Beauty Essentials for the 20th century

  As many of us vintage loving girls know, authentic hair and makeup go along way to creating the perfect period appropriate look.  I'm sure I'm not the only has some spent a lot of time admiring hairstyles in classic films, perusing vintage magazines, and watching youtube tutorials on things like creating pin curls or applying twiggy style eyeliner.  Hair and makeup styles really changed by decade, and I love being able to discern the era of an image based on something as subtle as the shape of their brows or lips.  I'm always on the hunt for products that were available during these eras, because I love being faithful to the looks.  Wearing a lipstick brand and color that could have been worn by the original owner of my dresses, is just another way to really embrace and live history.  I've done a round up of skincare, makeup, and perfumes that are still available today.

 

Noxzema invented in 1911

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream invented in the 1930s

Yardley soaps and lotions, like the lavender scent, company established in the 1770s

Jergens hand and face creams in 1901

Ponds Face Cream and Cold Cream, 1910s

Smith's Rosebud Salve, (used as lip balm, eye shadow base, cheek highlighter, & hair pomade) created in 1892

 

Nivea Cream, 1911

Oil of Olay, 1950s

Dove Soap, 1957

Wrinkies & Frownies, invented in 1889

They have retained their ultra darling 1950s/60s packaging.

 

Shiseido was the Max Factor of Japan in the 1930s.  Oil blotting tissues were a must for a woman's makeup table.

Countess Isserlyn makeup, created by a Hollywood makeup artist in the 1920s

Coty Loose Powder, 1935

Max Factor pancake makeup (which has been discontinued, but is still available online), 1920s.  M.F. Panstick makeup is still readily available though.

Max Factor, who started in theatre, brought makeup for everyday women into the marketplace.  He was instrumental in creating the first commercial eyeshadows, made of Henna, which started the whole Hollywood vamp or Biba look. He also created lip glosses, eyebrow pencils, face powders, and lipsticks, now available in tubes, for his line.  Lipsticks prior to WWI were only available in tubs or sticks wrapped in paper.  Now every woman could look like a Hollywood starlet.

Cake Mascara was first invented in 1917, by the Maybelline company.  The owner got the idea when his sister Mabel used Vaseline and coal dust to darken her lashes.  God bless you, Mabel!!  Popular colors were black, brown, and blue.

While Maybelline no longer manufactures cake mascara, Longcils Boncza cake mascara is still available.  It's said to have been a favorite of Marilyn Monroe. Longcils Boncza liquid eyeliner was a favorite of Audrey Hepburn, and it is how she created her famous, much emulated, doe eyed look.

Tabu lipstick, 1932

still available in four original shades

Tangee lipstick & blush, 1930s

The lipstick and blush are "mood changing" and respond to your individual body chemistry. 

Arpege perfume, 1927

Wind Song perfume, 1960s

Chanel No. 5, 1924

Eau de Cologne Imperiale, 1860s

a gender neutral scent, said to be a favorite of Cary Grant

Bourjois' Evening in Paris, 1928

 

In the 1940s companies such Max Factor, Revlon, Elizabeth Arden, Maybelline, Estee Lauder, Bourjois, Yardley, Coty, Avon, and Rimmel were already manufacturing beauty products.  I've tried to only list vintage products that still exist, but I'm sure that all these lines have some popular colors or products that never stopped being fabricated.  I wish more companies made this type of list.

Revlon made its first smear proof lipstick way back in 1953!

 Can you think of any I have missed?  What are your favorites?

 

It's important to note that it is not sanitary to use actual vintage makeup.  Unfortunately most items could be teaming with bacteria or even harmful chemicals.  If you are lucky enough to have any gorgeous vintage compacts or lipstick tubes, you can still use them by properly emptying, cleaning, and refilling them.  

Follow one of these great tutorials:

How to fill a vintage compact by Vixen Vintage

How to refill a vintage lipstick by Voluptuous Vintage Vixen

 

Also, check out some of these vintage makeup reproduction companies: Le Keux Cosmetics, Besame Cosmetics, or The Balm Cosmetics.

 

 Want to know how to achieve the perfect vintage pout? Click here :X

XOX, Hannah

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mid-Century Modern for the kidlets

   As a mother of four, I invariably end up watching a lot of cartoons.  I have a new appreciation for all of the classic shows from the 40s-60s, and love picking out historical details.  The early Tom and Jerry cartoons have some seriously cool Art Deco interiors and architecture!

The interiors featured kitchens with rounded aluminum rimmed counter tops, metal cupboards, checkerboard linoleum floors, and streamlined stove silhouettes.  Another thing that abounds in these early animations is the some pretty serious racial stereotypes.  Political Correctness did not exist in the way it does today, but that's a subject for a different blog post (that I'm not touching with a 10 foot pole.) 

 If you're looking for space age atomic, of course the Jetson's is the creme de la creme.  In fact, between Disney's original 1950's Tomorrowland and the Jetson's, I'm a little disappointed in the "future."

If you are looking for high style design, then Bugs Bunny has you covered.  Bugs Bunny owns a Hollywood home nearly identical to Twin Palms, owned by Frank Sinatra.

He is seen relaxing in chairs by Eames (shell), Ferrari-Hardoy (butterfly), and Marco Zanuso.

Watching mid-century cartoons isn't the only way to get your MCM style fix.  I've noticed it in Modern Disney Cartoons like Kim Possible......

and Phineas and Ferb (a favorite in our house).  The bumbling arch-villain Doofenshmirtz has a fantastic living room, complete with Preway fireplace, Joan Miró artwork, and Saarinen Womb Chair.

Pixar studios,which is located in Emeryville, CA, is known to have many fine examples of Eichler Ranch architecture.  Clearly the artists there have been influenced, because references to the mid-century era, through Americana and design are found throughout some of their most popular films.  Cars is obvious, with its retro Route 66 theme, but what about Toy Story?  Westerns were wildly popular until every little boy became obsessed with the Space Race.  The villain in Toy Story 2, has quite the collection of 50s toy memorabilia and space age furniture.

The coolest example though, is the film, The Incredibles.  Holy design-gasm!!!

Our absolute favorite is the Powerpuff Girls.  My daughter loves watching a show where tiny super hero heroines save the day.  I love watching it because of the clever writing and carefully crafted, atomic style backdrop.   I want to marry professor Utonium, just so I can live in his house, which is believed to be modeled after a home in the 1958 French Comedy, Mon Oncle. He has Mondrian inspired artwork, an Eames lounger, swag lamps, and tons of atomic ranch style. Townsville is also filled with many perfect examples of 1950s architecture.

Interested in watching a collection of Mid-century cartoons and shorts? Check out this collection by Animation archaeologist Steve Stanchfiled. 

Happy Sunday!

Domestic Bliss

As I mentioned a couple of months ago, my family and I worked with a photographer to capture some quirky family photos.  We wanted them to be unique, funny, and a little bit "wrong".  I think we captured how chaotic and lively our lives are with four children.  Enjoy!

In case you can't read it, the book is a 1950s edition of "Practical Birth Control." Clearly, my husband would rather watch television. :)