This type of makeup is favorited by glamorous divas like Christina Aguilera’s and girls who aspire to look like living pinups — and with good reason. It accentuates all the right parts of the face, making it universally flattering, not to mention exquisitely feminine! It’s perfect for going out at night when you need that extra oomph!
What you need is some liquid liner, gray eyeshadow or pencil and, of course, bright red lipstick! Start out by evening our your skin with foundation and concealer. Apply 3 coats of mascara to your top lashes (my recent favorite is Falsies by Maybelline) and draw a flicked line close to the lashes with liner. Define creases with medium-gray pencil and just below lower lashes with a pencil; blend. Lips are the star of the look, so let ‘em shine! Draw an outline with red pencil and fill in with vibrant red lipstick using a brush, or, if you’re experienced, directly from the bullet. Looking for a true red pin-up shade? Try Lime Crime Retrofuturist, it has the perfect balance of yellow & blue to make it suitable for all skintones. Not sure about blush? Dab some lipstick high onto your cheeks with a finger and blend. Last but not least:draw a tiny beauty mark with liquid liner. Voila!
I put some white shimmer in my inner corner to let it pop!
Doe Deere Reply:
May 26, 2011 at 5:38 pm
Great tip, I should’ve done that :)
I looove the combination of the pale blue nails and red lips. I’m a red lippy every day kinda gal so I am definitely trying this nail & lip combo! thanks! x
Doe Deere Reply:
May 26, 2011 at 5:38 pm
Gracie, I’m totally OBSESSED with the light blue + red combo right now!!! It’s so unusual and yet so classy. Ooh la la!
Aimee Webb Reply:
May 27, 2011 at 1:37 pm
Me to! it seems to be the favorite color combo of the day in my mind… and on my tumblr
oh and where is your dress from? It’s fab on you!
Doe Deere Reply:
May 26, 2011 at 5:37 pm
It’s a vintage Susan Freis, who made a bunch of crazy-beautiful bohemian dresses in the 80s!
A smiling pic?! You really must not live in NY anymore ;-)
Jamie Reply:
June 2, 2011 at 2:10 am
HA HA. You know, I have noticed her posts have seemed more jovial lately.
I love this look! Pink blusher is my favourite :)
I love this look. Its so simple and easy to do (and I’m not great with makeup). Also, I already have a beauty mark in just the right place! Its perfect!
Doe Deere Reply:
May 26, 2011 at 5:35 pm
Lucky us! I do too, except mine is light brown — easy to accentuate with some liner :)
Sofie Reply:
May 29, 2011 at 10:24 am
Sometimes I do the same thing :)
you look gorgeous in these photos and I like that you paired very 50s makeup with a more relaxed outfit.
anyways, my take on classic starlet is black eyeliner winged out like brigette bardot and sometimes with nude lips (lorac’s nude lipgloss) and sometimes with a matte red lipstick (like russian red by mac)
Doe Deere Reply:
May 26, 2011 at 5:36 pm
That sounds gorgeous, Melina!
I love this look, and just bright red lips in general
but I have a very thin top lip
do you find bright lips look strange on girls with thin lips?
Elisabeth Reply:
May 26, 2011 at 8:24 pm
I have the same problem- a nice full bottom lip and a tiny top one. In my experience, as long as it doesn’t bleed of smudge, it looks fine. I’d recommend using lip liner, and topping off with a gloss to make the top lip appear plumper.
Alley Cat Reply:
May 26, 2011 at 9:56 pm
I have lips like that too, and my cupid’s bow is a little off center. I use a natural liner to draw my upper lip fuller, with a straighter, deeper cupid’s bow. Blot it once, and reapply back over the stained area. It usually turns out very well for me, it just takes some practice.
So pretty! I love your eyes in the first picture! Your dress is gorgeous as well! :)
Check out my blog: Principessa Gabriella
i have the same beauty mark at the same place! haha <3
You look so much like Regina Spektor in the second picture! And I’m a sucker for the 50s look. I need that hat, pronto!
where on the link do we “enter to win lipstick” i was a little confused :( thanks
Querida Deere, li que você estava doente e senti saudade das suas publicações, espero que você tenha melhorado. Tenha um ótimo final de semana. Beijos. c.V
Whoa!! This is the advanced class! Really exquisite makeup job, Doe. You look fabulous. And I love the colorful dress too. Fish!
Nail polish fanatic….just curious what laquer you’ve got on? It’s lovely and really accentuates the look.
