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.

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.

"Retro Makeup: Techniques for Applying the Vintage Look" along with Vintage Hairstyling: Retro Styles with Step-by-Step Techniques are two fantastic ways to liven up your day. I'm a housewife and a "Stay-at-home" mom, I got these books for my 37th birthday and using the techniques for hair and makeup, I feel better about myself and my job. It's the effort of getting dressed up for simple things, like house keeping, that makes the glamor, that makes the work easier and more fun. The pictures, diagrams and step-by-step instructions makes this book easy to follow. The tips, tricks, and historical factoids make it fun to read. Looking in the mirror and seeing my late mother or my grandmother makes it personal and very special. Anyone who is into the vintage look or is a WWII reenactor could not go wrong with this book. Especially the section on makeup, the war effort and the military.

I bought this as a guide for my sister's wedding. She wanted to have a theme and so we went with it. Of course, none of us had the slightest on how to do the Lulu or the Venus Broadway actually happen, but we did what we do best -- research. I came across this gem after a few misguided Google attempts and was relieved. The author presents techniques and tips that she must have sold her soul for because the end results were spot-on and gorgeous, if I do say so myself. She details each step along the way from start to finish, top to bottom that despite my clumsiness (two left-hands?) weren't half bad. My mom took them to a whole new level and it was the 1920's all over again. Thank you for such an easy to read and helpful guide to style and beauty.

Helps with shapes, color choices, styles. Loved the history and little stories in it. It's a great resource for the beginner.

I was excited to dons that the author who put out the Vintage Hairstyling book had also written one about vintage makeup techniques. This is a great book for the beginner as well as the seasoned makeup artist. It's filled with detailed pictures and instructions to complete the different looks that are offered. There is also a bit of history in there as well, which is a great starter for those who want to know a little more about how and why certain cosmetic practices were used. Great for people who love certain eras.

This book was very interesting and had beautiful photos. It was very interesting to read how the events taking place affected the makeup looks of the time, and how techniques changed through time. It does offer good tips/techniques for those who are trying to re create vintage looks and are trying to make them fairly authentic. All in all, I do recommend this book for those who love anything and everything vintage, its a fun read.

I have my vow renewal ceremony coming up in a couple of weeks, and it has a very 40'-50's glam "theme" going on. Bought this book to sharpen my techniques, as I'll be doing the makeup, and it's fabulous. Gives me everything I need, and I like that it has different makeup styles from different decades, not just one. It also provides a great information about the history of makeup. so anyone who is into makeup as much as I am, will definitely enjoy, and learn from this book.

Useful knowledge

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

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.

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

As my girlfriend is into the vintage look this book was a really good buy, it features stylish make-up looks from the nineteen-thirties right up to the nineteen-sixties including how to achieve a the little touches that set each period apart. The book also includes a little potted history of what make-up was available when so if you`re looking to achieve that near-perfect vintage look then this is definitely for you.