Va Va Voom! pinup makeup course

The Boston Vintage Factory hosted Va Va Voom!, a how-to pin-up makeup course, on March 16. Participants walked into the studio makeup-free and left looking like bombshells, having mastered the basics in pin-up style makeovers.

Participants practiced their eye makeup at each of the studio’s makeup stations.

Veronica Nunes left, a makeup artist based in Connecticut, used Boston Vintage Factory owner Kristen Augenfeld as her makeup model.

Kathy Yao posed for before/after shots of the makeup tutorial.

Carmen Provenzano posed for before/after shots of the makeup tutorial.

Jaime Novack posed for before/after shots of the makeup tutorial.

Nunes suggested using a basic color palette for eye shadow. She used light pink for the eyelid base, maroon for the crease, cream for the corners of the eye, and black for a smoky liner.

After applying a pink base, use the maroon eye shadow to create a “V’’ in the outer corner of the eye. The shadow should start in the middle of the lid by the lash line, and then extend to the edge of the eyelid. The “V’’ should go no further than the end of one’s eyebrow.

After blending in the maroon with small, circular motions with a brush, Nunes suggested using a tissue in an upward motion to make the bottom of the “V’’ more dramatic.

Using the cream eye shadow, apply a small amount to the corner of the inner, next to the tear duct. Also, sweep a light layer beneath the outer edges of the eyebrow to brighten the eyes.

Nunes said that a lot of women are afraid to use liquid eyeliner. “Don’t be,’’ she said. Start at the inner eye, laying the tip flat against the lid. Slowly, move the tip as close to your lash line as possible. Once the thinnest layer is complete, go back over to smooth and gradually thicken. The “cat-eye’’ look is best achieved with gradual, slow strokes.

“Fake eye lashes come in one size, but eyes don’t,’’ Nunes said. Trim the lashes to fit your eye before applying with adhesive. The lashes should be as close to the natural lash line as possible.

To apply mascara, start at the base of your natural eyelashes. Slowly “wiggle’’ the brush up the lashes. This will help form your lashes to the fake lashes, creating a uniform look.

Finally, apply lip liner to your Cupid’s bow (the arch in your upper lip). Do the same to the bottom lip. Then, blend the lip liner in before filling with lipstick/gloss. Nunes suggested using a bold red such as Russian Red by Mac.