Toyah – The 80s Make Up Extreme

The 80s were all about excess as far as fashion and make up went. It was certainly not a time for wallflowers because the bold hues and colouring that didn’t stay within the lines was anything but subtle or demure. Make up trends were much like the Brit music scene really—over-the-top and louder than ever! And one of the best examples of this was Toyah with her eyes and lips that were often as bright as—if not brighter—than her hair!

Mastering Toyah’s look which really is the epitome of 80s make up is easier than it looks and we’re going to show you that right here with a few simple steps. Add this make up look to any of the fab 80s costumes here and you’ll be ready to wow at your 80s fancy dress party.

Get Toyah’s Look
Getting Toyah’s look is a matter of experimenting a little and being willing to step out of your comfort zone and push the boundaries. The best example would be her look on the cover of her 1982 single Brave New World, where her eyes seemed to take on a sky theme with tiny little birds coming off the sides and down to her neck. Here’s how to get the look:

• Start off with foundation and a dusting of a pale face powder as your base.

• Dip a brush in blue shadow and sweep along your lids as well as along your lower lash line. From there, extend the blue up and out past your eye and to your hairline, stopping an inch or two above your brow.

• Take a shimmery shadow in white or light silver and with short strokes over the blue, add just enough to give the blue a ‘cloudy’ effect. Yes, just like the sky.

• Next, use a darker blue liner along the inside rim of the lower lash line and blend along the upper lash line as well making sure to stay as close to the lashes as possible. Top off with mascara—lots of it.

• The finishing touch for the eyes involves drawing on your little birds which are really just tiny little “V’s”. And since 80s fancy dress is all about having fun and experimenting, I suggest changing the birds to other shapes, like stars or hearts which are also very 80s and will go just as well with any if the 80s costumes you’re considering.

• Use a bold blush under the cheek bones as opposed to on the apples of the cheeks like you would for today’s make up looks.

• To set your look, dust a little more face powder of your entire face.

• Top off the look with a bright and glossy red lip and you’ve mastered the ideal make up for 1980 fancy dress a la Toyah!

Remember that 80s fancy dress allows you to push the envelope with your look which means using the brightest colours in any way that tickles your fancy just like all of the 80s icons—like Toyah—did.