Marilyn Monroe was considered the “ultimate blonde bombshell” not only because of the characters she portrayed. She also defined the allure of Old Hollywood glamour. In fact, the beauty icon is an inspiration for many women until today. Although her natural beauty and sexiness contributed to her fame and success, she also had several beauty secrets to accentuate her features and maintain her iconic look. The best part is that her beauty rituals were revealed these past few years. So, here are the beauty tips from Marilyn Monroe.
Rigorous Skincare Routine
According to a rumor, Marilyn Monroe was obsessed with washing her face five times daily to prevent breakouts. Unfortunately, this habit can cause skin problems. To be specific, the beauty icon experienced dry skin because of obsessive washing.
Because Marilyn Monroe had dry skin, Erno Lazlo (a Hungarian dermatologist) prescribed her a rigorous skincare routine, which differed depending on the day or occasion. Nevertheless, her evening routine was consistent. It involved splashing her face with multiple splashes of warm water. Then, she would perform oil cleansing using Erno Laszlo Active Phelityl Oil.
Oil cleansing is still a popular cleansing method used today. Its effectiveness in removing makeup, grease, and dirt is because oil cleansers are lipophilic. As such, they can attract and dissolve oil-based products (most makeup products) and sebum better than their counterparts.
After oil cleansing, the gorgeous actress applied Active Phelityl Cream, and rinsed her face. Then, she finished her routine by applying the Controlling Lotion. Other products included in her beauty regimen are Elizabeth Arden’s Eight Hour Cream and Nivea Creme. These moisturizing products contain humectants and soothing oils that aid in healing her dry skin.
Makeup Technique to Make Lips Plump
One of the beauty tips from Marilyn Monroe is about making your lips plump. In fact, this makeup technique is still used by many makeup artists today. It involves using five different shades of red lipstick. The darker shades were placed on the outer part of the lips, while the lighter hues were applied on the inner part of the lips. This technique creates an illusion of fuller lips. Plus, it can make your overall look more glamorous.
Used Baby Powder as a Dry Shampoo
To achieve Marilyn Monroe’s iconic blonde hair, her hairstylists bleached and colored her hair with a “ pillow case white” shade of hair dye. To be specific, her hair had been treated every three weeks to maintain its color. Unfortunately, bleach and hair dye can damage the strands.
Fortunately, the gorgeous actress was ahead of her time when it came to beauty. She rarely washes her tresses to avoid further damage. Instead, she applied Johnson’s Baby Powder to her roots and hair every two days to make it look fresh and shiny. While dry shampoo is now available, you can use this Old Hollywood trick to keep your hair fresh and healthy.
Makeup Technique to Make the Eyes Shine
One of the best beauty tips from Marilyn Monroe is about making your eyes shine. In fact, you can give your eyes the Old Hollywood glamour feel with this makeup technique.
To make Marilyn Monroe’s eyes shine, her makeup artist used multiple colors of eyeliner. Black is for the wing and upper lid. Then, brown for the lower lash line and white for the water line. Afterward, a red dot is placed in the inner corner of the eyes to make them appear whiter. Also, the mix of colors adds dimension, making your eyes look glamorous.
The Monroe Glow
Marilyn Monroe was known for her “on-camera glow” or the “Monroe glow” because of her shiny skin. Her beauty try is applying a layer of Vaseline or Nivea Creme under her makeup. As a result, her skin would catch the light in front of a camera.
Renée Taylor, one of Monroe’s acting school classmates, revealed that she asked the beauty icon about her luminous skin. Marilyn Monroe said that her shiny skin was due to applying petroleum jelly or Vaseline on her entire body and taking a three-hour hot bath afterward.
Skip the Sun
During the 1950s and 1960s, bronze skin was all the rage. However, Marilyn Monroe was opposed to the trend because she wanted to “feel blonde all over.” As such, she always protected her pale skin by applying sunscreen when going outdoors. Today, experts also recommend rubbing a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 to protect your skin from the sun.
The Bottom Line
Marilyn Monroe was the ultimate blonde bombshell because she exudes great beauty and sexiness. Even so, she knows how to highlight her features and care for her skin. As presented, there are many beauty tips from Marilyn Monroe. Most of them are still used today because of their effectiveness. You can also try them to feel young, fabulous, and glamorous at any age.
