How to Apply 1950s Makeup

Perfection and glamor are the trademarks of the 1950s face. With color predominant on the big screen, such film stars as Marilyn Monroe, Sophia Loren and Doris Day wore makeup that was flawless and brilliant. Create your own look from the era when housewives vacuumed their homes wearing full-face makeup, impeccable hairdos and heels.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Skin-perfecting foundation
• Disposable mascara wand
• Eyebrow pencil or powder
• Eye makeup primer
• Light, sheer and shimmery eyeshadow
• Eyelash curler
• Black or soft black mascara
• Natural-looking fake eyelashes
• Black liquid eyeliner
• Sheer rosy blush
• Makeup sponge
• Waxy red-toned lip liner and matching lipstick
• Lip brush

1. Smooth on a foundation in your skin tone that gives your complexion a perfect finish. If you need extra coverage, opt for heavier formulations; your goal is to turn your face into a clean blank canvas.

2. Groom your eyebrows by brushing them back with a disposable mascara wand. Thick, expertly shaped eyebrows were in vogue in the '50s, so get rid of stray hairs but maintain a full shape with a sharp, noticeable arch. Define brows and eliminate sparseness with a brow pencil or brow powder.

3. Apply eye makeup primer to hold eyeshadow in place. Select a soft, shimmery eyshadow shade that does not distract from the rest of the face. Soft champagne, sheer silver, translucent pearlized white and sparkly taupe are all good choices. Stroke shadow on from lash line to browbones. Curl eyelashes and stroke on some black or soft black mascara.

4. Trim a pair of false eyelashes to perfectly fit your top lash lines. They should enhance your lashes without looking fake. When the adhesive dries, line over the false eyelashes on the lash-line area with the black liquid eyeliner. Create a cat's-eye look by drawing a line that gradually thickens toward the outer corners, where they end in tiny extended wings.

5. Apply a soft rosy blush on the apples of your cheeks and on your cheekbones. Blend well and fade hard edges away with a makeup sponge so you appear naturally flushed.

6. Line your lips with a waxy liner in a color with red tones. If you are wary of using red on your lips, use a shade that is vibrant and has red in it. Red-infused pink and coral are very popular for a '50s makeup look. Line your top lip with the Cupid's bow exaggerated, so your top lip appears slightly larger than your bottom one. Fill lips in with the lip liner before layering matching lipstick over it. Use a brush for the lipstick, so the color is applied thoroughly.

Tips & Warnings

• If you need help with your brow shape, use brow stencils.

• For '50s lips with the top exaggerated, look at color photographs of Marilyn Monroe.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Marilyn Monroe: Official Website