How to Apply 1950s Makeup

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: October 11, 2022 References

In the 1950s, stars like Jane Mansfield and Marilyn Monroe popularized the pinup look, with matte foundation, false lashes and full, red lips. The classic glamorous makeup worn by Elizabeth Taylor and Sophia Loren focused on thick, defined eyebrows, neutral lips, and the standout wingtip eyeliner the '50s are famous for. Learn how to achieve these flashy and fun looks yourself!

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Applying 1950s Pinup Makeup

1
Apply foundation to your skin. Choose a matte liquid or cream foundation.^{[1]
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- Blend it in with a makeup sponge.
- Make sure to add foundation around the lip area.^{[2]
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Use a powder puff and blend translucent face powder onto the skin, avoiding your eyebrows and lips.
3
Apply false lashes to your upper eyelids. This is to give you lashes like Marilyn Monroe and Lucille Ball wore in the '50s.^{[3]
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- Add a thin layer of lash glue to the false lashes, and bond the false lashes against your lash line.^{[4]
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4
Create the cat eyes. Here is how to achieve the upward flick of winged eyeliner like Audrey Hepburn.^{[5]
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- Draw along your lash line with soft crayon eyeliner.
- Use a cotton bud to smear the outer corners diagonally upwards.
- To intensify the look, you can trace it with liquid eyeliner.
5
Apply mascara. Use mascara mainly or only to the top lashes, on both sides of the lash.^{[6]
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6
Prep your lips with balm. Preparing your lips before applying red lipstick is important because the vibrant hue can accentuate imperfections.^{[7]
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- Apply lip balm.
- Remove dead skin by gently exfoliating your lips with a cotton ball.
7
Line your lips. Choose a color matching or slightly darker than your lipstick.^{[8]
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- Draw just outside the natural border of your mouth - the '50s were all about a full, softly rounded mouth.^{[9]
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  Research source} Make sure the cupid's bow of your top lip is drawn symmetrically.
- Fill in your lips with liner.
8
Apply lipstick. To achieve a long-lasting red lip shade, build multiple layers.^{[10]
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- Use a lip brush to apply the red lipstick.
- Blot with tissue.
- Repeat until you're satisfied with the depth of shade.
9
Perfect the lines. Take a clean lip brush and a dab of concealer and clean up the outline around your lips.^{[11]
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- You look like a gorgeous, 1950s pinup model!
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Applying 1950s Glamorous Makeup

Choose a liquid or cream foundation that is close to your natural skin color and blend it in with a makeup sponge.^{[12]
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2
Apply blush. This technique of face-framing blush was used in the '50s to achieve an all-over rosy glow.^{[13]
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- Using a makeup brush, blend pink or coral blush onto your cheeks, temples and around the sides of your forehead.
3
Prepare your eyebrows. Brush out your eyebrows for a thicker, Grace Kelly look.
- Use an eyebrow comb or a spoolie (which is like a mascara wand for the eyebrows).
- Set with brow gel.
4
Fill in the shape of your eyebrows. The aim is to create defined brows with a strong arch that tapers off softly at the ends.^{[14]
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- Color in the shape with an eyebrow pencil.
- Alternatively, color in the shape using eye shadow and an angled brush.
5
Give your eyes a light, shimmery shadow. Pale pastel colors were popular in the 1950s.^{[15]
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- Apply the eye shadow above the hood of your top eyelids in the outermost corners.
6
Accentuate the eye shadow. Here is how to get Elizabeth Taylor's look on your upper and lower lids.^{[16]
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- Apply smoky eye shadow in the crease of your upper eyelids.
- Brush smoky shadow along your bottom lash line.
- Apply mascara to your lashes.
Go for a neutral lip like Brigitte Bardot, so that the main focus is on your eyes.

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Question

How do I do my makeup like the film/movie stars of that decade?

Community Answer

Use pictures as a reference and stick to pinks and reds, as they were the most-used colors of that decade.

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How do I apply 1940s makeup?

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Use dark browns and white on the lid. Start with a little bit of white on the whole lid, then blend on top with some browns, sort of like an ombre effect. Use foundation and concealer as normal. Don't make shading like contour and bronzer too intense. For the lips, go for a bold red. Make the blush light.

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