10 Tricks Marilyn Monroe Used to Charm Everyone She Met
Marilyn Monroe didn’t have a perfect body, flawless skin, or the long hair that men of her time preferred. But she was still able to win the love of millions of people, becoming an example of femininity and beauty.
Monroe was definitely way ahead of her time, and her beauty recommendations are still relevant today. We at CHEERY have learned some secrets Marilyn Monroe used to become an icon.
Attention to detail
Marilyn Monroe had a tough childhood: she grew up in orphanages and with foster families. But even then, she knew that details mattered a lot. “I stood in front of the mirror one morning and put lipstick on my lips. I darkened my blond eyebrows. I had no money for clothes, and I had no clothes except my orphan rig and the lone sweater. The lipstick and mascara were like my clothes, however. I saw that they improved my looks as much as if I had put on a real gown,” Marilyn said in her autobiography.
Just a few strokes of lipstick and mascara helped 14-year-old Marilyn gain confidence. Later, cat eyes, red lipstick, and the accentuated beauty mark became iconic thanks to Monroe. She also never left home without jewelry.
Sunscreen and moisturizers
Modern beauticians don’t recommend going out without sunscreen, but Monroe knew it a long time ago. “Despite its great vogue in California, I don’t think suntanned skin is any more attractive... or any healthier, for that matter. I’m personally opposed to a deep tan because I like to feel blond all over.” She had quite a few photo shoots in swimsuits on the beach, but she always used sunscreen.
To get her signature on-camera glow, Monroe would apply thick layers of Vaseline or white Nivea Creme, and also used olive oil on her body and face. She was loyal to her dermatologist Erno Laszlo, who gave her a special ointment Phormula 3-9 that helped her heal an old scar.
Highlighting the advantages
At the time, many women tried to get rid of the peach fuzz hairs on their faces. But Marilyn turned what everyone thought was ugly into something pretty. She kept the tiny hairs, which gave her a blurring and glowing effect under the studio lights.
Glowing every day
Marylin paid a lot of attention to her makeup and glow. Do you know what she used to make her eyes glow? Vaseline! She applied it to her eyelids to make them shine. Today, you can use a tiny amount of coconut oil or any gloss that’s made to be eye safe.
Training her chest
Even though Marilyn’s body was not very athletic, many girls wanted a body like hers. She had a daily ritual, “Each morning after I brush my teeth, wash my face and shake off the first deep layer of sleep, I lie down on the floor beside my bed and begin my first exercise. It is a simple bust-firming routine which consists of lifting five-pound weights from a spread-eagle arm position to a point directly above my head. I do this 15 times, slowly.”
Several lipstick layers
To create her eye-drawing, attractive smile, Marilyn used 5 different lipstick hues and multiple layers. At the time, there was no way to make your lips bigger, but the multiple layers helped. Monroe used darker hues on the edges, and lighter ones in the middle. The contouring was done with a pencil, white highlighter, and a layer of Vaseline. She used a lip brush to mix the colors and layers.
Five drops of Chanel № 5 and ice baths
Monroe wore exactly 5 drops of Chanel № 5 to sleep. She also added perfume to her ice baths. Such baths helps her skin remain elastic.
Clothes several sizes smaller
The actress never wanted to hide behind loose clothes and baggy pants. She always highlighted her body. She loved her body, despite the imperfections she perceived in it. Marylin always called tight sweaters her “work clothes.” She deliberately bought them in sizes too small.
Even when she became a star, she continued to use this trick. She thought that no matter how beautiful clothes are, they are nothing but a decoration. She was beautiful both inside and outside, so she often used neutral colors: black, creamy white, or a camel fur color with bronze.
False eyelashes cut in half
Marylin wanted to look stunning and natural at the same time. It was impossible to make her eyelashes long and voluminous without extra help. But she still achieved a natural look by cutting her fake eyelashes in half. She glued the short ends to the outside corners of her eyes, creating a cat-like appearance without any modern cosmetic procedures!
What beauty secrets do you have that you use every day?