Betty Page and "pin-up" make up
Bettie Page knew what she was doing when it came to style, from her sexy, slinky wardrobe and her slick black hair. Possibly the most famous of all pin up girls, Bettie's bright red lips and dark black eyes are now essential parts to the pin up style. If you'd like to look like Bettie, or any of her sexy/sultry companions, a few makeup tips can get you started.
~Make sure that your eyebrows are perfectly plucked and groomed, as sharp high-lifting brows are characteristic of these sexy ladies. The inner corners of your brows should be the thickest point, thinning out towards the tips. Before you are finished with your makeup, you can color your brows in thoroughly with an eyebrow pencil to add drama to the look.
~Start with a foundation that matches your skin tone, selecting a slightly lighter color if you can't find the perfect match. Pin ups generally have that perfect, milky skin tone, so make sure that you blend well and cover any flaws
~Use a large blush brush to apply highlighting powder anywhere that light naturally falls, such as the forehead, nose, just above the cheekbones and even your chest.
~Apply a very light shimmery eyeshadow to your entire eyelid from lashes to brow ridge, working it into the skin as much as possible to create highlight and depth. Using a darker color eyeshadow like a deep brown in the crease making a sideways 7 from crease to outer lid. And Blend
~To create a "Cat Eye"
You have two main options for product--liquid liner or pot liner with an angled, thin brush. Truthfully, the best way to understand which is your best friend for the job is to test out both.
Let's pretend you've decided on the liquid--in my estimation, an inferior choice, but some of you just can't get down with a brush and I respect that--so, liquid. Choose the shortest pen-tip you can find--bizarrely, my faves have been drugstore finds. The shorter the tip, the more control you have.
Set up a hands-free magnified mirror--you'll need all the hands you can get for this one. Starting with the inner corner of your eye, barely touch the pen to your lashline and slowly drag toward the outer corner of your eye.
The key is to make your line as close to the lashes as humanly possible--if you want to fatten it up later, by all means do.
As you round toward the edge, sort of flick your wrist slightly but confidently toward your temple. It's better to make a longer extended liner--we can always q-tip it off later. The key is more about placement of wing, rather than the length initially.
All of these steps need to be done with an open eye. It's really hard to tell what something as specific as a winged liner will look like when your eyes are open, if you apply when your eyes are closed. This holds true for almost any shadow application, too. As much as you can flex your little eye-muscles to be able to hold both eyes open when you apply, the more you'll know exactly what your face will look like when you're done.
Open both eyes and with a normal expression on your face (not a raised brow) and assess your work. If the wings are uneven, take your pointed q-tips (the best for makeup blunders!) and in upward motions, symmetrize your wings to your heart's desire.
~Pucker up to find the apples of your cheeks, applying a nice rosy color just to the apples and then blending slightly up the cheekbones. If necessary, reapply highlighting powder above the cheekbones to help create depth.
Finish your look with fire engine red lipstick, just like the gorgeous Bettie Page.
XOXO Desiree
Bettie Page: April 22, 1923 – December 11, 2008
Comments