I wanted this summer's exhibition to have an ever so slight vintage feel, along with fantastical creatures. I'm still in awe of the turn of the century drawings predicting what life would be like in the year 2000 so one of them was chosen to be the exhibition poster. And of course I'm still obsessed with mermaids so there are a few in there too. Finally, I liked the idea of mixing kitsch with high-end…for example, Armani's elegant Écailles mother of pearl palette is perched next to Too-Faced Quickie Chronicles palette and MAC's hibiscus-embossed blush. So no overarching theme this year, just a blend of cheerful summery goodness. Enjoy!
Top shelves, left to right.
Givenchy Terre Exotique Healthy Glow Powder:
Stila 2003 calendar and DuWop Sea Shell compacts:
The Balm Hot Mama, Bahama Mama and Cabana Boy:
Another mermaid-y shelf: Max Factor ad from 1962 and an adorable cardboard box that held cotton pads.
I had no idea what Coets was when I spotted this on E-bay but I had to have it since it had a mermaid applying makeup! I found out that it was THE go-to company for cotton pads until they went out of business some years ago. Apparently they had some kind of partnership with Helena Rubinstein, which I looked into but couldn't find any info on.
Second row, left to right.
Fragonard perfumed soap…I didn't get the best angle but there is a seahorse on the soap itself.
Too-Faced Quickie Chronicle in the Bathing Beauty and MAC My Paradise blush:
Armani Écailles palette:
Benefit She Shells lip glosses…thought these were gone for good since they're from 2002. But they popped up on E-bay and I was so excited.
Third row, left to right.
Dior Transat palette:
LM Ladurée highlighting powder and lip balm:
Stila travel palette and Benefit Hoola bronzer…this might be the first time I've worked a non-collectible into an exhibition. I actually use Hoola, as the worn edges attest.
Chantecaille La Baleine palettes:
Bottom row, left to right.
La Cross nail ad from 1941 and a Volupte seahorse compact from the '50s:
Wet 'n' Wild Color Icon Bronzers from 2012 (looked everywhere for these and couldn't find them at the time – once again, E-bay came through) and 2014:
Paul & Joe blotting sheets:
Benefit makeup bag:
While I'm very pleased with how the exhibition turned out, I would dearly love to get my hands on this Bourjois Evening in Paris oyster edition perfume. I know that fragrance is outside the Makeup Museum's purview and that this is wildly overpriced for a cardboard box and bakelite oyster shell, but it's in excellent condition and would be so perfect for a summer exhibition. Maybe someday if someone else doesn't snatch it up!
What do you think of the exhibition? Are you hearing ocean waves and feeling the sand between your toes?