Let’s take a moment to let this picture sink in: Ben Whishaw shopping at CVS, perusing the toiletries shelf, about to take a bottle of Cetaphil daily facial cleanser.
Category Archives: stars’ vanities/make-up cases/cabinets in real life
Maila Nurmi’s Dressing Table (1954)
A bottle of Revlon nail polish can be seen on the dressing table of Maila Nurmi. This picture was taken in 1954.
Carroll Baker’s Dressing Table (1960s)
Italian photographer Pierluigi Praturlon portrayed actress Carrol Baker in the 1960s.
On her dressing table two perfumes can be seen: one is a Guerlain cologne in the trademark glass flacon montre, the other is a Balmain perfume. It’s impossible to read the front label: it could be Vent Vert, but I think it’s Jolie Madame.
Thanks to Barbara Herman for the Balmain id.
John Cameron Mitchell’s Dressing Room (2015)
John Cameron Mitchell’s dressing room at the Belasco Theatre is one of the best dressing rooms I’ve ever written about. The picture above, taken by Todd Heisler in 2015, is very simple but hugely inspiring. Freddie Mercury, Dolly Parton, David Bowie and Mick Ronson – their pictures are plastered on the walls and on the mirror – surely served as source of inspiration for Hedwig, the character JCM played in the 2001 film he directed. Besides this show-biz eye candy, there are lots of interesting products.
On the left wall there is a row of Ko nail polishes in different shades. This line (also known as Knock Out) is a product of the creativity of Mike Potter, the artist who created the iconic hair and makeup looks for Hedwig & the Angry Inch. I think the shades here are Liberty (patina green), Park (matte park bench green), Flatte Black (two bottles), Indi (dark navy), Flatte Top top coat and Eel (pastel chartreuse) in the black box.
On the dressing table there are a bottle of Cetaphil gentle skin cleanser, Redken Polish Up pomade and L’Oreal Elnett Satin hairspray.
The white pump bottles are MAC Prep + Prime Fix+, a water mist that finishes make-up.
Madonna’s Bathroom
Some personal pictures of Madonna living in New York during her relationship with singer Dan Gilroy (from 1979 to 1981) have recently surfaced. They’re supposed to be part of a documentary which will include personal letters and “bedroom talk” recordings of the singer. In the picture above, she was putting some mascara on; the yellow tube is Revlon Natural Wonder.
Thanks to my friend Jennifer for the id.
Julie Newmar’s Dressing Table (2016)
This amazing picture of Julie Newmar was posted by hair stylist and make-up artist Louise Moon on her Instagram account. The iconic American actress, dancer and singer, who was the original Catwoman in the 1966 Batman tv show, was getting ready for a charity event.
There’s a bottle of Erno Laszlo Shake It tinted treatment on her dressing table, on the left. This is a dual-phase skin-tone evener product with a matte finish.
There’s also a tube of Duo eyelash glue, just behind the standing mirror.
Thanks to Ramón for the Laszlo id and Jennifer for the Duo one.
Barbra Streisand’s Dressing Table on the Cover of “Encore” (2016)
In this promotional picture for Barbra Streisand’s latest album, Encore, several make-up products can be seen on a dressing table. Most of them have a vintage feel, but there’s one which stands out: the nail polish bottle on the left. It’s by Formula X, a brand currently sold at Sephora.
It’s a classic rouge noir, so it could be Ignite, from the Fall 2015 collection, described as smoking red.
It could also be Obsessed, a dark merlot shade. In any case, it looks like it’s the same shade the singer wears on her nails in the picture.
Mary Nolan’s Dressing Table (1940s)
There’s a jar of Pond’s cold cream on Mary Nolan’s dressing table.
The American actress started her career as a teenage model and Ziegfeld girl; unfortunately, she died in 1948 at 42, broke, depressed and almost forgotten.
What’s in Xtina’s Bags (2016)
Last March an interesting What’s In My Bag? video was posted on the YouTube channel of The Voice. The protagonist? The one and only Christina Aguilera, who opened her several bags and showed their content. The perfume she took out of her scent bag was Elizabeth Arden Untold, a fruity floral perfume created by Clement Gavarry and launched in 2013. I’m not surprised by her choice because we already knew she loves sweet/floral scents.
She took two products out of her go-to make-up bag. The first was Kevyn Aucoin Elegant lip gloss in Vizcaya, a peachy shade now discontinued.
The second was SeneGence LipSense, a long-lasting lip colour in a beautiful red shade.
Thanks to Kate for first telling me about the video and to Fragrantica users for identifying the perfume.
Gillian Anderson’s Dressing Room (2016)
Gillian Anderson posted this picture on her Twitter account on June 1st. It was taken in her dressing room at the St. Ann’s Warehouse in Brooklyn, New York, where she performed as Blanche DuBois in a production of A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams, directed by Benedict Andrews. Originally performed at the Young Vic in London from July 23, 2014 to September 19, 2014, it starred Anderson, Ben Foster, Vanessa Kirby and Corey Johnson.
Spotting a bottle of Chanel n°5 didn’t surprise me: the former Southern belle Blanche may be broken and mentally unstable, but she still relies on her seduction skills. The iconic perfume, created by Ernest Beaux and launched on May 5th, 1921, surely put the British actress in the right mood to act in a such a complex role.
On her dressing table a packet of Red Cherry false eye-lashes can be seen, too.
World Wide Aura 
