From Cleopatra to Maleficent, from Marilyn to Marie Antoinette, we reinterpret cinema historyâs most iconic movie makeup looks through the lens of todayâs beauty trends.
When we think of truly iconic makeup, our first reference point is the legendary films that shaped Hollywood. These beauty momentsâdiscussed as much as the plots and costumesâlive on not only in the memories of cinephiles, but also on the mood boards of makeup lovers, even influencing contemporary trends. Weâve compiled cult looks from cult films, spanning Elizabeth Taylorâs graphic eyes in Cleopatra to Angelina Jolieâs razor-sharp cheekbones in Maleficent.
We begin with perhaps the most emblematic makeup of all: Elizabeth Taylorâs Cleopatra. Framing her violet eyes with boldly graphic eyeliner inspired by Ancient Egyptian aesthetics, the star enhanced her gaze with blue eyeshadow and brought Cleopatraâs Hollywood interpretation to life with shimmering blue glitter. The rest of her makeup appears to bow to the dominance of her eyesâher cheeks are only lightly contoured with minimal blush, and her lips follow the same logic with concealer-toned shading to keep the balance.
Margot Tenenbaum, played by Gwyneth Paltrow in The Royal Tenenbaums, offers the perfect mood-board reference now that early-2000s grunge makeup is back in rotation. At the center of this look are eyes framed with jet-black eyelinerâyet this frame is a world apart from Cleopatraâs sharp precision. Here, the liner is messy, slightly smudged, and never intentionally neat. To recreate it, opt for blendable gel or kajal pencils. Complete the rebellious effect with Margotâs clean complexion and natural caramel-nude lips.
No exploration of iconic Hollywood makeup would be complete without Marilyn Monroe in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. With party season approaching, Lorelei Leeâs legendary look deserves a spot on your beauty-to-try list. This time, all attention shifts to the lips. Marilyn brightens her porcelain skin with a soft wash of pink and keeps the under-eye area luminous, creating a mesmerising contrast with deep red lipstick topped with a glassy gloss. Todayâs long-lasting, non-smudging gloss formulas make this easier than ever. For Marilynâs famously sensual gaze, there is a precise technique: her eyes are half-closed to create a subtly mysterious effect. To achieve it, she applied half a false eyelash to the outer cornersâon top of her eyelinerâleaving a slight gap between her natural lash line and the falsie, pressing the lash downward instead of lifting it. This produces that sleepy, seductive finish at the outer corners.
