makeup

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.(…)

5 Classic Hollywood Celebrities Who Rocked Statement Brows The First Time Around

5 Classic Hollywood Celebrities Who Rocked Statement Brows The First Time Around

So you think Cara Delevingne invented the bold brow? Think again! As with most fashion trends, it’s all been done before. And as with most things Audrey Hepburn did it better.  Here are five Hollywood stars from the 1940s and 50s who rocked the statement brow trend the first time around! Of course, the 1940s(…)

A Bare-Faced Marilyn

A Bare-Faced Marilyn

I came across this photo of Marilyn doing her lipstick from 1948 while I was looking for a photo of her to use in my Paper Doll post yesterday, and I thought it was just charming! I love all the little drawings of lip shapes on the wall behind her too! The caption that goes(…)

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(…)

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(…)

1960s eye makeup and geometric prints

1960s eye makeup and geometric prints

Fabulously styled mod girl in New York 1968. Photograph by Jame Jowers. Source and copyright: George Eastman House Collection: No known copyright restrictions  

1940s girl in a rain coat from McCall magazine

1940s girl in a rain coat from McCall magazine

1940s photo from the cover of McCalls magazine: Girl in the rain from 1943. Photographer: Nickolas Muray. How does she manage to look so glamorous in a transparent plastic mac?! Source and copyright: George Eastman House Collection: No known copyright restrictions

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(…)