No matter how far the makeup world evolves, Old Hollywood Glamour is arguably yet to be trumped. We see the red carpet attendees gravitating back towards tight curls and bold red lips year-in-year-out, despite the many styles at their disposal. And while today’s famous figures pay homage to the statement glamour, let’s not forget the icon that put it on the map. Marilyn Monroe’s makeup resulted in a world-renowned look that has withstood generations of beauty evolution.
So who was the mastermind behind the fresh-faced yet seductive combo? We have Allan “Whitey” Snyder to thank. Here at Illamasqua, we’ve dug deep to uncover the tricks he used to create the sultry eyes and beauty mark we all know and love today.
Keep reading for our guide to a full face of Marilyn Monroe makeup.
How to do a glowy Marilyn Monroe face
Let’s begin with the glow that irradiated Marilyn Monroe’s face. It is said to achieve this back in the 50s, Marilyn coated her face with petroleum jelly under her makeup. Luckily today, we have alternatives that may be a little more suitable for makeup prep. For example, Illamasqua’s Beyond Veil Primer contains skin-loving ingredients to help smooth the complexion and ensure the makeup looks flawless. Meanwhile, the fine shimmer pigments give that dewy, lit-from-within glow, synonymous with Marilyn Monroe’s face.
Keep the base to a lightweight foundation and concealer where needed (Marilyn Monroe’s makeup was typically quite natural). Dab a coral-toned blush to the apples of the cheeks and finish off with the Beyond Liquid Highlighter on the cheekbones for a strobe-like glow. If you need some guidance as to which highlighter will suit your skin, take a look at our experts’ guide to contouring and highlighting different skin tones.
The structure created for Marilyn Monroe’s face was based on an exaggerated brow arch. For the same definition, brush your brow hairs upwards from the start to the arch. From there, brush them in the direction of your hair growth towards the end. Use small strokes of an eyebrow pencil throughout to add definition and fill any gaps.