Beauty: 1920s update

Get the 'Gatsby' look. Photo / Supplied

Take the best of the past and combine it with more forgiving modern makeup and hair styling for a softer take on this dramatic era. Amp up your appearance but keep it contemporary by avoiding helmet hair and harshly drawn brows and lips.

Elizabeth Arden's global makeup artist Rebecca Restrepo shares her tips on how to bring the best of the 1920s to today.

1. To incorporate the 1920s' smoky eye into an everyday look, use a soft, medium shade along the lid and bottom lashes. Finish with a smoky gunmetal pencil along the lash lines and plenty of black mascara. (Restrepo's go-to shadow is Elizabeth Arden's Beautiful Color Eye Shadow in Truffle priced at $49.)

2. To pump up a smoky eye up for night, add a rich bold shadow along the edge of the eye, both top and bottom. (Try Beautiful Color Eye Shadow in Sparkling Sable or Shimmering Emerald - pictured.)

3. The rich red expressive lip of the era can work worn for both day and night. If pairing it with a stronger eye for everyday, consider using a lip tint instead of a full-on lipstick. (Restrepo recommends the Eight Hour Cream Lip Protectant Stick Sheer Tint SPF 15 in Berry, $41, or a hydrating gloss.)

4. Porcelain skin was a prized look in the 1920s. To get good coverage consider a sponge-on cream makeup, but to avoid looking unnaturally made up seek out formulas with light-diffusing qualities. The best way to apply a creamier foundation is to start at the centre of the face and work outwards covering imperfections for a flawless finish. (Try Elizabeth Arden's Flawless Finish Sponge-On Cream (pictured), $69, which contains micronised diamonds.)

5. Brows in the 20s and 30s were thinner and more arched which can be aging. Now the fashion is for a naturally full and well-groomed brow, which is softer and creates a more youthful balance to the face. If your brows are lacking try using a brow growth stimulant and softly fill in gaps with subtle shadows and pencils. (Try Prevage Clinical Lash & Brow Enhancing Serum $190.)

- VIVA