I think I was the one who started the whole eye makeup craze in the ‘60s. Jean Shrimpton and Twiggy weren’t doing it then.
I created my look on my own, although Aida Grey modified my brows because I was doing them wrong. After my television special, Movin’ With Nancy, aired in December 1967, most of the fan mail I received was about my eye makeup. I still don’t know how I feel about that!!
Makeup is big business now. If I had my wits about me in the ‘60s, I would have gotten involved in the fashion and makeup industry, since I was so closely identified with both. I really didn’t know how to market myself, and maybe I didn’t have the right people around me at the time to help me turn it into something bigger.
I have been asked many questions about my makeup through the years. Even now, I see so many comments about my makeup on my posts. Well, I’m going to let you in on my secrets!
I have always tried to avoid foundation because I think skin needs to breathe, but when I have to wear a base I always choose Ready to Wear New York’s yellow and pink foundation. MAC makes a good neutral powder that can be used mostly to blot so you don’t kill the all-over glow of the skin.
When I was young I used black eyeliner and lots of layers of Maybelline mascara in a small old-fashioned tube with a little separate brush applicator. Chanel makes a wonderful powder blush that has a combination of pink and yellow that works wonders to create a glow.
The secret is to create a large distance between the eyebrows and eyelashes. You do that with different colors.
A little strip of white powder just under the eyebrow, a crescent of dark brown shadow in the crease, a lighter shade on the lid itself, and dark eyeliner at the lash line. Don’t forget to blend!
Always remove your makeup before bed and, when you get older, wear as little as possible. Lots of makeup just doesn’t look good on old ladies.
And there you have it, kids! Now you know my secrets… If you start getting tons of fan mail about your eye makeup, don’t say I didn’t warn you!