Before the 1930s, the trend for American women was a heavily-powdered face. A pale powder could create a matte, porcelain finish, which accented the bold makeup looks that become popular in the '20s. In the '30s, however, something shifted. Gentle femininity reigned, especially on screen where Hollywood beauties were soft, delicate, and alluring all at once (via Glamour Daze).
Everything changed in the '30s with the development of a product called Pan-Cake (via Cosmetics and Skin). This foundation was specifically created for film actresses since the new popularity of Technicolor made skin on screen look shiny and reflect color. Pan-Cake was a "dehydrated powder cream" that provided a heavy matte coverage. Best of all, it was water-repellant, which prevented makeup from sweating off under hot set lights. In 1937, Pan-Cake was commercially released, and it changed the game for makeup bases.
These days, a fresh, clean face is en vogue. However, sometimes a heavy, matte base is where it's at, and Pan-Cake's application can be replicated with the full-coverage foundations of today. To apply, make sure your face is cleansed and moisturized first. Then, take a dense makeup sponge and run it under water. Complete coverage is achieved with a damp sponge, while more moisture creates a lighter look (via Love to Know). The water lets the sponge glide over the skin to create a truly flawless finish. Pan-Cake's original formula further suggests "[blotting] gently with tissue" at the end, which removes excess product and any cakeyness (via DesertCart).
