Marilyn Monroe is and will forever be a cultural icon, but there is a lot more to this famous face than meets the eye. Norma Jean Baker is Hollywood’s most famous starlet and has remained all these years later as the world’s most recognizable faces in pop culture history. 60 years later and we’re still just now learning new things about her. Just recently a museum leaked Marilyn Monroe’s exact skincare routine from the 1950s. The Makeup Museum in New York City preserved the routine in the “Pink Jungle” exhibition showcasing 1950s makeup in America. And believe it or not, some of her most used products are still available to buy today.
Due to the current global pandemic, the exhibition is closed for the time being. However, the exhibition was supposed to debut on May 1. Nevertheless, the Makeup Museum shared a sneak peek on its Instagram account of what to expect. According to the photo, Monroe’s skincare regimen was instructed by Hungarian dermatologist Dr. Erno Laszlo. The prescription was dated March 17, 1959, and gave the starlet very detailed instructions. In the mornings, Monroe was told to wash her face with the Erno Laszlo Phelityl Cleansing Bar ($38) before following up with the Erno Laszlo Shake-It Tinted Treatment ($49). Next, she was told to apply the Erno Laszlo pHelitone Eye Cream in “tiny dots” around her eyes before applying the Duo-Phase Face Powder to her entire face.
Erno Laszlo’s brand chief historian and branding officer Patricia Schuffenhauer revealed, “[Erno Laszlo] personalised every prescription for all of his clients and Marilyn Monroe was on the drier side.” Schuffenhauer added that Laszlo was known for his “holistic approach” to skincare. Other celebrities loved Laszlo’s products, too, including other golden era stars like Audrey Hepburn, Greta Garbo and even former First Lady Jackie ‘O’ Onassis!