In make-up terms, the 1960s is best defined by the babydoll look - that is, dark eyes, matt skin and baby-pink lips. Flick through the current issue of any style magazine, and you might start thinking that you, too, want to recreateit. But trust me, you don't, not really - and if you're black, you definitely don't. What you might want to do, however, is give a 2003 take to the babydoll look. If that's the case, just keep repeating to yourself that "it's all about the texture".
"The texture brings [the babydoll look] to life and gives it that modern appeal - it adds an extra energy to the face," says make-up artist Jenny Jordan about updating the look by giving eyes, lips and skin a modern sheen. Not that oil-slick appearance that some celebrities seem so keen on, but rather a soft, dewy look that reflects the light, instead of stopping it dead and making your features seem flat. If you can't find a foundation in your shade that gives the skin that youthful gleam, Jordan suggests mixing a drop of rose facial oil or sweet almond oil into your regular foundation.
But recreating babydoll eyes is where the real fun is to be had. To play it safe, opt for a soft kohl pencil such as Bad Gal by Benefit, or a soft black eyeshadow such as No4 from Giorgio Armani, then experiment by smudging clear eye gloss over the top, or a dab of Elizabeth Arden's Eight Hour Cream. Better still, go for a dark eye gloss such as the incredibly sexy Creme Eye Colour in Graphite from Becca. To get those fluffy, sexy eyes without the hassle of false eyelashes, apply a thickening mascara from the roots and wiggle it up the lashes in a zigzag motion - the key is to layer the mascara, rather than to overload the brush, then go through with an eyelash comb before they dry. Go easy on the bottom lashes, though: you are going for sex kitten, not Cabaret.
It's the lips that are hardest to recreate on dark skin: unless you're fairly light, baby-pink simply does not work. Instead, try a slightly sheer pink - the Sheer Lipstick in 9 by Giorgio Armani or, if you want a bit more depth to your colour, Rimmel's Femme Fatale.
