Cosmetics

An Original 1940s Make-Up Tutorial (Including Contouring!)

An Original 1940s Make-Up Tutorial (Including Contouring!)

This photos were taken at a professional photo shoot for a young starlet some time during the 1940s. It’s really interesting to see the different stages, especially the amount of contouring they used on her face. Presumably the make up was done specifically for taking photographs as it seems a little heavy for real life.(…)

Beauty and the Blitz: How to Wear 1940s Makeup

Beauty and the Blitz: How to Wear 1940s Makeup

Beauty in the 1940s was a strange mixture of glamour and practicality. Despite harsh rationing and shortages of makeup and soap women were encouraged to look their best to help keep up morale. Here’s my guide to getting your 1940s makeup right. Let me know if you think I’ve missed anything out! Foundation / Base(…)

Radioactive Cosmetics: Makeup of the Atomic Era

Radioactive Cosmetics: Makeup of the Atomic Era

From the 1920s through to the 1950s Atomic energy was terrifically fashionable. Radium was used in everything from beauty and cosmetics, to household cleaning products (see the photo below of the Radium hand cleaner which ‘takes off everything but the skin’ – yikes!). So, why were people so keen to use radioactive products in every(…)

Mods and Mad Men: 1960s Makeup Tips

Mods and Mad Men: 1960s Makeup Tips

1960s makeup is perhaps one of the most recognizable of the vintage styles of makeup, whether you choose to go for doll-like makeup of Twiggy (above) or a more sophisticated Mad Men style look, it’s definitely all about the eyes… Base/Foundation For a 1960s look go for a good matte foundation topped powder so that(…)

Winged Eyeliner and Statement Brows: 1950s Makeup Tips

Winged Eyeliner and Statement Brows: 1950s Makeup Tips

Woah, my article about 1920s makeup has been trending wildly for the past week – I’ve never seen traffic like it! I wonder whether 1950s makeup will be as popular…? It’s certainly a more wearable look for everyday, and it’s an easy one to learn how to do as well. Flicked eyeliner and a dash(…)

Vamps & Flappers: The Lowdown on 1920s Makeup

Vamps & Flappers: The Lowdown on 1920s Makeup

If you’re looking for an authentic 1920s makeup-look DON’T look at The Great Gatsby – it’s great for a general sense of style and decadence of the roaring Twenties but for some reason they made-up Carey Mulligan with great sweeps of 50s eyeliner which isn’t right at all! For 1920s make-up inspiration take a look(…)

What’s In My (Vintage) Makeup Bag

What’s In My (Vintage) Makeup Bag

Clockwise from top right: Benefit Lemon Aid – this primes your eyelid and gives a nice pale base for dark eyeliner – perfect for a nice clear cat-eye flick! Miracletouch Creamy Blush by Max Factor – I like creamy blushers, I find they stay on much better than powder blush and don’t dry my skin(…)

Win a vintage-style hair and makeup session

THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED. WE HAVE ANNOUNCED THE WINNER HERE. This week’s competition prize is a vintage-style hair and makeup session with the fabulous Sabrina Lily. Sabrina is a London based hair and make-up artist, who is currently working on a West End Musical and freelancing for TV, Editorial and Bridal projects. The prize(…)