I’ll always a strong believer in the idea of looking to the past to better recognize its impact on our present (and, ultimately, our futures). A prime example of this is taking the time to highlight the beauty of the past that graced our silver screens. By providing inspiration for today’s looks, they also encourage appreciation for the women who wore the iconic looks of the past. Unfortunately, many of the Black women who were at the helm of Hollywood during it’s golden years were not recognized for their contributions due to the rampant racism and discrimination of the film industry.
As a melanin-blessed beauty editor, one of my biggest goals is to shed light on the individuals who deserve recognition for their role in redefining and challenging beauty trends. Keep reading to meet the four brilliant Black women that come to mind when I think of the beauty of Black Hollywood and the modern-day products you can use to recreate their looks.
Many leading ladies of old Hollywood from the early were known for their extensive beauty routines and iconic recognizable features. While there are many features that actress Dorothy Dandridge was known for; her eyebrows might be at the top of the list. Her bold and angular brows were considerably thin compared to modern day beauty trends. Capture Dandrige’s look by using a clear brow sculpting wax to give you that laminated, finished look. Remember: the brows shouldn’t budge.
The height of Dandridge’s short, yet influential career, occurred just years before film made its dramatic shift from black and white to color. Most of the images available of the actress are in black and white, the few that exist of her in color show a clear appreciation for berry-toned blushes applied to the apples of the cheeks and swept just over the temples. Recreate this look by opting for a buildable cream blush that melts into the skin. My picks? Juda Beauty’s Cheeky Tint Cream Blush and Westman Atelier’s Baby Cheeks Lip + Cheek Cream Blush Stick.
Hollywood in the 1940’s and 1950’s witnessed a major renaissance in beauty trends, and Black actresses like Dandridge were at its helm. Although very rarely credited for their contributions to the beauty trends that defined the era, many of their unique takes can be spotted in images like the one above. Here the actress sports natural-looking winged eyeliner that follows the natural shape of her eyes. Get the look by using a gel or pencil eyeliner that you can easily guide along the eyes for a classic sharp wing.
This iconic image of Dorothy Dandridge captured from her 1957 film Island In The Sun is one of the most well known pictures of the actress. If her wearing this yellow organza yellow dress can’t convince you of her unparalleled influence on the styles of golden era Hollywood, then take another look at her makeup. Dandridge sports a classy orange lip with a hint of gloss at its center that catches what could be the film studio’s lights. Modernize this look by reaching for a matte, lightweight lipstick and adding a layer of tinted lip oil in a red-orange tint.
Next up, the beautiful and talented Lena Horne. Pictured here in a promotional shoot for a movie in the mid-1940’s, the jazz singer and actress appears to have a glowing and flawless visage. To achieve a similar look, use a foundation that provides lightweight and buildable coverage like Makeup By Mario’s SurrealSkin Liquid Foundation and Armani Beauty’s Luminous Silk Perfect Glow Flawless Oil-Free Foundation.
Here Horne stands proudly in front of a poster for a show in New York City in the 1960s. Not only am I obsessed with her super-chic turban and trench, but I love how visible her long eyelashes are in this shot. If you’re looking to lengthen your lashes, choose mascara that’s loaded with pigment while offering the length and volume you desire (without any of the smudging, clumping, or flaking).
Here’s a fluffy, bold brow moment from the beautiful songbird and actress in the 1940’s. Unlike the popular angular brow style of the time, Horne often opted for a softer, feathered shape. The end result? A sweet and romantic finish to any sophisticated makeup look. The slight angle at the bridge of the eyeshadows keep her face looking lifted. To pull of Horne’s feathered brow look, guide your hairs softly upwards with a brow pencil and then set them with a gel to make them last all day.
One of the first things I always notice about Horne in films are how sculpted her face looks no matter what angle she’s shot from (which for women with darker skin tones, was difficult to achieve on black and white film). To get her sky-high cheek bones and lifted brows, go for a cream or a liquid bronzer for dimension. I love Refy’s Cream Bronzer and Iconic London’s Sheer Bronze Liquid Bronzer to recreate this look.
The last leading lady we’re highlighting in this roundup is the magnetic and Eartha Kitt. Whether you were first introduced to her as the first woman of color to play Catwoman or through her hit holiday hit single “Santa Baby,” Kitt has claimed a permanent place in the minds of film and music lovers alike. Here she is as Catwoman with the fabulously smokey eyeshadow that defined so many makeup looks of the mid-late 1960’s. Embrace your inner superhero by applying eyeshadow in shimmering shades of silver, greens, and blues.
Leave it to the Catwoman herself to rock a perfect cat eye. When she wasn’t rocking her perfectly pink lips, Kitt could often be seen in a dramatic cateye that defied the beauty trends of the era. Use a long-wearing liquid eyeliner pen to recreate this look for yourself; starting at the corner of the eye and extending outwards. The longer the better, right?
Are you looking for another example of a Black woman who won’t let being captured in shades of black and white dull her shine? Look no further than this photo of Eartha Kitt. A strapless (possibly velvet) black dress makes her skin absolutely glow. Incorporate the same glow into your makeup routine by adding a dewy highlighter or balm to the cheekbones or other points on the face that need a little light.
I had to throw in one last shot of Kitt’s gorgeous cheekbones for luck. Look how eye-catching they are in this shot with her beloved cats? Hers were all-natural, but if you want to pull of a similar look, use cream-based contour like these ones from Milk Makeup and Makeup by Mario.
