Marilyn's look is of flawless skin, heavy lidded eyes and bright red lips. Marilyn never disclosed her beauty secrets, but here are some of the rumours.
Getting the Marilyn look is quick and easy.
How to Get That Look
To get the Marilyn look, remember that less is more. The classic Marilyn look requires nothing more than flawless skin, black eye liner, mascara and bright red lips.
First moisturise. As we know moisture is key to Marilyn's look.
Base (complex)
- First apply your Vaseline.
- Next concealer on any flaws, under your eyes and in the crease at the side of your nose. You should also blend a little into your eyelids to create a flawless base for your eye make-up.
- Next brush on your powder. Loose translucent powder works best, but any will do. Make sure that you only put a little powder on your brush and blow off any excess. You are going to add Vaseline then powder either one or two more times, so you need to put only a gossamer-thin layer of powder on each time.
- Next your Vaseline layer: just a thin layer over your face, trying to go over each part quickly and only once. Avoid any rubbing action, as this will make the powder layer turn into a smeary foundation.
- Next add your thin layer of powder. Continue until the desired effect is achieved.
Beware, this does work but does take practice so don't expect to get it right first time.
Base (simple)
If you do not have the time or patience for the Vaseline approach, then instead moisturise, add a foundation then apply concealer to the areas mentioned above. If you are using a normal foundation, rather than a liquid to powder all in one, then finish with a layer of loose translucent powder.
Eyes
In the classic Marilyn look there is no need to apply shadow. If you feel lost without it, then just add a thin layer of a white or off white shade.
Eyebrows
Pluck to arched perfection, then lightly fill the shape in with eyebrow pencil or brown eye-shadow. If you feel brave enough extend the outer edge of your brow by a millimetre or two.
Eyeliner
- Using liquid eyeliner, draw a thin line from the inner corner of your eye to the outer corner then extend it out a further few millimetres.
- If you want a smudgier look, then add a layer of powder liner on top. The line should be thin, very slightly curved upwards and should finish directly below the place where your eyebrow ended.
- If you use false lashes, apply these before your liner. If you don't, then now is the time to apply your mascara.
Lips
- Add red liner following your lip line. Some people may want to draw slightly outside of their lip line to increase the size of their lips, but this is not for the faint-hearted and best left for evening wear.
- Add a layer of a bright red lipstick using a lip brush.
- Blot on tissue paper.
- Lightly dust with loose powder.
- Do a second layer of lipstick then blot.
The Beauty of Marilyn
Marilyn told photographer Bert Stern that she always used Nivea moisturisers. It has also been said that she would often coat her face in masks of cold cream or Vaseline. When not wearing make up she would wear lanolin or olive oil to protect her from wind and moisturise her face.
Marilyn sometimes took baths in ice cold water laced in Chanel No. 5.
One rumour is that to get her flawless skin look she would massage in a layer of Vaseline then apply a loose powder. She would then gently apply another layer of Vaseline before adding another layer of powder. She would continue until she achieved the desired look.
