Makeup Mondays–Brand Spotlight

A warm hello again to my readers!  Since we finished our vintage face how-to series last week, today we are going to start a new feature—a spotlight on retro cosmetic brands.  I’ll be featuring different brands on a regular basis, along with other vintage tidbits and articles, in order to make Makeup Mondays a well-rounded resource.

Today’s brand is Julie Hewett; I made mention of this brand in last week’s article covering lipstick, and it’s definitely worthy of its own feature article!  Julie Hewett is a well-known veteran makeup artist actively working in Hollywood today, and she is also a member of the exclusive Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.  When working on the set of Pearl Harbor, she was unable to find a suitable Technicolor-red lipstick—and so her cosmetic line was born.

The  Noir Collection, six red lipsticks that run the gamut from a wine-red 20s shade to a bright crimson 1950s red, is perfect for vintage lovers.  The shades are wonderful, period-perfect reproductions, and the formula is exquisite as well.  Unlike dye-based lipsticks, the Noir reds are pigment-based—this makes for rich shades that stay true longer, and that won’t  fade to a less than desirable stain.  Pigment-based lipsticks also won’t react with the chemistry in your skin—no dreaded fuchsia quick-change act to be found here!  The color can also be removed completely and will not stain the mouth; should you want to change the shade you are wearing, there will be no color left behind to alter the next shade you apply.  The Noir collection also including matching lip liners of equally good quality; liner is a must with intense lipstick colors to prevent bleeding and help the color stay longer.  As it can be hard to find the right shade to coordinate with your lipstick choice, it is always nice to have a perfect match at the ready!

Julie Hewett also offers up both powder and cream eye shadows worth checking out.  The Hue Colors are shimmery creams that are perfect for creating a glossy 1930s eye; Lilies in the Snow is an excellent shade for this, and the other shades are pleasing as well.  Application of the Hue Colors takes a bit of work (the lid must be properly prepped with foundation/powder, the color applied in a thin layer, and finished with a dusting of colorless powder), but this is a unique product worth checking out.  The powder shadows are smooth and creamy, and there are many shades to choose from to create a vintage eye (Cappuccino and Runway are two lovely neutrals; her palettes, including Twilight and Petit Four, are worth looking into as well.)

Her Cheekies and Shimmies are interesting products as well; Cheekies are lightweight creams that can be applied as blush or lip color, and Shimmies are delightful highlighters for cheeks and eyes.  The Rosie Cheekie is a wonderful  flushed pink, and Jami is a nice neutral pink; Goldie Shimmie is perfectly glamorous, and Pinkie is a soft rose gold.  Again, application of cream products necessitates a bit more work, but the payoff is worth it in the end!

So there you have it—a brief review of Julie Hewett.  This unique line is a must for vintage lovers to check out!

xoxo,

Amanda Lee