How to Get a Retro Glam Look With Charlotte Olympia X MAC
British accessories designer Charlotte Olympia isn’t one to skimp on glamour. Inspired by the movie stars of the 1940s and ’50s, she’s a fan of a bold red lip, a subtle contour, and mascara-coated lashes. Today, a collection of products made to deliver her retro look arrive to the masses with the launch of Charlotte Olympia X MAC. Cue your favorite celebration song.
We previewed the 21-piece collection and were curious about every detail—from the finish of the range’s three red lipsticks (velvety matte) to where we could apply the pearlescent pigment (the cheeks, the corners of the eye, the décolletage) to the best way to wear the lipmix (alone or layered over lipstick to deepen the shade). What we really wanted to know, though, was how we could use the collection to replicate Olympia’s glam aesthetic. Enter MAC senior artist Michelle Clark, who gave us these step-by-step instructions for achieving the look.
- “I’d start with a long-lasting, weightless foundation that’s more on the matte side. One that I really like is Pro Longwear Nourishing Waterproof Foundation ($35, maccosmetics.com). It blends seamless and stands the test of time.”
- “Next you can go into building a subtle contour on the cheek with the Sepia Cream Colour Base ($23, maccosmetics.com). It’s just deep enough to add a touch of depth to the cheekbone without overdoing. It also has a slightly creamy texture that adds a nice contrast to matte skin.”
- “I’d use the Golden Age Cream Colour Base ($23, maccosmetics.com) on the eye. One way to keep it modern and fresh is to apply it on your lids with your fingertips, gradually taking it up to the crease.”
- “Next I’d line the eyes with Nearly Natural Deep Brown Liquid Eyeliner ($22, maccosmetics.com). I love that [Olympia] chose to do a brown liner as opposed to black.”
- “One really important element with a look like this is that you curl your lashes, and the collection encompasses an Eyelash Curler ($23, maccosmetics.com). Lashes should be curled starting at the base so you get a nice bend at the root.”
- “For added glamour, apply three coats of Lofty Brown Zoom Lash Mascara ($18, maccosmetics.com)”
- “If you’re going out, sweep a little bit of the Pigment ($23, maccosmetics.com) in the inner corner of the eye and maybe under the brow. After applying it with a brush, I like to press it in with my finger so you don’t see any residue.”
- “Lips, of course, are a huge focus for this look. You have to start with well moisturized lips, so use a lip conditioner and give it a minute or so to soak up any dryness. Blot and then swipe on a layer of lip primer, letting it set for about 30 seconds. Focus the primer on the edges of the lips to prevent feathering.”
- “I’d line the lips with He Said, She Said Pro Longwear Lip Pencil ($21, maccosmetics.com) and fill them in with the Starlett Scarlet Matte Lipstick ($18, maccosmetics.com). If you want to take it to the next level, add a touch of the Crimson Lipmix ($16, maccosmetics.com) to the outer corners of the mouth for a bit more definition.”
As far as makeup regiments go, we’d say this one is a keeper.
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