50's Makeup
By Ebower
Do you need to put your face on?
You'll have a blast gazing at these gorgeous beauties and reading the makeup tips essential to being cool in the fifties!
When I think about the essential 50's face, I think glamour and lots of it! I imagine Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn and other sophisticated ladies of the time on the red carpet in a glittering gown and all dolled up with a face to match. In the fifties, the look was pure femininity. The lips and eyes were both strong in their own way. The most popular color on the lips was red, but various shades of pink were seen every now and then. The eyes were meant to look cat-like with lots of black eye liner and black mascara. Eyeshadow was light and sometimes not even used. Also, the eyes were framed with defined, arched eyebrows. The canvas of it all was a glorious pale complexion achieved with foundation and powder.
Revel in the glory of this old age beauty as you view these pictures and videos of beautiful woman. Channel their ancient Hollywood glamour into your own style today by checking out stars that wear their own version of the classic 50's look. Now excuse me while I go to the powder room to touch up my makeup!
50's Makeup Tutorials
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- Christopher Drummond Beauty: Fall Makeup: Perfect 50\'s Inspired
- How to Apply 1950s Makeup | eHow.com
How to Apply 1950s Makeup. Perfection and glamour are the trademarks of the 1950s face. With color predominant on the big screen, film stars such as Marilyn Monroe, Sophia Loren and Doris Day wore makeup that was flawless... - 1950s Makeup, 50\'s Makeup Tricks
- Fashions of the Fifties - Retro Hairstyles and Makeup
Women's Fashions of the 50s
Who is your favorite star from the 50's?
See results without votingComments
Not sure I could pull this off but I love the 50's makeup styles!
It's probably not for everyone, but if you take the red lip away then it would look great any woman. Thanks for stopping by!
Loved this hub. I like the glamour of the late fifties and early sixties. I especially like the pictures you used. Thanks for all the research you did for this.
I'm glad you liked it, Cyndi10! Your welcome and thanks for taking the time to comment. :)
50s seems kind of 'old fashioned' but the bright colors seem to have come 'full circle' now. (But what do I know?)
The 50's look might be considered 'old fashioned' to some, but to others, it can be classic. It's good for women when dressing up today. Thanks for your comment. :)
Yes, old fashioned can be another way of saying classic. The strong, dark colors.
PS: You know, I think there may, at least indirectly be another reason why the 1950s saw such deep and starkly contrasting lip colors. It used to be that sooo many women smoked heavily (70 years ago there were even public classes to teach women how to smoke) and thus many developed 'smoker's lip', with tell-tale wrinkles immediately around the mouth, which, of course, needed to be offset by a strong, contrasting color on the lips. (Two cents')
Interesting! Thanks for sharing. :)
EBower:
YW.
I'm sure your (and your mom's) practice in this regard isn't influenced by smoking though... lol
No, we don't smoke.
Better not to start, either! :)
Hard to quit, especially if the money isn't coming in. Blessings
I won't ever start. It's unhealthy and just plain gross!
Re. 'the eyes were framed with defined, arched eyebrows.'
Do you think this 50s look is a particularly valid route to go? and to work well does it need to be combined with a consistently rigorous use of eyeliner and mascara, do you think?
Clarification: I mean, it's a great look, but I wonder whether it needs a lot of work. Blessings.
I think it's a wonderful classic look, but I wouldn't recommend it for everyday use. It's a great special occasion look.
Like, for combining with the also 'par excellence' classic, vibrant, intensely red lips?
Blessings.
They could be paired as long as the eye shadow color was neutral so the lips could be used as the focus of the face.
I defer to your evident expertise.
Blessings.
Thanks! I wouldn't say I'm an expert by any means, but I've read a lot about it.
YW (smile)
You evidently have done.
Blessings.
that was a very intresting hub to read!! i love the 50 makeup styles specially the eyes.
carrie
Thank you, Carrie! I like 50's makeup as well; it's very classic and chic. :)
BTW: some of the video links are now dead.
The Monaco wedding one from 1956 works fine, though. (Maybe you watched the more recent one from there, too?)
Blessings.
Thanks for letting me know, f. I wrote this hub a few years ago, so some of the videos are old. I'll be sure to fix them. No, I missed that wedding.
YW: These days, of course, it's all in color, right?
Blessings.
Right; can you believe how everyone is putting the emphasis on 3d movies and 3d cell phones?
Well, you seem to prefer simple black and white now, anyway.
Blessings.
Yes, I like it for right now. :)
So, re. the Vogue picture, do you think that it's the eyes/eyebrows, or the red, red lips that are being emphasized more?
