The Eyeshadow Trick You Should Be Stealing from Marilyn Monroe

As we all know (opens in new tab), Marilyn Monroe had many a beauty trick up her sleeveless gown. 

Lately, I'm stealing one in particular and that's the secret behind her glimmering lids. A fan of the non-matte finish, Monroe's makeup artist Whitey Snyder (opens in new tab) was known to dab a smidgen of Vaseline or a drop of coconut oil on her shadow (or mix it in) for a creamier finish.  And over the past few seasons, this glossy lid look become as commonplace on the runway as a slick back. 

For Spring, Opening Ceremony and Topshop pressed a thin layer of Vaseline over the lids for a fresh-out-of-the-shower sheen that's equal parts fresh and sultry. Backstage at New York Fashion Week, makeup artists were similarly fond of the technique, with Maybelline's Baby Lips Lip Balm (opens in new tab) in Quenched swept over the charcoal smoky eyes at Public School and Jay Manuel Beauty's Ultimate Lip Gloss in Wet (opens in new tab) slicked over the bronze lids at BCBG.

Further confirmation of the look's sex appeal comes courtesy of Rihanna whose lids beamed in her black-and-white "FourFiveSeconds" music video, as well as Beyoncé, who rocked shiny orange lids with her waist-length braids in "Formation." 

The Application

No matter what mixing medium you're using, the less you use the better. Otherwise it can make the pigment look clumpy or crease-y! A teeny-tiny dab on the center of the lid with light blending is what will yield the most fluid finish.

1. Vaseline Petroleum Jelly, $1.99; jet.com (opens in new tab).

2. Maybelline Baby Lips Moisturizing Lip Balm, $3.14; target.com (opens in new tab).

3. Jay Manuel Beauty The Ultimate Lip Gloss in Wet, $20; hsn.com. (opens in new tab)

4. Credé Coconut Oil, prices vary; credeoils.com (opens in new tab).

Follow Marie Claire on Instagram (opens in new tab) for the latest celeb news, pretty pics, funny stuff, and an insider POV.