The 1950s defined glamour. Style icons from Jayne Mansfield and Grace Kelly to Marilyn Monroe were shaping trends in make-up and fashion.
The iconic eye make-up was generally kept quite simple and minimal, pale pastels and whites were used across the lid and a wing was used to open the eyes. Mascara was applied coat after coat for beautiful full lashes, especially concentrating on the outer corner lashes to add to the open-winged look. Skin was beautifully highlighted to emphasize high cheekbones and skin was perfected and glowing. Gone were the velvety-powdery looks of the 1920s and 30s and incoming was a dewy, fresh, highlighted look.
To create this make-up look:
I first applied a thin layer of foundation to keep the skin looking fresh and concealed with a heavier maximum cover foundation.
I then highlighted cheekbones, the bridge of the nose and cupid’s bow with a strong liquid highlighter, I feel liquid highlighters are better to achieve a fresh look as powders can sometimes look quite heavy on top of a dewy foundation.
I finished the skin by subtly contouring under the cheekbones and on the temples to achieve a more heart-shaped looking face. and applying powder in the T-zone to avoid an overly-shiny face.
On the eyes, I applied a wash of a shimmery white eye shadow, making sure to apply it in the inner corner to help brighten the eye.
I contoured the eye socket slightly with neutral tones, for a subtle but effective contour.
I then mapped out the eyeliner using a black eye shadow, I find it easier to correct if a mistake is made, and once I was happy with the shape I applied a gel eyeliner.
Next was plenty of mascara on the top lashes and a pair of half-lashes placed on the outer corner.
White eyeliner pencil was used on the water line to make the eye appear bigger and a medium-dark brown eye shadow used along the bottom lash line.
For the lips, I first outlined, slightly going over the lip line to create fuller looking lips, with a red lip pencil and applied a slightly deeper red lipstick at the corners of the lips and then applied a brighter red lipstick over the entire lip.
To finish I lightly dabbed a matte white eye shadow in the center of the bottom lip to create a highlight and give a fuller-looking lip.
This is an inspired look. It is not the only 1950s look and it is not an accurate representation of Marilyn Monroe’s classic look as there are elements that are different, for example, she was known to use a brown pencil rather than black gel or liquid liner and to draw a slight line in brown eye shadow under her eye to create the illusion of a shadow from her eyelashes. This is my personal representation inspired by the glamour of the 1950s.
Products Used:
Skin:
Chanel Perfection Lumiére Foundation
Estée Lauder Double Wear Maximum Cover Foundation
Benefit High Beam Highlighter
Benefit Hula Bronzer
Rimmel Stay Matte Powder
Eyes:
Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Liner (Black)
MUA White Shimmer Eye shadow
Urban Decay Eye shadows in Buck and Naked
Sleek Eye shadow in Noir
Ardell Demi Whispies Eyelashes
Sleek Matte Brown Eye Shadow – Au Natural Palette
Rimmel Soft Kohl Kajal Eye Pencil in Pure White
Lips:
MAC RiRi Woo Lipstick
MAC Russian Red Lipstick
Rimmel Exaggerate Full Colour Lip Liner in Red Diva (024)
Sleek Matte White Eye shadow – Au Natural Palette
Make-up is shown on my model, Matilda.
Fiorenzi 