Road-Test: M.A.C’s Marilyn Monroe Collection

Fri, 21 September 2012 3:37PM

With the perfect rosebud-red pout, velvety skin and winged eyeliner considered her trademark, there isn’t a face more referenced as an iconic beauty than Marilyn Monroe. To commemorate the 50th year since the passing of the actress, her estate has teamed up with M.A.C Cosmetics to release a limited edition colour collection inspired by her most classic beauty looks.

The beautiful M.A.C Marilyn Monroe image

It’s everything you would expect and hope that a line inspired by Marilyn would be. Drawing on the screen siren’s sultry sex appeal and girlie gorgeousness, there’s a little something for everybody, with a few modern-day touches for good measure. Shimmering champagne eyeshadows, along with possibly the perfectly pointed black liquid eyeliner I’ve ever seen. Then there’s a pretty pale peach powder for highlighting, and, of course, four varying shades of red lipstick, including Marilyn’s signature bright orange-red variation. Of course, the packaging is also gorgeous; each product shows never-before-seen Marilyn Monroe imagery, complete with her autograph.

But rather than just trying the products one at a time, I headed down to M.A.C Cosmetics HQ in Sydney and met with Jo Roughan, M.A.C Resident Trainer in NSW, to experience the full Marilyn treatment. Along with the hero products we all need to own, Jo took me through how to recreate Marilyn’s signature look.

BASE: “I’m amazed by Marilyn’s perfect, velvet-like skin,” Jo says. “You need to prep your skin before applying your base so it’s hydrated, making your foundation glide on beautifully smooth. To make it a little more modern, rather than keeping the base too matte, apply a moisture-infused foundation with a brush, and polish it in for a satiny finish.”

BROWS: “Marilyn had beautifully groomed arches, so the Penultimate Brow Marker, $32, is ideal for filling in your brows,” Jo says. And Primpers, there’s also a Brow Finisher, $31, a twist-up tube with a clear, wax-like consistency to allow you to move and shape them into perfect Marilyn arches.

CHEEKS: Remember that although the red lip is the standout feature, a flawless complexion with only touch of colour on the cheeks is what makes the look all the more polished. “Apply the Beauty Powder in Forever Marilyn, $47, to use it as a setting powder and to highlight along the cheekbones and under the brows. Use the Powder Blush in Legendary, $45, a glowing and fresh peach shade, and polish it into the skin so it blends in with the highlighter,” Jo suggests.

EYESHADOW: “Less it definitely more when it comes to the eye makeup,” Jo explains. “Each of the eyeshadow shades have a subtle, pearly sheen, leaving an almost a wet-look finish. Use a small amount of Large Eyeshadow in Preferred Blonde, $40, applied with a flat brush over the lid, and a little added to the inner-V to open up the eye area.” Add Eye Kohl in Fascinating, $32, an intense matte white pencil, along the waterline, and then add a soft brown eyeshadow as a liner along the lower lash line.

LIQUID LINER: As for the liquid eyeliner, Jo shared her secret to achieving the perfect wing with the Penultimate Eye Liner in True Black, $32. “Hold your brush on a horizontal angle. Start in the centre of the eye and draw a few dots along the lash line to the end, then go back and connect the dots, slowing building up the colour,” Jo advises. “Go to the inner corner and etch along the line to meet at the middle.” For the flick, hold the pen facing downwards and draw the line in line with the lower lash line, extending out towards the temple. Add a few coats of mascara (False Lashes Extreme in Black, $42) and a set of false lashes.

LIPS: When it comes to wearing red lipstick, as you all would know, it’s best to apply a pencil first and shade in your lips to avoid getting the dreaded ring. Also, the edge of the lip needs to be clean, so dab some concealer over the lip to take out a little bit of the natural pigment. Then, use the Lip Pencil in Redd, $33, which Jo recommends applying by starting on the top lip at the cupid’s bow, and create the shape of the bow on both sides. Repeat on your lower lip in the centre, feathering the colour outwards. Using a straight-tipped lip brush, carefully paint your lips in Lipstick in Scarlet Ibis, $38, a matte orangey-red.

The finished product:

and a close up from the side …

What do you think, Primpers?

Excited about the new collection? Is Marilyn one of your beauty icons, too? FYI, see our gallery of celebrities who have also used the actress as a beauty muse.

What do you think your favourite product will be?

P.S. Check out the how-to on the modern-day Marilyn ‘do!

Hayley x

*The Marilyn Monroe for M.A.C Cosmetics Collection will be available from October 1st, in-store and online

Posted by: Hayley Bennett

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Tags: how to, MAC Cosmetics, makeup, makeup collection, marilyn monroe, red lipstick, road-test