And you can still buy some of the products she used
In the 60 years since her death, Marilyn Monroe’s name has become synonymous with old school Hollywood glamour and we’ve remained fascinated by her beauty and magnetism. Now, thanks to the Makeup Museum in New York, we’ve come one step closer to maybe unlocking the secrets of her allure.
The museum has revealed, for the first time, the actress’s exact skincare routine which was prescribed to her on March 17 1959 by Hungarian dermatologist Dr Erno Laszlo. Part of the museum’s “Pink Jungle: 1950s Makeup in America” exhibition, the artefact details precise instructions for Mrs Marilyn Monroe Miller to follow for her morning and evening skincare regime. As Erno Laszlo’s chief historian and branding officer Patricia Schuffenhauer explains, as Monroe’s skin was on the drier side, all of the products were chosen to help hydrate her skin. The instructions also advise that she stay well away from any kind of nuts, chocolate, olives, oysters, and clams. Here is Monroe’s routine which includes many products still available to buy if you are looking to add a bit of Hollywood glamour into your day.
Starting off in the mornings, Monroe was instructed to wash her face and neck in warm water with Erno Laszlo Active Phelityl Soap. Then she applied the Erno Lazlo Normaliser Shake-It toner all over her face with a piece of cotton saturated to the dripping point. After blotting that off with a tissue, she applied the Erno Laszlo pHelitone Eye Cream (which has since been discontinued) under her eyes in tiny dots before covering her face with Duo-Phase Face Powder (also discontinued).
In the evenings, Monroe was to follow the same routine and in the mornings. Then for formal occasions, she was instructed to apply her eye cream over her entire face, including neck and décolleté. Then blot the cream with a tissue and apply the Duo-Phase Powder.
Her routine before retiring for bed started with an oil cleanse using the Erno Laszlo Active Phelityl Oil before moving on to the face cream Erno Laszlo Active Phelityl Cream. This was then washed off with a piece of cotton saturated with the Erno Laszlo Controlling Lotion toner. After drying her face and neck, Monroe then reapplied the controlling lotion of her nose and chin, covering them thickly, and allowing it to dry overnight.
The “Pink Jungle: 1950s Makeup in America” exhibition was scheduled to open to the public this May, however it has been delayed in light of the pandemic. In the meantime, the museum is giving us sneak peeks at some of the artefacts on its Instagram account.