Makeup: do i gottta wear it?

[FedoraGirl]

i don't usually wear makeup, so should i learn how to do my face up when i wear vintage or vintage-style clothing? does the vintage look need the makeup to appear accurate? or am i just seeing a lot of hollywood made-up starlets, yet the everyday woman wasn't wearing as much or any makeup...inside or outside of the house?

[Vanessa]

Oh - can we invite MK into the powder room to discuss this with us?

I always try to do the whole makeup thing (blasted lipstick!) when doing up a vintage hairstyle & clothes - I think it just completes the picture & sort of - brings everything together.

[Naama]

Well I myself, I sometimes feel like a female drag queen. I just love to wear make up and getting all dolled up and stuff. It dosen't really make a big difference if I go to school or out on an saturday evening, the only thing is lipstick which I use very rarely.
Anyway, back in the days, I don't want to know what people would have thinked about me...... ?Ǭ?_0

Naama

[carpecaligo]

Because I have to wear so much makeup on stage, i can't stand wearing the stuff unless i'm going out somewhere nice.

I'll wear it if i'm going out (think: dinner, movie, show, date, interview.)

I usually stick with the bare minimums, a little eyeliner, blush, and lipstick. Powder if I absolutely need it.

[FedoraGirl]

Originally Posted by Vanessa

Oh - can we invite MK into the powder room to discuss this with us?

actually, getting the guys' opinions, too, might be interesting!

[FedoraGirl]

so the lipstick seems to be a big issue...i have been most afraid of it as it seems to make me look fake or ghosty. what's the best kind? ie won't smear all over the place?

[LaMedicine]

Is sure to ENHANCE your looks if you choose the right color for you. If lipstick up to now have made you look fake or ghosty, then what is most likely is that the colors were wrong for you.

Divide the colors into pink/blue (as in blue-ish red, magenta, purple hues) base group and coral/orange/red brown/brown base groups (yellow base colors), see which group seems more "natural" on you, and then go to the individual colors of the same group and see if lighter or darker colors are better for you, cooler or warmer tones are better for you. You're bound to come up with a few colors that'll suit you.
A quick way to check: are your cheeks pink/rosey or coral/orange in hue? If the former, start with the pink/blue group, if the latter/ check out the coral/orange lipsticks first.

Oh, and don't forget to do this in natural light, preferably indoors in a room with a lot of sun coming in, but not in direct sunlight. Artificial lighting will also fool your eyes, and you'll get the colors wrong.

Have fun with the hunting, and the best of luck.

[FedoraGirl]

ah, yes. i find that the pink hues are me. the very light shades look best on me. will these give the "right" look? or are the dark colors just for a "starlet" look?

[Biltmore Bob]

Originally Posted by FedoraGirl

so the lipstick seems to be a big issue...i have been most afraid of it as it seems to make me look fake or ghosty. what's the best kind? ie won't smear all over the place?

...an athority, if you will.

[Naama]

Originally Posted by LaMedicine

Divide the colors into pink/blue (as in blue-ish red, magenta, purple hues) base group and coral/orange/red brown/brown base groups (yellow base colors), see which group seems more "natural" on you, and then go to the individual colors of the same group and see if lighter or darker colors are better for you, cooler or warmer tones are better for you. You're bound to come up with a few colors that'll suit you.

Wow, makeup is one of the biggest sience of all..... I also have problem's finding lipstic which suits me, but I already tried a lot of different colours from dark to light reds, pink and even violet tones, in my despaire. But just don't really find anything fitting.... It's quite depressing :/ But well, that's off topic I guess.....

Naama

[CherryBombRock]

I don't really wear makeup during the week (ie at work) as I rarely see anyone apart from my boss and his two cats!

However when I'm going out I like to take the time over my appearance. I love wearing a bright reddish-pink lipstick, it makes me feel really glamourous.

