The Mod Beauty Trick That Defined a Decade
Everyone was wearing spider lashes
Twiggy named “The Face of 1966”
If Brigitte Bardot gave the 1960s smudged cat eye to Elizabeth Taylor’s Cleopatra’s cat eye, then Twiggy brought something else to the table to amplify the entire look. After all, 1960s was a decade that was all about eye make-up statements. When thinking of the 1960s make-up trends bold eye make-up will always come to mind, from the beginning of the decade to the end of the decade. Including but not limited to baby doll eyes of the Mod era and spider lashes. Twiggy’s wide, doll‑like eyes that she would paint on the lower lashes along with thick, spiky upper lashes became the most recognizable look of the decade or perhaps one of the most common. Cat eyes stayed, baby doll eye including spider lashes remained in the 1960s unless dressing in costume in later decades. Twiggy’s look however, a look she didn’t invent, only popularized as some tend to believe because baby doll eyes and spider lashes are ever so attached to Twiggy, she must have invented this look, despite the fact that she had not. The look however was playful, rebellious some may say, graphic and like with all eye make-up of the 1960s, like with the cat eye, this look was just as equally bold. Twiggy made the look her own when she opted to paint on her own lashes.
Interested in Twiggy’s Spider Lashes? Check out the steps below to re-create the popular 1960s make-up trend!
1. The Base:
A Clean and Matte
Always begin with a base to conceal imperfections as Twiggy had done. She opted for a matte finish, instead of a glowing or dewy finish. By going with a matte finish, all eyes would be on her eyes and the make-up. A dewy finish or a glowing finish would take away from the baby doll eyes and the spider lashes effect. Don’t skip the eyelids, the eyelids for this look (and really any look) are just as important as under the eyes and the whole face. Eyelids are often forgotten. Apply foundation or concealer or both and follow-up with powder. Typically pressed powder but any powder will do with it’s setting powder, pressed powder is what I use to conceal veins and to smooth out imperfections so you are working with a clean base.
Twiggy’s make-up artist would use a light-weight foundation, pressed powder and a pale matte eyeshadow in colours in baby blue – this was Twiggy’s most significant and often her favourite choice of colour. She would go for pale pinks as in baby pinks as well. More on this below in another section.
Returning to this section, however, one other thing about a matte finish, it made the lashes and the overall eye look pop with contrast.
The mod look was all about the eyes, it was the real vocal point so everything else stayed soft and simple as it should.
2. The Upper Lashes:
Thick, Spiky and Dramatic
Twiggy’s upper lashes were never clumpy. Her lashes were designed to deliver the illusion of fullness not separated.
To achieve the fullness of the lashes, Twiggy used multiple coats of mascara, applied straight up and with the wand pressed into the roots for density.
Then came the signature move, Twiggy would pinch her lashes into spikes using tweezers which was inspired by a baby doll. This would become a defining aspect of her entire look.
This created the iconic “spider leg” effect, which was bold and instantly recognizable.
3. Painted‑On Lower Lashes
Twiggy painted on her lower lashes, as she didn’t rely solely on mascara when curating her spider lashes by using liquid liner when she drew her lower lashes on. Twiggy didn’t rely on mascara alone.
Twiggy’s technique:
- Start at the lower lash line
- Draw short, straight strokes downward
- Space them evenly
- Keep them slightly longer toward the outer corner
- Add a tiny flick at the end for drama
Do you believe this was the moment make-up stepped into the world of art, becoming art? Or perhaps was it the cat-eye? Specifically Cleopatra’s cat eye from the Elizabeth Taylor’s Cleopatra or simply the last Pharoah of Ancient Egypt Cleopatra herself?
4. The Crease Line:
Twiggy’s Graphic Eye Lift
Twiggy often added a cut crease to her look. A cut crease is a sharp, drawn‑on line above the natural crease. Today, make-up artists will use either a gel liner or cake liner when creating this look. Below is my version of the look. I went with pale pink eye shadow, gel liner (not liquid liner) false lashes on the top and bottom of the lash line.
This line lifted the eye, added dimension, made the lashes look even larger for Twiggy, but Twiggy had beautifully round, large eyes, like with Bette Davis, and emphasized the doll-like shape.
She used a soft brown or grey pencil that wasn’t harsh. In fact, when beginning to create the crease, it often advised to begin with a pencil usually in a lighter shade or soft shade of brown so when using gel liner or cake liner, let’s say, you can easily draw the line over top of the brown line on the crease to know the placement. Practicing this technique enough times, the soft brown or light shade of brown will no longer be needed.
This crease line became a defining feature of 1960s mod make-up.
5. Brows:
Thin and Straight
Twiggy’s brows were lightly filled, kept thin and brushed straight across.
This preserved her wide‑eyed, innocent expression — the perfect frame for her dramatic lashes.
6. Lips:
Pale and Soft
With such bold eyes, Twiggy kept her lips understated as everyone had done when pairing nude lips with bold eye make-up.
Twiggy’s signature eye shadow colour of choice was baby blue. She would wear pale pinks as well. Other options Twiggy ocassionally opted for are metallic eyeshadow hues and glittery shades.
Matte nude lipstick was and still is often the choice to pair with bold eye make-up looks. The reason in the 1960s remains the same today. Nude lips compliment the boldness of the eye make-up. It isn’t over powering. Otherwise the eyes don’t know what it wants to look at. By not pairing nude lips with bold eye make-up, it takes away from the hard work that was put into curating the eye make-up such as the baby doll eyes, spider lashes look.
7. The Overall Effect:
Doll‑Like, Daring and Decades Ahead
Twiggy’s spider lashes created perhaps a cultural moment. Spider lashes may have captured the spirit of Swinging London with its youthful, experimental and fearless vibe.
Twiggy’s look said:
Makeup doesn’t have to be natural.
It can be graphic.
It can be playful.
It can be art.
And more than fifty years later, her lashes still inspires.
Twiggy’s spider lashes remain one of the most iconic beauty signatures of the 1960s.
I’m Stacey Hobbs, thanks for reading. Until next time!
do you feel fabulous today?
Face by Stace 