, and the Graphic Eye
Alongside vivid reds, the 1960s also embraced soft pink‑nude lipsticks designed to balance the era’s bold, graphic eye makeup. These shades were intentionally understated — the perfect complement to heavy liner, defined creases and the iconic Twiggy lash look. Bésame’s 1960s‑inspired pink‑nudes re-create this exact pairing, offering historically accurate hues that match the beauty aesthetic of the Youth culture era.
1970s – Earthy Reds and Bohemian Warmth
The 1970s shifted beauty away from the polished glamour of the 1950s and the graphic Mod look of the 1960s. Makeup became more natural, sun‑kissed and in some cases bohemian, however this wasn’t the only trending make-up look of the decade, there was also disco and the Californian sun-kissed, tanned look as well, and red lipstick followed suit. Instead of bright, high‑contrast reds, the decade embraced warmer, earthier tones — brick reds, terracotta reds, and soft russet shades that complemented tanned skin, feathered hair and the era’s effortless aesthetic. These were the lip colors seen on icons like Ali MacGraw and Lauren Hutton: relaxed, wearable reds with a grounded, lived‑in feel. Bésame’s 1970s‑inspired hues capture this shift perfectly, offering warm, muted reds that reflect the decade’s casual elegance and free‑spirited beauty philosophy.
The Packaging That Completes the Story
Each lipstick is housed in Bésame’s signature gold bullet — a reproduction of mid‑century metal lipstick tubes. The floral engraving, the weight of the metal and even the click of the cap are designed to mimic vintage cosmetics exactly.
Holding a Bésame lipstick feels like holding a piece of beauty history.
Why These Shades Matter
Bésame’s original lipstick shades are more than colours. They are:
- historical artifacts
- cultural symbols
- decade‑specific beauty signatures
- wearable pieces of nostalgia
For collectors, vintage lover and beauty historians, these lipsticks offer something rare: the ability to wear the exact shades that shaped beauty culture for over half a century.
Bésame doesn’t just recreate lipstick. It recreates eras.
I’m Stacey Hobbs, thanks for reading Face by Stace! Until next time.
do you feel fabulous today?
Face by Stace 