Wig Wonderland: 50's Makeup

In the 1950's, the glamour age, actresses were considered fashion and beauty icons. Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, Sophia Loren and Grace Kelly were just some of them and their make up and hair defined the era.
As the war ended and people's budgets recovered but there were more materials avalible and the beauty industry kicked off. Women started spending more time on themselves and beauty salons and powder rooms were 'it' places for them to hang out.

Make up was very delicate; pale skin, light powders, bright lips and black eye liner.
Foundation creams were used to get perfect, porcelain skin and Max Factor and Elizabeth Arden were the most popular brands. Peachy or flesh coloured powders were used on top.
It was all about having big volumptious lips and lip liners were use to accentuate them. The bright red lips (russian red) that were worn in the 1940's continued slightly into the next decade, but by the 1955 pink, peach and orange tones took over. Pink, orange and red tones were often mixed together and worn by blondes, redheads and light brunettes, while women with dark hair wore more purple and red tones. Hazel Bishop came up with the first long lasting, smudge-proof lipstick in 1950. This became the most popular lipstick brand at the time.
Eye make up was fairly minimal. Eyeshadow wasn't worn that much, but mascara and eyeliner definitely were. Black thin line was drawn on the upper lash line to define and open up the eye with a slight "flick". Maybelline was the leading brand for eye make up.
Some women would apply a tiny bit of blush over their brows for an evening look.