Preen Cosmetics

Mae West

Something I’ve been looking at lately, and if I’m honest, getting a little obsessed with, is the make-up used by the glamorous Hollywood stars of the 1930’s.

Mainly because they are so cool, and even though I know it took ages to achieve the look, the starlets of the time make it somehow look effortless.

At the close of the 1920’s there was a crash in the stock market and a huge financial crisis (sound familiar, anyone?) so the ladies changed their attitudes towards hair and make-up.

Up till then it had all been flapper girls and rebellious attitudes towards beauty, but then, with doom and gloom everywhere, styles became more softer. Women started to look feminine again and embraced glamour where they could and  iconic looks were born.

As people longed to escape the depression, they ran into movie theatres for a little relief and look what they got?

The wonderful Mae West, Greta Garbo, and Ginger Rogers.

They all deserve their own post, but in this one I’m  looking at Mae West.
The thing I love the most is the smokey eyes, the false eyelashes and dainty eyebrows.  It’s all about the eyes.  The lips are faultless to, and you know she has to be wearing red lipstick, but it’s the eyes.
The intensity they have and it’s all to do with eye-liner, eye-shadow and eye lashes.  All put together without the over kill.  She has it perfect, not to much and not to little.
She wore just enough make up to excentuate her best features and not take anything away.  As she famously once said, ” Kiss and make-up – but too much makeup has ruined many a kiss.”

Link Love: Visit the Preen Eye make-up page