If you think that statement-making lips and OTT makeup are born out of the modern bold beauty wave, you might have a little beauty history homework to do. Dark lips, defined eyes, and deep rouge have long been makeup staples. Known as the 'femme fatale' style, this gothic look originated around 1935. A global fashion magazine showcased Turkish women with heavily outlined eyes, a style later termed the “vamp” look due to its resemblance to a vampire's dark eyes.
However, different variations of the so-called vamp makeup can be spotted in the history of cinema across the globe. While Indian cinema showcased icons like Madhubala and Rekha donning red and oxblood lipsticks, Cleopatra, released in 1917 (yes, over 100 years ago), featured American actress Theda Barra in completely eccentric dark-themed makeup. The 1940s celebrated the femme fatale look wholeheartedly; it was the beginning of the era of Film Noir. Bold red lips, drowned-in-black eyes and a matte complexion pretty much summed up the femme fatale look.
Lately, the femme fatale look has regained popularity among beauty enthusiasts. Bold lips are trending, and black eye makeup is evolving beyond just a simple kohl line—#femmefatalemakeup has garnered over 3.8 billion views on TikTok.
Three steps to achieving a femme fatale look:
1. Remember, matte skin always
Considering the femme fatale look hasn’t been conceived in the age of dewy and juicy skin, it was conventionally characterised by a matte complexion. And so, it’s best to stick to a matte, full-coverage foundation for this look, which allows the allure of the bold lips and eyes to shine through. Try the Givenchy Prisme Libre Skin-Caring Matte Foundation or the Maybelline New York Fit Me Matte + Poreless Liquid Foundation for a matte yet skin-like finish.
2. Find your bold shade
From vixen to oxblood, maroon to ruby red and a ’90s brown to even black (Rihanna, we’re looking at you), there are a myriad of options to choose from if you’re willing to take the plunge. Try Smashbox Always On Matte Liquid Lipstick in Girl Gang or Revlon Colour Stay Satin Ink Crown Jewels Liquid Lipstick in Reigning Red.
Creating a bold mouth can be tricky; darker shades tend to bleed more. To avoid that, use a lip liner to outline your lips and create a barrier of sorts to prevent your lipstick from bleeding or budging. Additionally, to refine the look further, clean the edges with a concealer.
3. Cop a black eyeliner:
While vampy lips headline a femme fatale look, adding a bit of smokiness to your eyes with black eyeliner is always a plus. Keep a multi-use black eyeliner in handy—you can use it to line your waterline, outline your lash line or even create an OTT eyeliner on your lids. Plus, creamy eyeliner can also double as an eyeshadow base for a smudged and diffused look.
Cover Image: Instagram/@shaymitchell