The only problem I have with this tho is I get really dry lips which is not a good look with lipstick! I've just bought one of those lipgloss things by Maybelline that has a 'tattoo' effect - that is it doesn't budge without makeup remover and I can apply my lipbalm over the top so my lips don't dry out.

I know that when I go out with some of my friends they don't really wear makeup, but I love red lips too much, I feel washed out without it!

[LaMedicine]

Originally Posted by Naama

But well, that's off topic I guess.....

Not really off topic. It can be a chore trying to find the right color lipstick, I know. And lipstick is the one item you usually use, even if you go around without any other makeup.
I went through a color analysis program before I finally figured out why I ended up throwing out some lipstick that at first I thought looked wonderful, but in the end, used only once or twice.

Try this: do you look better in a camel color sweater or a gray sweater?
If you look better in a camel color sweater, stick to colors that are yellow based--meaning with a yellow undertone, such as peach, orange, gold-red, teracotta, etc. If you look better in a gray sweater, stick to colors that are blue based--meaning with a blue undertone, as in pink(but not peach), bluish red, magenta, purplish pink, purlish red, etc.

[FedoraGirl]

Originally Posted by CherryBombRock

I've just bought one of those lipgloss things by Maybelline that has a 'tattoo' effect - that is it doesn't budge without makeup remover and I can apply my lipbalm over the top so my lips don't dry out.

this seems like what i'm looking for. so, you can put lipbalm over it during the day as needed? very cool, i'll look for it next time i'm out...

thanks!

[16_sparrows]

Originally Posted by CherryBombRock

The only problem I have with this tho is I get really dry lips which is not a good look with lipstick!

I heard of this great trick years ago that may help. Get an old toothbrush you need to retire, dab some vasaline on the bristles and gently "brush" your lips with it. The bristles take off the dry crackle bits while the vasline moisterizes . According to the article, it is what make-up artists do on movie sets before they apply the actress' lipstick.

[Mrs. Foss]

You might want to try Tangee lipstick. It looks differnt oon everyone, but it's usually a nice peachy pink color. I wore it on my wedding day. I believe it's been around since the 20's. I love the stuff.

http://www.tangee.com/

~Johannah

[MK]

Originally Posted by FedoraGirl

i don't usually wear makeup, so should i learn how to do my face up when i wear vintage or vintage-style clothing? does the vintage look need the makeup to appear accurate? or am i just seeing a lot of hollywood made-up starlets, yet the everyday woman wasn't wearing as much or any makeup...inside or outside of the house?

Women in the USA during the golden era would probably skip wearing make-up if just doing chores around the house, but they would at least wear lipstick if going outside. The style was lips with rich color. Take a look at the color photos of women working in factories during the war in the WWII forum. Even Rosie the riveter had colorful lips.

How much make-up a women wore....or needs to wear to look period depends on her face, clothes, occasion and personel style......but lips are a must.

[FedoraGirl]

Originally Posted by MK

Women in the USA during the golden era would probably skip wearing make-up if just doing chores around the house, but they would at least wear lipstick if going outside. The style was lips with rich color. Take a look at the color photos of women working in factories during the war in the WWII forum. Even Rosie the riveter had colorful lips.

How much make-up a women wore....or needs to wear to look period depends on her face, clothes, occasion and personel style......but lips are a must.

thank you! this answers my original question! so now i must become knowledgeable about wearing lipstick...

fortunately, you ladies here have given me quite a few great suggestions. i have found a lipstick that looks passable (pink, though perhaps a bit too dark). esp for photos. i shall keep looking.

love the techniques given. thanks so much!

[LaMedicine]

You also should use a lip liner (slightly darker than the color of the lipstick) to define the shape of your lips, and preferably, apply the lipstick with a lip brush, rather than directly. This will also help keep the lipstick on longer as well, along with the other techniques.

[RetroModelSari]

I have something about finding the right lpstick colour for yo?ɬ?. It?Ǭ¥s from the 50s, but it might help you?!