The glamour of Old Hollywood is timeless, with its influence still felt in the world of beauty today. The classic makeup styles of the 1920s to the 1950s are iconic, characterized by flawless complexions, bold lips, and sultry eyes. Actresses from this era, such as Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, and Elizabeth Taylor, mastered these techniques, creating looks that continue to inspire modern makeup trends.
Actresses like Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn used a variety of techniques to achieve their iconic looks. Monroe, for instance, often used Vaseline as a base for a dewy finish and contoured her face to highlight her features, while Hepburn was known for her meticulously defined eyebrows and doe-eyed eyeliner application. Both stars emphasized their eyes with clever tricks such as white eyeliner on the waterline for a more awake look and layering mascaras for voluminous lashes. Additionally, over-lining lips and using multiple shades of lipstick helped create their signature full, pouty lips. These meticulous techniques, coupled with a strong skincare regimen, allowed Old Hollywood actresses to maintain their radiant beauty both on and off the screen, leaving a lasting legacy in the world of makeup.
To start, apply a matte foundation for full coverage, setting it with translucent powder to create a smooth, porcelain-like finish. Contouring is key; use a darker shade to define the cheekbones, jawline, and nose, and a highlighter on the high points of your face. Then use a cream blush on the apples of your cheeks.
For the eyes, adopt the layered eyeliner technique—start with a dark pencil liner close to the lash line, add a lighter shade above it, and finish with a winged liquid liner to elongate the eyes. Audrey Hepburn’s iconic doe-eyed look can be achieved by applying white eyeliner on the waterline and meticulously separating each lash with a pin after applying multiple coats of mascara. Defined, arched eyebrows are essential; use a brow pencil to fill in and shape your brows, ensuring they are bold and well-groomed.
Lips should be over-lined slightly with a pencil to enhance their fullness, then filled in with a deep, matte red lipstick, blotting and layering for depth and durability.
By combining these techniques, you can capture the essence of Old Hollywood’s enduring glamour.
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Elizabeth Arden
Sponge on Cream Foundation
Our best-selling foundation is now infused with micronized diamond powder to reflect light, and instantly diminish discolorations and fine lines to give you a perfectly even, radiant finish.
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Loose Face Powder
Get the flawless finish you want with the help of Airspun loose face powder. Use to set contouring and highlights, or to help conceal and reduce the look of rough skin, fine lines, wrinkles, skin blemishes and help correct uneven skin tones
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A multi-use cream bronzer stick that creates an instant sunkissed glow with a natural-looking matte finish. Formulated with hydrating ingredients for buildable, blendable color that adds subtle, shimmer-free warmth.
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HOLLYWOOD EFFECT glow booster in a neutral beige shade for fair skin tones.
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Masterliner Black Eyeliner Pencil
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1930 Cake Mascara, Eyeliner & Brow
Our best-selling 3-in-1 water-activated cake mascara in a new easier-to-use format with double-ended angled brush and spoolie. Darken and define lashes with a formula featuring only 7 clean, non-irritating ingredients. Fill in, shape, detail and define brows as well as use as a liquid eyeliner. Made for sensitive eyes. Fragrance-Free. Vegan.
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Lip Cheat
My ICONIC nude-pink lip liner pencil that suits everyone for a defined, fuller looking Pillow Talk pout, with a long-lasting, waterproof formula that lasts for at least 6 hours!*
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Red Lipstick
One of the first shades we revived, this 1920's bright red lipstick with cool undertones embodies unabashed confidence and was the first shade revived by our founder, inspired by her grandmother's beauty routine in Argentina.
Wow! This is amazing . I love the vintage make up.