Yes I have.
I have hooded eyes, so I put the darkest dark under eye and always make “cat eye”, when I am doing the pin up style and on the lips I choose matte fuchsia and not red to make it modern and not costyme.
On anyone else the dress you’re wearing in these pics would probably look horrible, but it does look very good on you! Great make up as well
Hey Doe,
I’ve been following your blog for years now and I saw today that your lime crime products were featured in today’s Zoe Report email. That is quite an accomplishment, I’m really happy for you.
Best Wishes.
Amy
Doe Deere Reply:
May 27, 2011 at 6:24 pm
Hey Amy! That’s so amazing, too bad I’m not subscribed! :( Is there any chance you could forward it to me? doedeere@gmail.com Thanks SO much!!
plez look on the style rookie blog. In her most recent post she features lime crimes stalletto ( not spelt right, but black coloured lipstick) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Doe Deere Reply:
May 27, 2011 at 6:23 pm
Yayyyyy! I just saw that, how cool! :D
Umm, for some reason my comment never got posted. Odd..
Well I recall it saying the following:
I love this classic look! And I was wondering when the Glamour 101 lipstick that was to debut in March will come out because I think it would look good in a more classic look as well. Especially on tanned skin like mine; I find it really really hard to wear colours without it looking tacky or off haha (any chance you would write an article on wearing colours on a tanned skin tone?).
Doe Deere Reply:
May 27, 2011 at 6:23 pm
We’re shooting for an early fall release ;)
Nami Reply:
May 28, 2011 at 4:03 am
I can’t wait :) !
Retrofuturist is, in deed, the perfect red lipstick! :) It’s the perfect pinup-diva-glamour shade and I find it looks great on any skin tone (a universal red, if there’s such a thing).
Beautiful and classic! Did you add a sparkly red gloss when you took the third picture? It looks a bit different than the other two, I love it ^.^
Doe Deere Reply:
May 27, 2011 at 6:22 pm
I didn’t, it just the lipstick. I think it looks different because the last picture was taken with a flash — really makes surfaces gleam!
Normally when I do a pin up look I use a light brown in the crease and wing the eyeliner, I also use a shimmery white in the corner of my eyes to make them pop. :) And to top it off use Retrofuturist to get the perfect red pucker.
Doe Deere Reply:
June 2, 2011 at 6:59 pm
Yes! Love the highlighter tip, it freshens your face right up doesn’t it!
I like! I really like!
Wow, you look fantastic! I love this kind of style so much! I don’t usually wear any makeup, but I would like to try. Do you think that 17 years old is too young to use bright red lipstick?
Doe Deere Reply:
June 1, 2011 at 6:56 pm
I don’t think so! Especially if it’s for going out at night (I wouldn’t wear it during day time just yet ;)).
I LOVE the dress! You’re adorable!
This looks really awesome on you :)
I will definatly have to give it a try, will post results to facebook :D
Doe Deere Reply:
June 2, 2011 at 6:59 pm
Please do, we’d love to see you!
Love the pic of you smiling! fabulous
This is a gorgeous look! I try to do my make-up like this every day since I like the retro thing.
Doe Deere Reply:
June 2, 2011 at 6:58 pm
You must look gorgeous every day then! :D
I´m crazy over this look! Im certainly going to try the playful combo of bright red lips and blue nails! Thanks Doe for sharing this :)
ooh i like the 3rd one the best ^_^
[...] about makeup & dressing up .. I think that Doe Deere is the real queen for it! look at her Classic Starlet Makeup Tutorial – wouldn’t it make you feel like a real pin-up? I can’t wait to try it, [...]
Awesome! :)
This is the look that I strive for on a daily basis, but am still working out the kinks! My main problem is my skin… and finding a shade light enough (you are the only person I’ve ever seen with the same SUPER porcelain tones). Please share some of your secrets? From skin care to what foundation/powder you use… or the lightest ones you’ve found. I’d be forever grateful! <3
Hi, Doe. You have the most perfect oval face ever! Reminds me of Beyoncé. Love your style too.
ok… the makeup is great, but what I really need to know is… where did you get that DRESS???? I adore it and must know! Looks like something I could find on my fav (modcloth.com) but alas, no.
I LOVE this look. Sadly, I’m not really able to pull off a red lip. Something about it just doesn’t look right on me. I’m not sure if it’s because I usually focus on the eyes and face, then leave my lips natural or what. Any tips on how to at least try to rock it? hahaha