How to Do 50s Makeup

A retro 1950's look can be appropriate for day or night.

The classic glamour of the makeup that was popular in the 1950s is a look that has spiked in popularity in recent years. Clean and simple was most frequently seen as a daytime look, with pastel lip colors and natural-toned eyeshadow, while the night time look was bold, with crisp and dramatic liquid lined eyes and full red lips. Both of these classic looks can help you stand out, both day and night.

Things You'll Need

• Foundation makeup (liquid or powder)
• Natural toned eyeshadow palate (brown, green, blue and peach tones)
• Pastel colored lipstick (not frosted)
• Light blush
• Black liquid eyeliner
• Red lip liner
• Red lipstick
• Black mascara

Instructions

Day Time Makeup

1. Apply foundation on the skin, taking care to blend around the edges of the face and under the chin. Use a concealer for blemishes, if desired.

2. Sweep a light, natural-toned eyeshadow over your eyelids from the lashes to the crease. Apply a darker natural tone to the crease of your eyelid to accent your eye shape. Use a brown tone for the crease and a lighter color, such as blue, peach or green, for the rest of the lid.

3. Apply a light coat of black mascara to the top row of eyelashes, with special focus on the lashes in the outer corners. Keep the coating light to keep the natural look.

4. Apply a pastel colored lipstick to your lips. Use a color that has a light shine, but no sparkle. Peaches and pinks were the most popular colors for daytime looks in the 1950s.

5. Brush a light application of lighter colored blush on the apples of your cheeks.

Night Time Makeup

1. Apply foundation and blush to the face as with the daytime look. Make sure to blend a little foundation over your eyelids to even out the tone of your skin.

2. Apply a line of liquid eyeliner to the eyelid along the upper lash line. Have the line taper very thin toward the inner corner of the eye and thicken slightly toward the outer corner.

3. Line your lips with the red lip liner, staying within the natural line of your lips.

4. Fill in the lined area of your lips with matching red lipstick. Use a lipstick with a light shine.

5. Apply two coats of black mascara to your upper eyelashes, with a focus on the outside corner lashes. Apply one coat of mascara to your lower lashes.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a light dusting of powder foundation on your face after applying liquid foundation to take down shine and set the foundation.

• Be careful when using liquid eyeliner. Liquid liner can be messy to apply if not done with a steady hand. Keep makeup remover wipes on hand to clean up any mishaps.

References

• Mayfair PA: How to Apply Vintage 1950s Eye Makeup
• Fashion Era: Makeup History After1950
• Dailymotion: How to do 1950s Retro Makeup Like Audrey Hepburn

Resources

• The Fifties Web: Fashions of the Fifties