How To Do a Modern Old Hollywood Makeup Look

The immaculate skin, chiseled features, seductive eyes, and, of course, the iconic red lip are all unquestionably alluring aspects of Old Hollywood makeup. Celebrities are adopting a slightly softer version of the retro look these days, despite the eternal appeal of the traditional Old Hollywood glam makeup look. Imagine: glossy, translucent red lips instead of the opaque crimson that predominated in the past, heaps of blush in place of dramatic contour, and satiny (rather than matte) skin.

With a modern touch that makes it feel completely wearable, even throughout the day, this current take on the Old Hollywood makeup trend retains all of the nostalgic appeal of the classic style. Are you prepared to embrace your inner screen siren? Here’s a step-by-step guide to creating a gorgeous modern Old Hollywood glam makeup look.

Start With Skin Prep

A luminous, long-lasting finish starts with adequate skin prep, much like any other look. To assist get rid of extra oil and other debris that can get in the way of applying makeup, start by cleaning your face with a mild cleanser. Next, use a moisturizer and serum that are appropriate for your skin type to seal in moisture. You should also wear sunscreen during the day to protect your skin from harmful UV radiation.

Use an SPF moisturizer, such the L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Triple Power Moisturizer with SPF 30, to expedite your preparation and shield your skin from everyday UV exposure. It hydrates your skin for up to 48 hours and helps shield it from the sun without leaving a greasy or white tint. Additionally, it gradually brightens and firms the skin to encourage a more youthful-looking complexion.

Create an Even, Flawless Base

An essential element of traditional Old Hollywood makeup is even-looking skin. This is how to achieve the appearance without the need for stage makeup.

Apply a buildable foundation]

The smooth, porcelain-like complexions of old Hollywood stars were well-known. Choose a buildable foundation, such the L’Oréal Paris Infallible 32HR Fresh Wear Foundation, to create that distinctive base. The non-comedogenic formula is light and feels good on the skin while offering buildable medium-to-full coverage.

To smoothly incorporate the product into your skin, use a foundation brush or a moist makeup sponge. For a finish that looks natural, we advise beginning in the middle of your face and working your way outward. Because this foundation is buildable, you can always apply more if you want a fuller-coverage finish, so start with less than you think you’ll need.

Conceal as needed

Next, use concealer to make your under-eyes look younger and brighter. We recommend using a lightweight, creamy concealer, such the L’Oréal Paris True Match Radiant Serum Concealer, to get a natural look. It helps conceal discolorations while moisturizing and de-puffing under-eye bags thanks to its hyaluronic acid and caffeine infusion. Use the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Blur-Fection Longwear Loose Setting Powder to gently dust your T-zone and under-eye area to help lock in your appearance and achieve a smooth, blurred finish. It will keep your makeup looking fresh for up to 24 hours and help reduce undesired shine.

Sculpt and Define Your Facial Features

Old Hollywood makeup is a softer approach than the extremely defined, deeply contoured makeup we frequently see on social media. Tho much more subtly, the features are nonetheless carved. Here’s how to accentuate your features without sacrificing the delicate, vintage-glam vibe.

Sweep on blush and bronzer

Blush is heavily emphasized in the contemporary version of old Old Hollywood glamor makeup; flushed cheeks give the classic appearance a contemporary (and noticeably flirtatious) feel. Use a bright pink blush, like the Dewy Bright Pink L’Oréal Paris Lumi Le Liquid Blush, to simulate a natural glow. Unlike traditional powder blushes, which may make your skin appear flat or cakey, the liquid solution feels weightless on the skin and blends like a dream. For a delicate, healthy-looking blush, apply one dot to each cheekbone and blend toward your temples. Choose two or three dots per cheekbone for a more pronounced flash of color.

Once your blush is correct, use a matte bronzer, such as the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Fresh Wear Soft Matte Bronzer, to gently contour the hollows of your cheeks, jawline, and temples. This aids in delicately sculpting your features without creating any sharp or noticeable lines.

Add highlighter

In contrast to the velvety matte finish of classic Old Hollywood makeup, modern makeup tends to be more radiant. Apply the L’Oréal Paris Lumi Le Glass Highlighter Stick to the high points of your face to naturally and attractively highlight your features. It melts into the skin for a stunning, healthy-looking radiance and comes in six hues, three of which are glowing and three of which are dewy. Try the semi-transluscent hue Glassy Pearl Eclat for a healthy-skin appearance free of unwanted glitter or sparkle.

Create an Iconic Old Hollywood Eye Look

One element unites almost all popular 1950s makeup looks: winged eyeliner. However, the Old Hollywood wing is short and lovely, with only the slightest upward flick at each eye’s outer corner, in contrast to the dramatic siren eye style popularized by TikTok. Here’s how to achieve the ideal eye makeup look inspired by Old Hollywood.

