Old Hollywood was synonymous with glamour, and its beauty secrets continue to inspire modern trends. From skincare rituals to makeup tricks, the techniques used by silver screen legends have left a lasting impact on how we approach beauty today. Discover these iconic beauty secrets from Old Hollywood that continue to influence modern beauty routines.
Marilyn Monroe’s Lip Contouring (1950s)
Marilyn Monroe was known for her signature red lips, but the secret to their iconic look was contouring. Makeup artist Allan “Whitey” Snyder would use up to five different shades of lipstick and liner to create dimension and make her lips appear fuller. This technique of layering colors and using lighter shades in the center is still popular today, influencing the “overlined lips” trend seen on social media and in modern makeup tutorials.
Elizabeth Taylor’s Shaved Face (1950s)
Elizabeth Taylor famously shaved her face to exfoliate and achieve a smooth complexion. Shaving removes dead skin cells and peach fuzz, which allowed her makeup to sit flawlessly on her skin. Today, this practice is known as “dermaplaning,” a common skincare treatment that is gaining popularity for creating a smoother surface for makeup application.
Grace Kelly’s Blush Draping (1950s)
Grace Kelly was famous for her natural elegance, and one of her beauty tricks was using blush to contour her face subtly. Instead of using harsh contouring methods, she would apply blush along her cheekbones and up towards her temples, a technique known as “blush draping.” This method has resurfaced in modern makeup, influencing the current trend of using blush for a more lifted, sculpted look.
Audrey Hepburn’s Separated Lashes (1950s)
Audrey Hepburn’s fluttery lashes were a key part of her iconic look. To achieve this, she would use a pin to separate each lash after applying mascara, creating a more defined, fanned-out effect. Today, this attention to lash detail is mimicked by modern makeup artists using precision tools like lash combs, influencing the trend of perfectly separated, voluminous lashes.
Rita Hayworth’s Hair Oil Treatment (1940s)
Rita Hayworth was known for her voluminous, glossy red hair. Her secret? She regularly massaged oil into her hair to keep it soft and shiny, then wrapped it in a towel before washing it out. This method of deep conditioning with oil treatments has influenced modern hair care, with many people now using argan, coconut, or jojoba oil to nourish their locks and add shine.
Joan Crawford’s Ice Water Facials (1940s)
Joan Crawford was a firm believer in ice water facials to tighten her skin and reduce puffiness. She would splash her face with ice-cold water multiple times a day to keep her skin looking firm. Today, the concept of using cold therapy is common in skincare routines, with products like ice rollers and cryotherapy facials offering the same refreshing and tightening benefits.
Mae West’s Coconut Oil Moisturizer (1930s)
Mae West, a Hollywood icon of the 1930s, swore by coconut oil as her go-to moisturizer. She believed it kept her skin soft, hydrated, and youthful. Coconut oil has since become a popular beauty staple in modern skincare, used for everything from moisturizing to makeup removal, thanks to its nourishing properties.
Marlene Dietrich’s Tape Facelift (1930s)
Marlene Dietrich, known for her sharp, defined features, used a secret trick to maintain her lifted look: face tape. She would apply adhesive tape near her temples and hairline to pull her skin back for a temporary facelift. This old Hollywood hack has influenced modern innovations like face-lifting tapes and adhesive strips, used for red carpet events or photoshoots to achieve a similar effect.
Vivien Leigh’s Defined Brows (1930s)
Vivien Leigh, star of Gone with the Wind, had impeccably arched eyebrows that helped define her classic beauty. She used dark pencils to fill in her brows, emphasizing their shape. Her commitment to perfectly sculpted brows has had a lasting influence, as modern trends continue to focus on bold, well-defined eyebrows using pomades, pencils, and brow gels.
Greta Garbo’s Petroleum Jelly Eyeliner (1920s)
Greta Garbo was one of Hollywood’s biggest stars in the 1920s, and her sultry, dramatic eyes were part of her allure. She would mix petroleum jelly with charcoal pigment to create her signature smoky eyeliner look. This early DIY beauty hack has evolved into modern gel eyeliners, which offer a smooth, smudged effect, perfect for achieving a timeless smoky eye.
Clara Bow’s Cupid’s Bow Lipstick (1920s)
Silent film star Clara Bow popularized the “cupid’s bow” lip shape in the 1920s by accentuating the curve of her upper lip with dark lipstick. This lip shape became iconic, and today, lip liners and lipsticks are used to recreate or enhance the natural cupid’s bow for a more defined, dramatic look.
Jean Harlow’s Bleached Hair (1930s)
Jean Harlow was one of the first Hollywood stars to make platinum blonde hair famous in the 1930s. She regularly bleached her hair, sparking a trend that remains relevant today, with platinum and icy blonde shades still dominating hair color trends. Modern hair salons now offer safer and more advanced bleaching techniques to achieve this timeless look.
Bette Davis’s Cucumber Eye Treatment (1940s)
Bette Davis used to place cucumber slices over her eyes to reduce puffiness and refresh her skin after long days of filming. This simple beauty trick is still widely used today, influencing the popularity of under-eye treatments like cooling eye masks and cucumber-infused skincare products designed to hydrate and de-puff the delicate eye area.
Carole Lombard’s Nose Contouring (1930s)
Carole Lombard, known for her striking beauty, would contour her nose with makeup to create the illusion of a slimmer shape. By using lighter and darker powders, she enhanced her natural features. This technique paved the way for the modern contouring trend, which is now a staple in beauty routines for defining facial features.
Sophia Loren’s Olive Oil Bath Soaks (1950s)
Sophia Loren, an icon of the 1950s, credited her glowing skin to olive oil baths. She would add olive oil to her bathwater to keep her skin soft and radiant. This beauty secret has influenced today’s trend of using natural oils in skincare, with olive oil still being a popular ingredient in body lotions and bath products.
Lana Turner’s Cold Cream Makeup Removal (1940s)
Lana Turner swore by cold cream for removing makeup and keeping her skin clean and moisturized. This rich, creamy product was used by many Hollywood stars to dissolve heavy makeup while leaving the skin hydrated. Today, cold cream has been modernized into cleansing balms, which offer a similar luxurious experience for gently removing makeup and nourishing the skin.
Ingrid Bergman’s Minimal Makeup (1940s)
Ingrid Bergman was known for her natural beauty and minimalist makeup style. Unlike many of her Hollywood peers, she opted for a fresh, understated look that focused on glowing skin and subtle enhancements. This “no makeup” makeup look is hugely popular today, influencing trends that prioritize natural beauty with lightweight foundations, soft blushes, and neutral tones.
This article originally appeared on UnifyCosmos.
More from UnifyCosmos
20 Surprising Things That Cost More in Texas
Many residents feel the pinch in their wallets. Here are a few examples of what you’ll pay a premium for in the Lone Star State. Read more!
16 Minimalist Beauty Routines for Busy Mornings
Rushed mornings shouldn’t mean compromising on self-care. Simplifying your beauty routine can save time while keeping your skin looking great. Read more!
15 Timeless Beauty Tips Passed Down Through Generations
Achieving radiant skin and hair can often feel overwhelming with the endless array of products and advice out there. Read more!
Leave a Reply