I've seen every single movie Marilyn Monroe ever made at least five times, I've read countless books and biographies about the star, and my favorite-ever photo of her (captured by Ray O'Neill in Jasper National Park during the filming of The River of No Return) is the background on my phone. So yes, you could say I have a hearty fascination with the actress. My parents are baby boomers who are now in their mid-70s, so I grew up on black-and-white films, kitschy crooners, and anything else you might associate with '50s and '60s pop culture.
I've always loved Old Hollywood glamour, in particular, and even as a tiny child, I would pore over the glossy images of iconic screen stars from the golden age, dissecting their nail color, hairstyles, and outfits and desperately researching how they applied their makeup and the specific products they used or were powdered with in a certain movie. No wonder I became a beauty editor, eh? I've always loved a great beauty breakdown!
Years later, I still get a thrill when I find out what perfume Audrey Hepburn wore on the set of Roman Holiday (Krigler's English Promenade 19 ICYWW) or the exact skincare routine that was prescribed to Marilyn Monroe by Erno Laszlo.
According to a press release from Laszlo's namesake skincare line, Monroe was an early adopter of the brand and worked closely with Laszlo himself for her personalized skincare routines. He even gave her some interesting nutrition advice like avoiding nuts, chocolate, olives, oysters, and clams. Over 95 years later, the Erno Laszlo brand continues to be a leading force within the industry, and a handful of the products used and beloved by Monroe are still shoppable best sellers to this day. So cool, right?!
Courtesy of the brand, above is a copy of Laszlo's original skincare regimen prescription for Monroe, where you can see his specific directions for skin cleansing, product application, and more. According to the brand, the iconic Shake-It Tinted Skin Treatment ($56) was her favorite, and extended shade options were released just last month. To celebrate and because I've always wondered what Monroe did to keep her skin in such great shape (watch one of her films and I promise you will be enthralled by her ethereal glow), I'm dropping the step-by-step breakdown of Laszlo's prescription below. The still-available products are included, so keep scrolling!
Monroe's Morning Skincare Regimen
Laszlo's exact instructions: "Wash face and neck in warm water with Active Phelityl Soap in the following manner: fill basin with warm water, wet face and neck, and rub on soap, making a lather. Make a separate lather in hands and rub well into the skin. Rinse thoroughly in the same soapy water and dry with a towel."
Laszlo's exact instructions: "Apply well-shaken Normalizer Shake-It on entire face—except around the eyes—with a large piece of cotton saturated to the dripping point. Blot off with tissue immediately."
Laszlo's exact instructions: "Apply Phelitone under eyes only in tiny dots, spreading it gently over the surface. Blot off with tissues."
Laszlo's exact instructions: "Dab Duo-Phase Face Powder amply on entire face and neck; after one minute, brush off superfluous powder with a large piece of cotton."
Editor's note: Though the Laszlo powder Monroe used has since been discontinued, this option from By Terry features the same starring ingredient, hyaluronic acid.
Monroe's Evening Skincare Regimen
First, it's worth noting that Laszlo had separate evening instructions for Monroe depending on what she had on tap for the night. Before "dressing," for instance, Laszlo directed the actress to follow her same morning routine. For "formal occasions," he said to blot off Shake-It and apply Phelitone on top of it on the entire face—including under the eyes and on the neck and décolleté—blot it off with tissues, and then top it off with the Duo-Phase Face Powder. Below is his skincare prescription for Monroe before "retiring" to bed.
Laszlo's exact instructions: "Apply Active Phelityl Oil on entire face, lips, and neck with a large piece of cotton saturated to the dripping point. Wash immediately oily face and neck according to the instructions for 'Morning.'"
Laszlo's exact instructions: "After drying, apply Active Phelityl Cream on entire face, lips, neck, and décolleté. Wash off cream immediately with a large piece of cotton saturated to the dripping point with well-shaken Controlling Lotion, except around eyes and on the lips where you shall blot cream off with tissues."
Laszlo's exact instructions: "Dry face and neck with towel. Reapply on nose and chin with another thoroughly saturated large piece of cotton, covering thickly, and let dry on overnight."
Shop More Best-Selling Erno Laszlo Products
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This hydrating toner essence is an all-star staple for any and all skin types. It's known for its ultra-silky texture and works to resuscitate dull, dry skin while also helping to rejuvenate stressed-out skin.
Practically weightless and inspired by NASA (yes, really), this unique memory gel works while you sleep to drench the skin with luxurious moisture. Key ingredients include antioxidant powerhouses prickly pear and vitamin E.
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