Start with a neutral eyeshadow

Although it’s not a major component of Old Hollywood makeup, a little nude shadow can assist define your eyes and complete your look. For a subtle pop of color, we suggest applying a neutral-toned shadow to your lids, such as the L’Oréal Paris Paradise Le Shadow Stick in Alluring Rose. Use the L’Oréal Paris Paradise Le Shadow Stick in Brown Bliss to gently darken your creases for more definition. Make sure you blend nicely so that the two shadows don’t have any sharp edges or clear boundaries.

Create a subtle wing

As previously said, winged liner is an essential (and unavoidable) component of Old Hollywood makeup. You should use a precise liquid eyeliner, such the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Grip Precision Felt Waterproof Eyeliner in Black, to draw your wing. Take care not to make your upper lash line too thick as you define it with the fine tip. To optically lengthen your eye and provide a seductive yet understated cat-eye look, flick the liner toward your temple when you reach the outer corner of your eye. Try supporting your elbow on a firm, immovable surface, like as your bathroom counter, if you are having problems making an even wing. In addition to making it simpler to draw a straight, even line, this can assist steady your arm.

Add a volumizing mascara

You’ll need a mascara to add even more glitz, preferably one with look-at-me volume and length. The ideal option is the L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Panorama Washable Mascara. Its distinctive multi-level bristle brush enables the volumizing solution to capture every lash for a stunning, fanned-out appearance without flaking or clumping. To apply the long-lasting solution, hold the wand at the base of your lashes and swipe upward. Next, just apply a second application to the outer corners of your eyes. This method will assist accentuate the cat eye you made with eyeliner and visually lengthen your eyes.

Define your brows

The ideal way to complete your Old Hollywood eye makeup appearance is with full, well-groomed brows. Use a fine-tipped brow pencil, such the L’Oréal Paris Brow Stylist Definer Mechanical Waterproof Eyebrow Pencil, to first define your arches and lightly fill in any sparse areas. When you’re finished, use the accompanying spoolie to brush thru your brows to ensure a blended, natural look and to soften any hard lines. Use the L’Oréal Paris Faux Brow Hair-Like Brow Filling Pen instead to give the appearance of thicker brows. Next, add a layer of L’Oréal Paris Infallible Up To 24HR Brow Lamination for a long-lasting finish.

Perfect Your Signature Lip

The most iconic feature of traditional Old Hollywood glam makeup is certainly a striking, impenetrable red lip. You can, however, choose a sheer red lip or a delicate pink lip if you’re feeling more contemporary. It feels softer than a bright red pout, yet it’s still powerful.

Line your lips

To shape your pout and stop feathering, start by outlining your lips with a long-lasting lip liner, such the L’Oréal Paris Color Riche Lip Liner in Le Rouge Paris. Once your lips have been traced, use your finger to gently blend the liner into a soft, blurred appearance.

Apply lipstick or gloss

Here’s where you choose between going for a more contemporary, muted style or channeling the iconic Old Hollywood glitz. If you choose the former, choose a striking red lipstick, such the L’Oréal Paris Color Riche Satin Lipstick in Le Rouge Paris, to accentuate your lips. With just one brush, the moisturizing formula provides vivid color that doesn’t smear, feather, bleed, or move throughout the day.

Use a tinted lip oil or gloss instead of lipstick for a more understated (and very fashionable) look. We adore Wine O’Clock’s L’Oréal Paris Paradise Hyaluron Lip Oil. In the tube, it has a rich, deep crimson hue, but when applied to the lips, it adds a kiss of color and a highly glossy, high-shine finish.

Complement Your Makeup with Old Hollywood Waves

Wear bouncy, wavy hair with your Old Hollywood makeup for a truly bombshell look; the more voluminous, the better. We’ve included a little lesson below if you’re unsure how to score the look.

Prep your mane

You should use a heat protectant while your hair is still moist because this bouncy look requires heat styling. A light leave-in conditioner, such as the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Moisture 21-in-1 Leave-In Conditioner for Dry Hair, is your best option if your hair is dry or lifeless. Use a volumizing mousse, like the L’Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle BOOST IT Volume Inject Mousse, in place of the leave-in conditioner if you need more volume. Make sure to thoroughly distribute your preferred solution throughout your hair, and then use a low heat setting to blow dry your hair until it is completely dry.

Curl your hair

After that, split your hair into four equal parts. Start curling one-inch chunks of hair using a large-barrel curling iron, pinning each one up and out of the way as you go. If you want to use hot rollers, those are also effective; just make sure to get larger rollers because you want your hair to be wavy rather than tightly curled.

Set your look

After you’ve completed curling your hair, turn your head over and gently run your fingers thru it to help loosen the curls and add body. After you’ve finished combing thru your mane, turn your hair back into its natural position and mist it liberally with a long-hold hairspray, such as the L’Oréal Paris Elnett Satin Extra Strong Hold Hairspray—Unscented. To help lock in volume and lift throughout the day (or night), concentrate the spray on your roots.