10 Unusual Beauty Secrets of Old Hollywood Stars That Are Worth a Try
There is no denying that classic Old Hollywood stars Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, and Sophia Loren have paved the way for the beauty industry today. Their bright red lipstick, fluttery eyes, and luminous skin have been on trend since these stars graced movie screens decades ago. Here are 10 Old Hollywood beauty secrets that have withstood the test of time and may be worthy of incorporating into your makeup routine.
1. Marilyn Monroe layered her favorite shades of red lipstick to perfect her pout.
Before the days of lip filler, Marilyn Monroe used five different lipstick colors to contour her lips. To achieve her signature look, outline your lips with your darkest shade of red, fill in the middle of your lips with the lighter shades, and use the brightest red on your cupids bow and center of your lips to create a fuller smile. Try using a lip brush for easier application.
2. The Dream Team: Lipstick, tissue paper, and loose powder
To keep their lipstick looking fresh all day, Old Hollywood starlets used tissue paper and loose powder to ensure their lips were red carpet ready at all times. After applying your favorite lip color, take a piece of tissue and put it gently onto your pout, then take a fluffy brush dipped in loose powder and lightly tap it on the tissue against your lip. This technique will surely lock the pigment on your lips and will enhance the matte effect.
3. Sophia Loren’s trick for soft skin
The secret to silky smooth skin is simply olive oil. Sophia Loren ran a hot bath and pour olive oil in it, soaking up all of the moisturizing properties the oil has. Instead of spending bucketloads on luxury creams and lotions, why not look inside your pantry first and use a natural remedy?
4. Grace Kelly’s guide to contouring
Long before society hailed Kim Kardashian as the ultimate contouring queen, Grace Kelly was already wowing her fans with her beautifully structured face. Think of it as contouring without the bronzer: Grace Kelly applied her favorite shade of blush right under her cheekbones and then followed it up with a darker and slightly cooler shade right on the apples of her cheeks. This technique will leave you looking fresh and effortless, just like the Princess of Monaco herself.
5. Bette Davis' dreamy eyes
Bette Davis was so popular for her large dreamy eyes that Kim Carnes even wrote a song about them. To keep the area around her eyes looking youthful, Bette put cucumber slices on her dark circles, followed by a generous layer of petroleum jelly every night before her beauty sleep. This tandem of tricks will target your dark circles and ensure you wake up with eyes just as bright as hers.
6. Audrey Hepburn’s eyelash trick
When it comes to the darlings of Hollywood, Audrey Hepburn is always at the top of the list. The classy, doe-eyed actress has been a beauty icon ever since the 1950s and her full set of eyelashes have been envied by generations of women. With the help of her makeup artist, the Breakfast at Tiffany’s leading lady applied a thin coat of mascara and then use a pin to separate every lash for a clump-free, wispy look. Be very careful. But if you want to get the same effect with less danger, simply use an eyelash comb and brush through your lashes, making sure to wiggle the lashes at the root to really separate them.
7. Rita Hayworth’s luscious locks
To keep her hair looking silky and voluminous, Rita Hayworth had a few tricks up her sleeve. She used hot water to shampoo her hair and after rinsing it, she applied oil all over her scalp and hair. She’d then wrap it up in a towel to keep the moisture and heat. After 15 minutes, Rita rinsed her hair with hot water, yet again, and some lemon juice to get rid of the excess oil. Time to skip that hot oil treatment and try this home remedy.
8. Elizabeth Taylor on gray being the new black
Elizabeth Taylor always looked made up and put together. She is best known for her iconic eye makeup. If there is one thing Elizabeth and Cleopatra had in common, it had to be their intricate eye looks. Instead of opting for the usual black eyeliner like the other stars of her time, Elizabeth and her makeup artist used a matte gray Clinique eyeliner. Specifically, she used a cake eyeliner, a product not too common at makeup counters now, but can easily be substituted with any matte gray eyeliner to help you get her bold and sultry look.
9. Katharine Hepburn’s skincare cocktail
Organic beauty and skincare products may be all the rage now, but spirited actress Katharine Hepburn was ahead of the game. Katharine's glowing skin can be credited to her go-to face scrub. The best part is, you probably have these items in your kitchen now, so why not try it later? All you need to do mix lemon juice, sugar, and olive oil in a bowl and then gently scrub your skin. This will help get rid of the dead skin cells and also moisturize your face. Who said you had to spend thousands of pesos for a microdermabrasion procedure when you can try this at home?
10. Mae West and her coconut oil glow
Instead of applying luxury moisturizers, creams, and lotions to her skin, Mae West simply used one product: coconut oil. Natural, cheap, and good for you inside and out, coconut oil gave Mae West a golden glow.
Whether you are preparing for your next cocktail affair or just looking to spruce up your beauty routine, these tips and tricks will hopefully make you feel just as glamorous as our favorite leading ladies.
