Makeup Look of the Day: The Exotique

Cher

Louise Rainer

The Exotique  is a celebration of quiet, understated beauty that also has an unconventional charm.  Luise Rainer, a popular actress from the 1930's who was also the first actor to ever win 2 Academy Awards, was an early example of the Exotique.  Cher is striking as a modern version and her features show off the makeup exceptionally well.  The look uses a sheer foundation, apricot cream blush (applied under translucent powder), burgundy cream eyeshadow, black mascara on curled lashes, and a natural toned lip pencil.  The final step is the application of petroleum jelly to the eyelids and mouth.

           

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

It might sound a little old-fashioned but Vaseline is actually a really useful tool when it comes to giving any look a final dramatic touch.  When applied to the eyelids over eyeshadow, the result looks wet and glossy (you can really see this on Cher).  When applied over the lips, especially over a natural toned lip pencil, the result is a   mouth that looks effortlessly glamorous.  It's also makes for a nice alternative to lip gloss when used in combination with a variety of lip pencil shades.  

Makeup Look of the Day: The Siren

Julia Roberts

Rita Hayworth

As the name suggests, the Siren is influenced by the seductive, ethereal women of Greek mythology.  When it comes to Old Hollywood, the Siren conjures up images of Hedy Lamarr, Rita Hayworth, and Gene Tierney.  The look uses gray-brown eyeshadow, black mascara applied to curled lashes (length is important for this look), apricot powder blush, dark flesh toned lip pencil, and a dark berry lip color.

The Siren by Edward Poynter

           PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

A dark berry lip color is probably the most crucial element of the Siren.  For everyday use, a berry lip is also a really nice alternative to red lips, especially because it is considered more appropriate for the office.  I used Revlon Colorstay Lip Color in Burgundy which has a matte type of coverage, meaning it goes on very dry and almost leaves a stain on the lips (matte lipsticks are a bit more difficult to wash off).  If you're looking for long-lasting lip color, I highly recommend trying a matte finish.

Revlon ColorStay in Lavishing Burgundy

                                            

Makeup Look of the Day: The Temptress

Actress Andie MacDowell

The Temptress is an homage to eastern beauty that was very en vogue during the 1930's with actresses like Anna Mae Wong (bottom left).  It uses a black eye pencil on the top and bottom, white frosted eyeshadow, black mascara (which I decided to skip altogether), apricot and golden-yellow powder blush, flesh toned lip pencil, and glossy red lip color (the darker the better).  The black eyeliner is 'winged' up and out by using a pointed sponge-tip shadow applicator.  The white eyeshadow along with the winged liner work together nicely to create an eastern eye shape.  The brows should also be brushed up to create a dramatic straight-across look, which can be a little difficult if you have a strong natural arch like me.  

                                                PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

                        I used Maybelline Soft White eyeshadow, which I have to admit is a really old item (from the '80s or '90s) I never threw away and I'm glad I didn't since it really came in handy for this look.  They don't make this exact shade anymore but it shouldn't be difficult to find a basic white shadow.  I found Maybelline's Snow White shadow online, which should be perfect for the Temptress or any look in which you intend to reshape your eyes.

Maybelline eyeshadow in Snow White 

                                                                                    

Makeup Look of the Day: The Sophisticate

                                                                      

Drew Barrymore

Myrna Loy

The Sophisticate is a strong, grown-up look that evokes 1930's Depression-era beauty.  Heavy, dark-- yet strategically placed-- eye makeup and a dark brown-red lip are key.  Very thin arched brows are also a must-have for the Sophisticate.  For this look I used under eye concealer, face powder, white eye pencil on the bottom rims of my eyes, dark brown powder eyeshadow in the crease of the lids, black powder eyeshadow on the lids, eyelash curler with black mascara, dark burgundy brown lip pencil, and red lipstick.

