How to Look Like A Hollywood Starlet
Photos: Ben Ritter
The 1940s were a great time for movie heroines. Actresses like Rosalind Russell, Katherine Hepburn, and Lauren Bacall got to play confident, whip smart, and glamorous women in movies like His Girl Friday and The Philadelphia Story. Even off screen they exuded almost royal glamour, stepping out with a polished coif and full face. The trick to making the retro look feel fresh is soft waves and a bright lip. More tips, below!
Step one: Start with a concealer that will effectively hide any discoloration or dark circles around the eye. Apply with a brush and blend with your fingertips. Dust translucent powder over the concealer to set in place. Try Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer ($24) or Maybelline Fit Me Concealer ($6)
Step two: Choose a medium to full coverage foundation that will even out your skin and hide any imperfections. Try Clinique Superbalanced Makeup ($23) or Revlon Colorstay ($14). Apply with your fingertips and set with a very light dusting of matte powder.
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Step three: Strong, defined brows are an important part of this look. It helps if your brows are already shaped and clean (have them professionally tweezed once, and then do it yourself by following the line). To define your brows, take a stiff angled brush and eye shadow in the same color as your brows and brush up and over to the end of the brow.
Step four: To highlight the brow shape, apply a light ivory shadow all over the lid, up to the brow bone. The apply a smoky gray shadow on the lower lid and into the crease.
Step five: Use a liquid liner pen like Smashbox Limitless Liquid Liner Pen ($22) or Sonia Kashuk Dramtically Defining Liquid Eye Liner ($7) to draw winged liner from the outer corner all the way across to the inner corner. Then, in smooth long strokes, draw from the inner corner across to the outer corner, letting the line get thicker as you go across. To create the wing, draw the line from the outer corner up and out.
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Step six: To create a sculpted cheek, apply a matte blush like Revlon Powder Blush ($9.99) underneath the cheekbone and out to the hair line.
Step seven: A bright orange-red lip completes the look. Look for a lipstick with intense color like MAC ($16) or L’Oreal Colour Riche ($8) lipsticks. Apply with a lip brush for a flawless, precise application.
