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Fifties Cosmetics
Influenced by Hollywood
Hollywood has always influenced America’s beauty and fashion
ideals. The 1950’s were no exception. Silver screen starlets
Marilyn
Monroe and Brigitte Bardot not only enamored
audiences with their sublime allure – they also set the standard for
beauty in this era.
Television sweetheart Lucille Ball perpetuated the image of
the glamorous housewife with her memorable “I Love Lucy”
appearances. These women of Hollywood evoked images of elegance,
dream, and uniqueness.
They inspired within women of the 1950’s the desire to
possess these attributes for themselves. Cosmetics became a
necessity for every woman during this decade.
Bigger-than-life cinema screens showcased the flawless
peaches and cream complexions of 1950’s movie actresses. Max Factor,
renowned make-up artist to the stars, invented pan-cake makeup that
expertly covered any skin imperfections.
The cosmetics mogul introduced an everyday version to women
all over the world during the 1950’s. He’s also credited with making
available a broad range of eye shadows and lipstick shades.
1950’s fashion magazines detailed step-by-step instructions
on how to apply lip colors with recently introduced lip brushes.
Hazel Bishop Inc. marketed the first smear-proof lipstick during
this era.
The names of the company’s popular lipsticks were named simply by
color description rather than fanciful names used by other
companies.
Notable fashion magazine, “Vogue,” began to coordinate colors
of the season’s latest clothing trends with cosmetics. Make up
companies followed the lead of this influential publication
producing an even more vast selection of shades and colors for women
to choose from.
Titanium became an essential ingredient in the cosmetics
industry during the late fifties resulting in lipstick shades with a
pale shimmering gleam.
Nail colors also were affected by this advent. Frosted shades
of pink and silver became widely available. The make up company Gala
first began marketing frosted lipsticks.
Brigitte Bardot made a name for herself with dark smoldering
eyes and pale lips. There is no doubt that this French-born
model-turned-actress influenced American women’s thoughts about
beauty.
Eyeliner of this day was available only in liquid form. Its
application provided a sharp and defining accent of the eyes very
much like the eye make up worn by Bardot.
The movie actress
Marilyn Monroe is a perfect example of the en vogue look
of the 50’s. The diva had narrowed eyebrows with minimal eye shadow
and blush.
Her complexion was unblemished. The over-all resounding
affects of this legendary film actresses’ appearances was the
feeling that she was born with her undeniable charms.
The epitome of the 50’s married housewife was
Lucille
Ball with her coiffed poodle haircut and rosy pink
lips. The television darling’s wide-eyed baby blues, high heels, and
white apron set the mark for a nation of blossoming young women.
Ball managed to maintain her timeless sense of beauty while
expressing her unrestrained comedic genius in a way that has since
been unmatched by any modern-day female comedian.
Evening cosmetic wear leant itself toward drama with
shimmering shades of pink for lips and eyes shadows reaching beyond
the lid. Women of the fifties appeared doll-like with pin-curls or
fringe-like bangs framing their perfectly made-up faces.
Bardot, Monroe, and Ball were a few of the most influential
starlets of Hollywood who propelled cosmetics trends during the
1950’s.
by Lori Ritchie
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