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

ULTIMA II Golden Taupe eyeshadow

Best of Becca pallette

Brown eyeshadow is one of those makeup items we all have and take for granted.  No other color is as universally flattering against ALL skin tones and eye colors.  It's a good idea to experiment to find out what shade of brown works best for you (or the look you're going for).  I don't think a dark brown is my personal best but for this look it was a necessity.   It's a good idea and investment to have a shadow compact containing a variety of browns, from a light beige to a dark smoky shade, like the Best of Becca palette to the right.  Today I used Ultima II eyeshadow in Golden Taupe.

Makeup Look of the Day: The Starlet

The Starlet is representative of Old Hollywood glamour icons like Jean Harlow (upper right) and is depicted by none other than Courtney Love (upper left).  It's very eyelash heavy and looks the most authentic when the brows are bleached and light brown pencil is used to draw on the signature skinny high-arched brows.  A dark brown eye pencil is also used on the upper lid in a curve, meaning the line should be thickest in the middle.  A thick coat black mascara is applied to both upper and lower lashes and a bright pink blush is swept over the cheeks.  My take on the look is a more watered-down version. I chose to keep my natural brows in tact and focus more on the lashes and red glossy lips.

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Latisse ($120) is a liquid eyelash enhancer to be used nightly that can be purchased (without a Rx, despite what the ads say) at most medispas.  I've been using it for the past few weeks and so far I have noticed a slight increase in length and thickness of my lashes.  However, it takes about 2 months for the effect to peak.  Aside from Latisse, another important item that helps to achieve long lashes is an eyelash curler. Personally I like to curl my lashes after applying mascara. I find that lashes already coated in mascara tend to curl better and hold the curl longer than lashes that are curled prior to applying mascara.  However, this technique only works if no eyeshadow is being worn on the upper lid since the mascara on the lashes tends to mark the upper lid upon curling which ruins the eyeshadow and can be quite messy and difficult to fix.                                            

Makeup Look of the Day: The Flapper

T-Boz

Josephine Baker

Another '20s look, the Flapper is undoubtedly the most iconic look of that decade.  Along with the help of a few non-cosmetic accessories, this look is dependent upon an almost-black smoky eye and a dark lip.  No powder or blush are used. Just black pencil liner on top and bottom of eyes, charcoal eyeshadow around the entire eye, and some black mascara to top it off.  For lips, I used a dark berry toned lipstick, which was very popular in that era.  My only regret is not having gone a bit heavier on the charcoal shadow both in the crease of the lid and under the eye for a really smoky effect.

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Jordana eyeliner in Onyx

Despite what you may have heard, smoky eyes are not a trend-- they are here to stay!  Therefore, it's worthwhile to have the right tools for it.  How you choose to apply the look is your call.  You can go heavy, light, or somewhere in between.  It's up to you if you want to use just an eyeliner or shadow, or both of them together.  If you use an eyeliner (alone or with shadow), make sure it's a pencil liner instead of liquid since a liquid cannot be smudged without looking like a complete mess.  The eyeliner I used was Jordana Kohl Kajal eyeliner in Onyx (only $0.99 at drugstores).  And the charcoal shadow came as part of a quartet by L'bel Paris eyeshadow quartet in Fantaisie, which unfortunately has been discontinued.

L'Bel Paris eyeshadow quartet, Fantaisie

Makeup Look of the Day: The Vamp

      Very 1920's, the Vamp is a tribute to silent film stars such as Clara Bow (below right).  It should look a little bit...well, scary.  Demi Moore's (below left) face transforms perfectly into this role.....the look is all about angled eyes and a dark, dark over-drawn lip.  Women with dark eyes and dark hair have an advantage at pulling off this look.  I'm definitely not the most fitting model for it, but I'm content with my own interpretation.   The Vamp is not to be taken too literally (unless you are attending a costume party).  It's just something to have fun and experiment with, and maybe take away an idea or two to add to your normal routine.

                       PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

I was supposed to use a dark-toned lip pencil, which I didn't have, so I had to think outside the box and use my L'Bel Paris Defini Eyeliner in Capuccino.  It's more of a burgundy-brown as you can see in the picture to the left.  I think it passes quite well as a lip liner! Also, if you look closely, you can see that I overdrew both my top and bottom lips.  I also made the width of my mouth narrower by applying foundation to the outer corners (you can really notice this on Demi).