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Holiday Retro-Glam Makeup Tutorial

December 24, 2015 |

If you're inspired by Old Hollywood and classic beauties like Grace Kelly, then this retro makeup tutorial is perfect for you. The classic cat eye, strong brows, bold red lip, and pin curls all combine for one stunning signature look.

If you're planning on wearing anything gold and sparkly for NYE, this makeup look would pair perfectly with that combo!

Retro-Glam Makeup Tutorial: A step-by-step guide, with photos!

When in doubt, you can't go wrong with classic (that's my motto, at least).

Want the Old Hollywood starlet look? Here's a Grace Kelly retro makeup tutorial! Share on X

FTC Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means we’ll receive a small referral fee from purchases at no cost to you. You can read our affiliate policy here.

Retro-Glam Makeup Tutorial: A step-by-step guide, with photos! Old Hollywood style.

Makeup inspired by Grace Kelly

Retro Makeup Tutorial

For the sake of not overwhelming you with pictures, I'm going to begin this tutorial with my brows done and with foundation and blush already on. You can see my brow tutorial here and my diagram of eyeshadow placement terms here.

Beautiful skin is the perfect backdrop for any retro makeup look, so moisturize skin well before applying a pore minimizer and foundation. Apply foundation using a makeup sponge sprayed with rosewater to dampen it.

TIP: For beautiful, blemish-free skin, here are my Top 10 Do's and Don'ts for Teen Skin.

Retro Makeup Tutorial1. Place hair in pin curls so the curls can set while you apply makeup. (Don't you just love how goofy pin curls look when they're in?)

2. Apply primer to eyelids. I only use Urban Decay's primer in the “Original” formula.

3. Add shadow to lower lash line. Most of the shadows I used in this tutorial are from the Stila “Eyes Are The Window to the Soul” eyeshadow palette. I used the color “Heart” on my lower lid.

Retro Makeup Tutorial1. Add a base coat of gold shadow to lid. I used “Kitten” from the Stila kit.

2. Add darker color to the crease and outer v, then blend. I used “Heart” from the Stila kit.

3. Here's a progress shot.

Don't be like the rest of them, darling. -Grace Kelly | Retro Makeup Tips on sandsunandmessybuns.com Share on X

Retro Makeup Tutorial

1. Next, use your fingertip to add highlights just under the browbone. I used “Light” from the Stila kit.

2. Add more sparkly highlights to the inner corner of the lid.

Retro Makeup Tutorial

1. Dip eyeliner brush into liquid/clay liner. Tarte's Tarteist Clay Paint Liner is my current favorite liner for creating a cat eye.

2. Draw cat eye.

3. Fill in the cat eye.

4. Add a layer of gold liner just above the black liner. I used NYX Glam Liner Aqua Luxe in “Nude”

5. Another progress shot.

Retro Makeup Tutorial1. Add two coats of mascara. Too Faced “Better Than Sex” is still my favorite.

2. Line lips, and then fill them with lipstick. I lined them using a tiny brush dipped in Milani Black Cherry lipstick, then filled them with NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Monte Carlo.

Finally, remove the pin curls and brush your fingers through your hair to get curls like this:

Retro-Glam Makeup Tutorial: A step-by-step guide, with photos! Old Hollywood style
Retro-Glam Makeup Tutorial: A step-by-step guide, with photos! Old Hollywood style

Here's the final retro makeup look. I hope you like it! Please let me know in the comments if you have any questions. If you're interested in more tutorials, check the makeup and hair sections of the website. For more old school Hollywood glamour looks, you might like my Brigitte Bardot hair and makeup tutorials or my Audrey Hepburn-inspired classic makeup look.

Thank you so much for stopping by and if you found my tutorial helpful, please share it on Pinterest!

XOXO, DAISY

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Filed Under: BEAUTY, MAKEUP, MAKEUP TUTORIALS |

About DAISY

Hi! I'm Daisy, and I'm in my sophomore year of college where I'm studying fashion marketing and design. I'm addicted to playing with makeup and trying new hairstyles. I've styled my friends hair and makeup for homecoming and prom for years, so now I'm posting online tutorials since people always ask "How did you do that?!" Read more about me here! Follow me on YouTube.

Comments

  1. DAISY TERRELL says

    February 25, 2016 at 11:16 PM

    Thank you! 🙂

  2. Sarah says

    February 13, 2016 at 6:27 PM

    Love the way this look turned out. Very classic, and love the red lip.

    • DAISY TERRELL says

      February 25, 2016 at 11:17 PM

      You’re so sweet! Thank you!

  3. Linda Manns Linneman says

    February 13, 2016 at 10:26 AM

    Thank you for taking us step by step. You look absolutely beautiful

    • DAISY TERRELL says

      February 25, 2016 at 11:17 PM

      You’re welcome, and thank you for the compliment! 🙂

  4. Kimberly Camille Tiu says

    February 11, 2016 at 5:28 AM

    would love to try this sometime

  5. rust says

    February 1, 2016 at 2:05 PM

    What a beautiful and stunning look! I really like the trend now away from deeply arched brows to a straighter line. Looks wonderful!

    • DAISY TERRELL says

      February 25, 2016 at 11:19 PM

      Thanks. 🙂 I tend to follow the natural line of my brows and just fill them in where they need a little extra color.

  6. Helen Moulden says

    January 21, 2016 at 3:44 AM

    Gorgeous makeup! I love the red lips!

  7. Ashley Perez says

    January 10, 2016 at 11:09 AM

    Gorgeous! very lovely.

  8. DAISY TERRELL says

    January 6, 2016 at 12:20 AM

    I bet you looked gorgeous! I’m gonna hopefully be posting a lot of prom stuff because I love to do my friends for ours:) XOXO, Daisy

  9. Jackie Walsh says

    January 4, 2016 at 12:18 PM

    Happy New Year Daisy,

    I just saw this and it’s fabulous! The eyes and red lip are perfect! But I really totes do the pincurls. I would love 2 do my sister’s hair like that ♥♡♥

    Jackie

    • DAISY TERRELL says

      January 6, 2016 at 12:13 AM

      That gives me an idea for a tutorial! There’s not that many out there on pin curls, and they make such pretty retro curls! XOXO, Daisy 🙂

  10. Vera Yates says

    December 30, 2015 at 10:01 PM

    How stunning!! I wish I could do make up like you. I need to take a lesson from you. ? Happy New Year!!

    • DAISY TERRELL says

      January 6, 2016 at 12:16 AM

      Hahah you’re so sweet! Practice makes perfect my friend, Happy New Year to you as well. 🙂 XOXO, Daisy

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