Top make-up products to achieve a Forties look
By Lena on March 24, 2012
The striking looks of the Forties reveal just how much women did to look polished, making today’s neutral make-up seem so bland. Max Factor make-up artist Caroline Barnes gives us some expert guidance in how to recreate bold, heavy-lidded eyes and Yanar Alkayat selects the tried and tested mascaras and eyeliners to achieve this look.
Prepping skin
The Forties-esque aficionados who recreate this look regularly will know how important the base is. “Skin is such a focus in this look that taking the time to create a perfect canvas is essential,” explains Caroline. “You want to get that velvety finish with no shine or sheen, so spend some time to beautify skin to its optimum.”
Once the foundation, powder and concealer have been applied meticulously, it’s time to move up to the brows.
Perfect brows and liner
“Before you start with the liquid eyeliner, it’s important to paint and shape your eyebrows because that gives structure and framework for the eyes. It also provides the length so you know how far to extend your eyeliner,” explains Caroline who has made-up the face of many a celebrity and model.
Caroline says to give brows a nice arch and extend them as far as they will go which will then guide the liquid eyeliner and the flick. Keep eyebrows strong and well defined.
The thickness of eyeliner depends on the size of your eyes. “The smaller your eyes the finer the line has to be – if you do a thick line, it will just close your eye. Keep as close to the lash line as possible if you have small eyes.”
Other tips include starting and finishing with a fine line and making it slightly thicker in the middle as “this makes it more elegant, rather than a stripe right across.”
Her favourite Max Factor product to achieve this sultry, heavy lidded look is Glide and Define, which is a dinky little felt-tip liner that draws a liquid line quite effortlessly. It’s also small enough to slip into the teeniest of vintage purses.
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What people have said so far…
5 comments
Thanks for the post, I’m forever wasting money on crap mascaras!
Does anyone know a good red lipstick? I’d like something matte and really striking, but none of the ones I’ve tried so far have been great.
Kate, I’m never without my red lipstick and have had found a lovely matte red in MACs Rudy Woo (they have a whole range of matte colous). Lasts well, smells lovely, and really suits my very fair skin x
Sorry that should have been Ruby Woo! x
I hate MAC’s matte lipsticks, they really don’t work for my lip type (which is quite dry already so it’s not a good match). I personally love Max Factor Colour Elixir in Ruby Tuesday, there’s a post about it on my blog. I wore it on my wedding day, too!
I was going to suggest MAC Ruby Woo too! It’s a perfect red.
Max Factor is no longer sold in the US, alas. Anyone know of another eyeliner similar to their Glide and Define? I never wear liner but want to try it out in a dramatic but easy fashion.