My two cents': they both seem pretty well emphasized to me, anyway. (Unless I'm mistaken.)
Blessings.
I would say it's a very dramatic look. The lips are being more emphasized then anything else, but you're right; all of those features are being emphasized.
Yes; anyway, your comment about the 'pure femininity' of 'sophisticated ladies of the time' applies especially to the dramatic, emphasized lips; maybe this is something you
favor going for. Blessings.
I like this look every now and again, but I usually just wear lipstick and mascara. I've never been able to master applying eyeliner. lol
Well, go for it, anyway. Blessings.
PS, do you reckon that Katy Perry, above, in the picture, deliberately goes for a 50s look?
I guess it's partly about the calculated concentration of strong, bold color.
Blessings.
I think she was going for that sort of look. Yes, 50's makeup (when going for a glamorous look), was all about the strong red lip, a somewhat pale complexion, and black eye liner.
Yes, I think I agree the look includes being 'all about the strong red lip', a clearly — even starkly — defined red exuding strength and confidence.
(Hope this made sense. Blessings.)
Yes, I understand. I think it does portray that sentiment.
Oh, well, I must have gotten it figured, then! You know a lot more about it than me, anyway, right?
Blessings.
lol I guess so.
Re. 'lol', well you seem to enjoy writing about lipstick, anyway (probably enjoy using it, too). Blessings.
I like to wear it every now and again. Yes, I like to write about anything that's fashion or beauty related. :)
'I like to wear it'; yes, well your hub uses the word 'essential' more than once and, whether strictly and objectively this is so or not, I can certainly understand that for many women using it is a fundamental part of the way they are and the way they see themselves. (Paul writes of the 'inner man' also.) Blessings.
Great article, thanks for posting! Voted it up & awesome!
DIYmyOmy: Thanks for voting! I wrote it a few years ago, but I still like it. Thank you for commenting. :)
You still like the Vogue-ish cosmetic glamor, then. But I think that since you wrote the hub you've also gotten into ear stretching and plugs, right?
Blessings.
f: I do like it. Yes, I have. I appreciate many different styles of fashion and beauty.
So you are still pursuing from time to time the Vogue-ish glamor style, and the plug possibilities for stretched ears, then?
f: I really don't wear a lot of makeup everyday, so I wouldn't say I'm pursuing that type of style. I'm keeping my 2g plug size.
I see, yes. You like your 2gs; they are a more or less long term feature I suppose, and you'll maybe eventually acquire more pairs of plugs in 2g, I guess.
Blessings.
f: Yes, I have a few.
Really? this is cool; a few months ago you said you had only one pair of 2g plugs, I think.
(Unless I'm forgetting something.)
Blessings.
f: I bought some more with Christmas money.
Oh, how lovely! you're really getting more into the plug scene now, aren't you, as a more and more permanent thing. Did you get any reaction from your family to your new 2g plugs? I think you said your mom liked your original pair. Nice that you've had the confidence, anyway, to carry forward your interest.
Blessings.
My dad doesn't comment on them; my mom likes my smaller ones that sort of look like earrings.
I see; well, it's nice that your mom like them, the smaller ones at least, for now; maybe it will help her get used to the idea of plugs more, if she already thinks the smaller ones look good.
You said 'smaller'; do you have bigger ones, too?
f: They are the same size but they look larger from the front.
I guess so; yes. Maybe you're mom will get used to those ones, as well; and maybe even get to like them? (Do you still need a bit more confidence to wear the bigger ones around certain people? or maybe you just do your own thing regardless!) Blessings.
I don't feel like they are appropriate for tutoring, so I cover them with my hair. I guess I wear the large ones only every so often. I don't mind wearing them anywhere except I do think I cover them for work and church.
Well, since you I think have hair that can cover them, then this is more simple!
But anyway it must be nice to be able to have a choice in plugs; sounds like you've now got several.
Blessings.
Very interesting topic... make up was very simple and yet sexy in the 50's. I like the idea, but personally would probably never wear that type of make-up. I prefer eye shadow! Loved all of the pictures and videos!
mythicalstorm273: Thank you! I wouldn't like to wear lipstick all the time like they did either. Thanks!
wow...i enjoyed reading this hub. it sure brings out a classic woman in a lady :)
voted up indeed!
Ruchira: I'm so glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for voting!
Wonderful! I loved the makeup from back then, it was so much more glam!
Nell Rose: Thank you! I agree; it was very glamorous!
elayne001 2 years ago
Enjoyed your hub about the 50s and the stars. I was born in the fifties but really enjoyed movies from that era. Aloha!