What’s on Marilyn Monroe’s Vanity Table?

The beauty rituals, signature products and intimate glamour of Hollywood’s brightest star.

Marilyn Monroe’s vanity was more than a table — it was a sanctuary. A place where she transformed vulnerability into radiance, where technique became myth and where the world’s most famous face was crafted with care, ritual and a surprising amount of discipline.

Her vanity wasn’t overflowing. It was curated. Intentional. A blend of luxury, practicality and the soft‑focus magic that defined her screen presence.

Here’s what lived on Marilyn’s vanity — and why each item mattered.

1. Skincare: The Glow Begins Before Makeup

Marilyn believed in moisture. Her skin prep was famously rich, almost glossy — a candlelit sheen that became part of her signature.

On her vanity, you’d find:

  • Erno Laszlo Active Phelityl Cream— her go‑to moisturizer
  • Nivea or Vaseline — used sparingly for glow on cheekbones and eyelids
  • Cold cream — for cleansing and maintaining softness

This wasn’t accidental. Marilyn understood that light loves hydrated skin. Her glow began long before the makeup brush touched her face.

2. Foundation & Powder: The Soft‑Focus Finish

Marilyn’s complexion was never matte. It was luminous, diffused and almost dreamlike.

On her vanity:

  • Cream foundations (Max Factor, Elizabeth Arden) applied in thin layers
  • Translucent powder pressed lightly only where needed
  • Highlighting creams to bring forward the nose, chin and cheekbones

She didn’t chase perfection. 
She chased radiance.

3. Lipstick: The Iconic Marilyn Red

Her lips were a masterpiece — sculpted, layered and lit from within.

On her vanity:

  • Deep red lip liner to shape and slightly overline
  • Multiple red lipsticks (Revlon, Max Factor) layered for dimension
  • A lighter shade dabbed in the centre for the signature pout
  • A touch of gloss or Vaseline for that wet, cinematic finish

Marilyn didn’t wear a single red. She wore a multiple hues of reds.

4. Eyes: Soft, Dimensional and Hypnotic

Marilyn’s eye look was deceptively subtle — never harsh, always inviting.

On her vanity:

  • White or cream pencil on the waterline to enlarge the eyes
  • Brown/black liner with a soft upward flick
  • Taupe shadow in the crease for depth
  • Half‑strip lashes placed on the outer corners
  • Softly arched brows to frame and lift

Her eyes were designed to look like they were always catching light.

5. Fragrance: The Final, Invisible Accessory

Marilyn’s vanity was never complete without her signature scent.

On her vanity:

  • Chanel No. 5
    The perfume she famously wore to bed — “just a few drops.”

It wasn’t just fragrance. It was identity. Marilyn Monroe’s identity.

6. Vanity Objects: The Tools of Transformation

Marilyn’s vanity was elegant but practical.

You’d find:

  • A round magnifying mirror
  • Soft brushes for blending creams
  • Powder puffs for diffusing shine
  • Metal lash curlers
  • Small glass bottles of oils and lotions
  • A gold compact for touch‑ups

Everything had a purpose. Everything contributed to maintaining her hydrated skin, that glow. 

Marilyn’s beauty wasn’t effortless — it was intentional, artistic and deeply personal. Her vanity reveals a woman who understood the power of ritual, the intimacy of fragrance and the magic of light on skin.

She didn’t chase glamour. She created it — one product, one brushstroke, one drop of No. 5 at a time.

I’m Stacey Hobbs, thanks for reading Face by Stace! Until next time.
do you feel fabulous today?

Reina del Fuego – Gold Highlighter Powder

Bésame’s molten‑gold glow, inspired by vintage glamour.

Bésame’s Reina del Fuego – Gold Highlighter Powder is one of those products that feels instantly cinematic — a luminous gold powder designed to give the skin that molten, candlelit sheen associated with Old Hollywood radiance. Described as “a luminous gold highlighter powder that delivers a molten glow with a whisper-light touch.”

This highlighter is finely milled, soft and designed to glide over the skin without emphasizing texture. The finish is warm, golden and flattering across skin tones — the kind of glow that looks intentional rather than glittery.

The compact itself follows Bésame’s signature aesthetic: elegant, nostalgic and designed to feel like a keepsake.

The highlighter’s price is $41 USD.

For more information, please visit: Reina del Fuego – Gold Highlighter Powder – Besame Cosmetics

I’m Stacey Hobbs, thanks for reading Face by Stace! Until next time.
do you feel fabulous today?

