Retro Makeup: Techniques for Applying the Vintage Look

I'm no spring chicken. The freedom to be retro passed me by when my age might have made it more appropriate, but there were no internet sellers of "anything and everything" in the 80s. Full disclosure: I'm 46.But I'm not dead yet! And for those in their 40s or whatever age that might be in the same boat I was, read on.At some point in life you start to fix your hair and face in the morning with a sort of resigned outlook. For me, it was doing things as unobtrusively as possible so that age wasn't enhanced. But doing it to actually look worthy of a second look, well, that was in the past, I figured. I had my day in the sun, so to speak. But I wasn't at all happy with it. I decided to start exploring my options and find what might work for me.Enter this book and the hair book ( Vintage Hairstyling: Retro Styles with Step-by-Step Techniques )by the same author as well as a few well respected retro clothing lines. I've always liked the retro look but it is often used with a heavy hand that simply wouldn't look right on a woman in her mid-40s. At the same time, watch any old movie and note how elegant a woman in her 40s can appear...sometimes even better than the younger ones. Somehow I needed to find that middle ground.I got this book and the matching hair one and read it cover to cover. I went through my make up cabinet (and who doesn't have buckets of the stuff) and tossed out things that didn't make the grade and went shopping.With a little trial and error and just two practice runs, I was able to come up with a face I couldn't believe was me. And it didn't look like I walked out of the past or didn't belong in my skin or anything.This book does go into great and pictoral detail on how to get the faces of many eras and styles, yes. But it also shows you the hows and whys and "what fors" of doing things certain ways. That gives the reader remarkable freedom to customize for exactly the right look for their age and personal style.I loved this book so much that I bought another copy of it and the hair book to give as a gift to someone else. That alone should tell you how high my recommendation is for this book.Now, to the results. What happened that makes me so sure this worked? I'm not going to lie, I enjoyed a lot of attention in my youth but that tapered away as time went on and I had simply forgotten what that was like. I got reminded.My first test in public, while shopping, resulted in some surprising and occasionally embarrassing encounters. The woman who said, much too loudly, from another line that I was so pretty and asked what ethnicity I was was a little embarassing but the random males who kept wanting to lift things for me was nice, if strange.Am I saying that this book will magically make you attract random strangers who will want to lift your gallons of milk for you? No, but it does happen. If you have a pretty good base in your features and are willing to take the time, you can remake yourself so that all that you have that is good is shown to best effect and in a way that speaks "classic" beauty.For women like me who have reached that point where they aren't quite sure what to do with their faces now that they've reached that in between time where they aren't old but have to be careful of fledgling lines and make-up, then this is an excellent tool. Combine with the hair book and you'll have a whole new look to rock.

Full disclosure. I'm a clothing historian. I am very picky when it comes to recreating historical styles because it is my livelihood. When Ms. Rennells book "Vintage Hairstyling" came out back in 2009, I flipped head over heels for it. It was so useful! I purchased "Retro Makeup" when it first came out, but I admit I didn't really look at it because I'm not a makeup wearer. I sold it back to Amazon because I was moving and reducing my library.This week, I bought "Retro Makeup" again and OH MY GOD! What did I miss! This little book is a godsend. Everything is in here. There is they history of makeup. There is an overview of all the tools used in the decade in question and then the specific makeup products. And then -- heaven of heaven -- tips on how to use modernly available makeup to give that vintage look. There is also an invaluable section on what colours to wear for your skin tone. And that's done by decade too, so you can know what lipstick colour to wear for your skintone for the 1920s look versus the 1960s. And women of colour are represented too, unlike in the original makeup books of the period. It's hard to believe there is this much information in only 103 pages!Futhermore, most "vintage style" books contain a drib or drab of the earlier decades of the 20th century, but really concentrate on the 1950s and 60s (after all, everyone is crazy for winged eyeliner!). But this book makes the girl from 1933 in me rejoice! The 20s, 30s, and 40s aren't given short shrift at all but equal treatment. And a bit is even included about makeup in the late Victorian period, Edwardian period, and the Great War period. So if you're a vintage dancer like me and you're going to an Armistice Ball, you'll know how to paint your face circa 1918!As I mentioned, I am not a person who normally wears makeup, so I appreciate fully the care a detail that Ms. Rennells has taken to show how to do everything from curling one's eyelashes to applying eyeliner. This book assumes NOTHING. It isn't just for amateur makeup artists. It's for all of us. I love it.Really, truly, forget all other vintage makeup books advertised anywhere. None can compare this this one.

When you are wanting the Be-All End-All to Retro looks you will purchase this book, Retro Make-up and the sister, Vintage Hairstyling. Lauren Rennells is all knowledgeable when it comes to Retro looks, as she has been doing them for some time as a freelance, make-up and stylist for tv, film, and photos. As a hair dresser I am leery of hair and make-up how to's...because a lot have not been doing hair daily as long as I have, and don't explain the why's. It has been CLEAR to me that Lauren Rennells understands, and KNOWS without a doubt what she is talking about when she talk about high lighting and low lighting make up and where to put them. Every step, how to has been tested, broken down and made simple so ANYBODY can use it. Lauren Rennells books have transformed my Pin-curls and Cat eye's. My books have already been looked at, drooled on, loved so much and almost stolen. Will I purchase this book again? Without a Doubt! Can licensed professionals use this? Enthusiastic YES. Can you, who wants to do it for fun use it easily? With easy steps like these you will rock that Cat-Eye like nobody's business.

I love reading about the history of make up through the era's and how to achieve those desired 40/50's looks - A colourful glossy book, but for the price of the book I expected a thicker volume. The book content was written well, just not enough in it or enough varied styles that I was anticipating, but non the less informative enough to get you started.

I loved this, I been looking a for a book for ages with vintage make-up techniques. I am a complete novice when it comes to make-up, but this book is great, brilliant directions and pictures, would definitely recommended this

Excellent photos, very informative. Just what i needed. Would love some more books this educational about this period of make up.

Does exactly what it says on the cover. I was expecting it to be a little bit thicker though! Its really good on the instructions of how to apply to makeup too.

this book was recommended to me by a Vlogger, and I must say, it is top notch... I love it, it's great just learning about mke up throughout the decades.