We all want to capture that Hollywood glam vibe when it comes to getting ourselves ready in the morning. Drawing from personal experience, some tips from the pros, and a lifetime of beauty experiments, we’re sharing the best-kept vintage beauty secrets in the business!
From hair to makeup and skincare, here are some of the best known beauty tricks that have helped women look their best for generations. So get ready! These top vintage beauty hacks will have you glowing in no time!
Petroleum Jelly
In need of a quick beauty hack for getting that stubborn waterproof mascara off? A small dab of Vaseline and you’re ready to go!
Or, if you’re running low on highlighter, get a glam glow by swiping a small amount of Vaseline on your cheekbones. It also works as a substitute for lip gloss. Mix in with some lipstick to create a rosy sheen!
Dry skin on your hands and feet? No problem—rub petroleum jelly on them and cover with socks before bed. You may feel silly, but you’ll wake up with the softest skin!
Hair Rollers
We’re not trying to make you look like you just jumped out of That 70s Show, but there are benefits to choosing rollers over curling irons. First of all, rollers are MUCH better for your hair. No need to damage your locks with a hot iron—just wrap, pin and wait!
A DIY option—and one many of our grandmothers are fond of—is wrapping damp hair around your finger to achieve those curls. This takes some time, but a spare strip of fabric works too!
The downfall: hair rollers take significantly longer to set your hair into big waves. But to achieve that perfect Farrah Fawcett-inspired hair, we just need to be patient!
Oil Treatments
There’s a big following behind hot oil treatments for hair and skin—and apparently some of the biggest Hollywood stars used this trick!
Many oils are beneficial for you. Whether you need to de-frizz or soften some split ends, rubbing some oil on your hair or using it as a treatment can provide some assistance. Olive oil is well-known for its moisturizing properties which makes it a great substitute if you run out of serum!
Coconut oil can also rescue your beauty routine. And we are just a few of the countless people who rave about coconut oil’s benefits for skin! Apply after a shower and you’ll see improvements to your skin’s condition after a few days.
As if that wasn’t enough, coconut oil smells like cookies. Who doesn’t like that?
Baking Soda
To be honest, we’ve put baking soda to the test in our beauty routines on multiple occasions—and we are always pleasantly surprised!
The beauty world touts baking soda for its versatility. And no wonder—it can be used to whiten teeth, as an exfoliator or you can even use it to create your own clarifying shampoo!
Pro Tip: Baking soda is powerful and can cause irritation if used every day (speaking from personal experience here!). To avoid irritating your skin, test a small spot on your skin and wait a day to see how baking soda affects you.
Big & Beautiful Brows
Three words that complete this vintage beauty category: Audrey Hepburn’s brows.
Not only was she known for her exceptional acting and perfectly winged liner, but Audrey Hepburn had some fantastic eyebrows.
She didn’t even have to focus on creating a dramatic arch—just full-bodied brows that made her eyes the main focus! The allure of full brows is the natural sleek look: not bushy but bold. Hop on board this trend and add natural drama to your eyes and face!
A simple way to groom your brows to Hepburn-like perfection is to trim them as opposed to plucking or waxing. This allows your brows to grow out a little thicker while still remaining tidy. Your beautiful vintage brows will be the envy of every girl in the room!
Baby Powder
A secret weapon for greasy hair days. I’m sure we all used baby powder on our roots before dry shampoo was available—successfully or not!
Baby powder absorbs moisture and smells wonderful. Precisely why it was (and still is) popular as a substitute for dry shampoo. One drawback is the chalky residue it can leave behind in darker hair, so it’s best to save this beauty hack for blondes.
Natural Eye Treatments
Teabags, cucumbers, mint leaves, ice…anything with a cooling sensation to de-puff your eyes!
This is one of the oldest tricks in the book. You’ll need some serious TLC on tired eyes after waking up from a restless sleep. Just slice up some cucumbers or use a cold teabag and place on your eyes for a few minutes. This brings down puffiness by draining the buildup of fluid around your eyes.
Pro Tip: Be careful not to get anything into your eyes—you don’t want that horrible stinging sensation!
Modest Makeup
Trying out new makeup products is a lot of fun—but to get a classic beauty look just go back to basics!
Think about what makes you stand out. Striking eyes? Rosy cheeks? Full lips? Choose one or two features to accentuate with makeup and create a natural, effortless look.
A classic red lip paired with feathery lashes or winged eyeliner is a core vintage beauty statement. Or try playing up simple rosy cheeks and full brows to get a natural glam look. Old Hollywood movie stars like Marilyn Monroe captured simple beauty by focusing on the basics.
The goal to achieve: simple, yet stunning.
No matter how odd they sound, these vintage beauty hacks can revolutionize your beauty game! With an eye for discovering and investigating beauty tips, we’re here to keep you posted on the latest and greatest secrets.
Start experimenting and find your new favorite beauty secret to swear by—just make sure it’s safe for your skin!
I am very excited to try all these hacks. These are all helpful and easy to do.
Thanks for sharing these great beauty hacks!