Chanel vs. Dior: Two Visions, Two Revolutions

Chanel and Dior stand as two pillars of twentieth‑century fashion but their visions could not have been more different. They shaped the same era, dressed many of the same women and defined modern style — yet they approached the female body from opposite philosophies. To understand French fashion, you must understand this tension: Chanel liberated women; Dior re‑sculpted them. Chanel erased artifice; Dior exalted it. Chanel designed for life; Dior designed for fantasy.

Chanel: Liberation Through Ease

Chanel’s revolution was one of freedom. She stripped fashion of its constraints — corsets, padding, heavy fabrics, decorative excess — and replaced them with movement, comfort and clarity. Her clothes followed the body rather than forcing it into shape. She designed directly on the body, draping fabric with her hands, refining through touch rather than sketch.

Her silhouettes were long, lean and fluid. Jersey dresses, cardigan jackets, sailor knits, and the iconic Chanel suit all shared the same philosophy: a woman should be able to breathe, walk, work and live in her clothes. Chanel’s elegance came from restraint — a refusal to add anything that did not serve the woman wearing it. Her revolution was modernity itself: clothes that felt natural, intuitive and quietly confident.

Dior: Structure Through Fantasy

Dior’s revolution was one of return — a revival of femininity expressed through structure, volume, and theatrical silhouette. Where Chanel dissolved the waistline, Dior cinched it. Where Chanel flattened the bust, Dior sculpted it. Where Chanel simplified, Dior amplified.

His 1947 New Look was a deliberate counterpoint to Chanel’s ease: nipped waists, padded hips, full skirts, and engineered underpinnings that re-shaped the female body into an hourglass ideal. Dior’s clothes were fantasies made real — garments that required posture, discipline and a certain stillness. He believed fashion should transform a woman not simply accompany her. His couture was architectural but in a different way from Balenciaga: Dior built beauty through structure, not purity.

Two Philosophies, One Era

Chanel and Dior did not contradict each other; they defined the spectrum of modern femininity.

  • Chanel offered liberation.
  • Dior offered glamour.
  • Chanel designed for movement.
  • Dior designed for silhouette.
  • Chanel erased artifice.
  • Dior celebrated it.

Their co-existence created the dynamic tension that shaped mid‑century fashion. Chanel gave women autonomy; Dior gave them drama. Chanel’s clothes felt lived‑in; Dior’s felt ceremonial. Chanel’s revolution was social; Dior’s was aesthetic.

Today’s designers still choose a side — or attempt to reconcile both. Minimalism traces back to Chanel’s clarity. Maximalist couture traces back to Dior’s structure. Every debate about comfort versus glamour, ease versus form, reality versus fantasy, echoes the divide between these two giants.

Chanel changed how women lived. Dior changed how women looked.

Together, they built the modern fashion landscape.

I’m Stacey Hobbs, thanks for reading Face by Stace! Until next time.
do you feel fabulous today?

What’s on Audrey Hepburn’s Vanity Table?

The elegance, minimalism and quiet rituals behind Hollywood’s most delicate beauty.

Audrey Hepburn’s beauty was never loud. It didn’t rely on drama, glitter or seduction. Her vanity reflected that — a curated collection of gentle products, disciplined tools and a philosophy rooted in simplicity and care.

Here’s what lived on Audrey Hepburn’s vanity — and how it shaped her iconic look.

1. Skincare: The Ritual of Clean, Calm Skin

Audrey’s complexion was famously smooth, luminous and almost translucent. She protected it fiercely.

On her vanity:

  • Erno Laszlo skincare — especially cleansing rituals
  • Gentle moisturizers to maintain softness
  • Minimal fragrance in skincare to avoid irritation
  • Cold cream for makeup removal

Audrey believed skin should look like skin — never masked, never overworked.

2. Foundation & Powder: Bare, But Better

Audrey avoided heavy foundation. Her makeup artists often used sheer formulas to let her natural bone structure shine.

On her vanity:

  • Lightweight liquid foundations
  • Minimal powder, applied only to the T‑zone
  • Soft highlighting to lift cheekbones

Her complexion was designed to look effortless — the opposite of Hollywood’s typical full‑coverage glamour.

3. Brows: The Audrey Signature

Audrey’s brows were her calling card — thick, straight and expressive.

On her vanity:

  • Dark brow pencil
  • Small angled brush
  • Clear balm or wax to keep the shape clean

Her brows framed her face to highlight her delicate and beautiful features.

4. Eyes: Wide, Innocent and Defined

Audrey’s eye look was deceptively simple but highly technical.

On her vanity:

  • Black liquid liner for her signature kitten flick
  • Brown shadow in the crease for depth
  • White pencil on the waterline
  • Mascara applied in multiple thin coats
  • False lashes cut into small sections for a natural lift

Her eyes were designed to look open, bright, and almost doe‑like — a visual language that became synonymous with her films.

