The Art of Timeless Beauty: Recreating Lana Del Rey's Signature Look
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When you think of Lana Del Rey, a few things may come to mind: her sultry singing style, her sweet jazz-inspired tunes, or her signature makeup look. Lana Del Rey has crafted a notable appearance with a dramatic cat eye, meticulously carved eyebrows, and overlined pout Drawing inspiration from 60s stars like Priscilla Presley and Nancy Sinatra, Del Rey’s makeup is an integral part of her aesthetic, perfectly reflecting the persona she has cultivated throughout her career.
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To achieve Del Rey's timeless makeup look, the key is to focus on the eyes. You can recreate her sultry, sunken-eye effect with just two products: a dark brown/black eyeshadow and a white or cool-toned cream eyeshadow. Morphe offers a small eyeshadow palette with cool-toned for only $14.00 at Ulta (9W Smoke & Shadow Artistry Palette). Start by using a small, dense brush to apply the dark brown shadow along the natural fold of your eyelid, extending it from the inner corner to the outer corner. Alternatively, you can trace it slightly above the crease to create a larger-eye effect. Blend the shadow for a soft, diffused look while maintaining a defined line. Then, apply the white shadow all over your lid to create a clean base.
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Additionally, when recreating Del Rey’s signature look, there is one detail you cannot miss: dramatic winged eyeliner. Del Rey’s long-time makeup artist, Etienne Ortega, swears by the waterproof, long-wearing Givenchy Liner Disturbia Precision Felt-Tip Eyeliner ($42). Starting thin at the inner corner of the eye, trace the liner on your lash line, gradually thickening the shape as you reach the outer corner, then flick it out for a classic cat-eye effect.
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Much of Del Rey’s inspiration stems from 60s icons like Priscilla Presley, which is evident in her reiteration of Priscilla’s double-winged liner. To achieve the double-winged look, apply a white or cream-colored pencil to your waterline to widen your eyes. Then, beneath your waterline, use a pencil liner (Ortega recommends the Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil) to mirror the cat-eye shape on the upper lash line.
Del Rey is known for blending elements from various aesthetics, such as Americana and tragic Hollywood glamour, in her songs. This fusion is notably mirrored in her makeup looks with a 90s-inspired lip. The key components include an ashy deep brown overlined lip with a nude “almost concealer-y" center. The exact lip combination, coined as the “juicy lip” by Ortega, features his very own line of the Soft Contour Lip Liner ($16) in “Cinnamon Girl” and the Agave Glowsticks ($22) in “Nubes.”
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Because Del Rey’s eyes and lips shine so much for this classic look, she keeps a simple base. According to Ortega, “Everything's kind of like a light veil—light foundation, light concealer, light powder.” Opt for a sheer foundation or skin tint, sheer coverage concealer, and a pinky peach blush shade. The singer has recently been wearing a combination of the Shiseido Revitalessence Skin Glow Foundation ($56), the Make Up For Ever's HD Concealer ($29), the Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit ($40), and the Patrick Ta blush duo ($38) in “She's Blushing.”
Lana Del Rey possesses a beauty that transcends the passage of time, much like a piece of art. Her look mesmerizes many with a 1960s aura of glamour and melancholy echoed throughout her discography as well. Through her music, she has reshaped the landscape of the genre. Through her makeup, she continues to inspire in a way that extends far beyond mere aesthetics.
Strike Out,
Writer: Isabella Santiago
Editor: Lindsey Limbach
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