If you think applying lipstick today requires skill, wait until you hear about the elaborate techniques women used in the 1940s. During World War II, when beauty products were considered “nonessential” items, women developed creative methods to achieve the perfect red pout – including one particularly unusual tool called the “Glamour Lips” applicator that promised Hollywood-worthy results.
The foundation of a perfect 1940s lip look
Before any lipstick touched their lips, women in the 1940s started with an unusual first step – they completely covered their natural lip line with foundation. This technique, while seemingly counterintuitive, created a blank canvas that allowed them to reshape their lips entirely. The foundation acted as a concealer, obscuring their natural lip shape and providing a smooth surface for the artistic creation that would follow.
After the foundation base, women would reach for their lip liner to draw what was known as the “hunter’s bow” – an exaggerated cupid’s bow that became the signature look of the era. The top lip was deliberately overdrawn to match the size of the bottom lip, creating a symmetrical, dramatic appearance that defined the decade’s glamour.
The revolutionary Glamour Lips applicator
Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of 1940s lipstick application was the invention of the Glamour Lips applicator. This specialized tool resembled a small metal press and promised to deliver perfectly shaped lips with minimal effort. Women would cover the flat surface with their favorite red lipstick, carefully line it up with their mouth, and press it against their lips like a stamp.
The process required patience and precision – users had to hold the applicator in place while the lipstick warmed slightly, then pull downward with gentle pressure. While this gadget never achieved mainstream success, it represents the innovative spirit of an era when women sought creative solutions to achieve their desired looks.
Petroleum jelly tricks and wartime substitutes

When traditional cosmetics became scarce during wartime, women turned to innovative solutions. They used petroleum jelly not only to groom their eyebrows but also to add a subtle gloss over their matte lipsticks. This created a luminous finish that caught the light and made lips appear fuller – a predecessor to modern lip gloss.
Some women even used their lipstick as blush, dabbing it onto their cheeks for a coordinated look. This multi-purpose approach to makeup was born of necessity but became a defining characteristic of 1940s beauty routines.
The perfect red spectrum
While today’s lipstick comes in countless hues, the 1940s palette focused primarily on variations of red. Women could choose from deep reds, brick reds, orchid reds, apple reds, plush reds, and raspberry reds. Each shade was carefully selected to complement specific occasions and outfits, with lighter reds for daytime wear and deeper shades reserved for evening glamour.
Many women owned several shades of red lipstick and would often blend them together using a small lip brush to create their perfect custom color. This attention to detail and personalization shows how lipstick application was viewed as an art form rather than a simple beauty routine.
The finishing touches

To complete their lip look, women would press their lips together, moving the lower lip against the upper in a specific pattern to ensure even distribution. For extra precision, they would use a small lip brush to perfect the edges and add definition. Some would even clean up the edges with concealer – a technique that remains popular among makeup artists today.
The final step often involved blotting with tissue paper and reapplying a fresh coat of lipstick, ensuring the color would last through long work shifts at wartime factories or evenings spent at USO dances.
While these vintage techniques might seem labor-intensive by today’s standards, they represent an era when lipstick was more than just makeup – it was a symbol of resilience, creativity, and unwavering glamour during challenging times. Modern beauty lovers might appreciate how these innovative techniques laid the groundwork for many application methods we still use today.