5. Lips: Soft, Natural, and Feminine

Audrey rarely wore bold reds off‑screen. Her everyday lip was understated and romantic.

On her vanity:

  • Pink‑nude lipsticks
  • Rose‑toned balms
  • Soft coral shades for daytime
  • Minimal gloss

Her lips were meant to complement her eyes, not compete with them.

6. Fragrance: Her Invisible Elegance

Audrey’s signature scent was as refined as her style.

On her vanity:

  • Givenchy L’Interdit — created forher
  • Light floral notes that matched her minimalist aesthetic

She didn’t wear fragrance to seduce. She wore it to express identity.

7. Vanity Objects: Clean, Simple and Purposeful

Audrey’s vanity was un-cluttered — almost serene.

You’d find:

  • A simple round mirror
  • Slim brushes for precision
  • Small glass bottles of skincare
  • Minimal jewelry trays
  • A single elegant compact

Her vanity reflected her personality: disciplined, graceful and confident.

Audrey Hepburn’s beauty wasn’t about transformation. It was about refinement — the art of enhancing what is already there.

Her vanity reveals a woman who understood:

  • the power of restraint
  • the elegance of simplicity
  • the beauty of authenticity

She didn’t chase glamour. 
She embodied it.

I’m Stacey Hobbs, thanks for reading Face by Stace! Until next time.

do you feel fabulous today?

Introduction: Balenciaga: The Architect Who Built Modern Fashion

Cristóbal Balenciaga is often described as a couturier but that word feels too small for what he accomplished. He was an architect of fabric, a sculptor of silhouette, a designer whose work operated at a level of discipline and purity that transformed the entire vocabulary of modern fashion. While others chased trends, Balenciaga pursued structure. While others decorated, he refined. While others performed, he withdrew. His silence was not absence — it was intention. And it is that intention that continues to define his legacy.

This series traces the evolution of Balenciaga’s genius from its earliest sparks in wartime Paris to its full architectural expression in the decades that followed. It begins in constraint, where scarcity forced innovation and discipline became a catalyst. It moves through the post‑war years, when Balenciaga’s authority crystallized and his sculptural silhouettes began to challenge the very idea of what clothing could be. It explores the cocoon era, where volume became language and the body was re-imagined through shape rather than ornament. It examines the women who wore his work — women who understood that his garments were not fashion but architecture. And it follows him into his final years, when purity, precision and withdrawal became the ultimate expression of his vision.

Across fifteen parts, this project reveals a designer who changed fashion not through spectacle but through clarity. Balenciaga’s work teaches us that innovation begins with intention that beauty emerges from discipline and that the future of design lies in structure rather than excess. His influence is not nostalgic; it is foundational. Every sculptural coat, every minimalist silhouette, every architectural garment on today’s runways carries a trace of his thinking.

Balenciaga did not simply design clothes. He built a blueprint — one that continues to guide designers, shape couture and define modern fashion. His silence changed the industry. His architecture endures. And his legacy remains the standard against which true innovation is still measured.

I’m Stacey Hobbs, thanks for reading Face by Stace! Until next time.
do you feel fabulous today?

Magic Peach Lipstick – Bésame Cosmetics

Bésame’s Magic Peach Lipstick is one of those whimsical, vintage‑meets‑modern creations. It’s designed to look like a classic mid‑century bullet lipstick but the formula itself is delightfully contemporary: a colour‑adjusting peach that shifts depending on how pigmented the lips are.

Magic Peach is a special color inspired by the 1965.

A Shade That Adapts to You

Magic Peach begins as a soft, warm peach in the tube but once applied, it transforms into a custom shade that enhances your natural lip tone. On some, it becomes a bright coral‑peach; on others, a soft rosy‑peach. The effect is youthful, fresh and effortless — the kind of colour Old Hollywood actresses would have worn off‑camera.

It’s the modern version of those “mood lipsticks” from 1965, but elevated with Bésame’s signature vintage glamour.

Texture & Finish

Magic Peach is creamy, hydrating, lightweight and delivers comfort for all‑day wear

It gives the lips a soft satin finish — not glossy, not matte — just that perfect vintage cream‑lip look.

Packaging: Pure Bésame Glamour

Magic Peach comes in Bésame’s iconic gold bullet tube, inspired by 1940s and 1950s lipstick cases. It feels like a keepsake, a vanity object, a little piece of glamour you carry with you.

Price: $52

For more information, please visit: Magic Peach Lipstick – Besame Cosmetics

I’m Stacey Hobbs, thanks for reading Face by Stace! Until next time.
do you feel fabulous today?