Beauty Hacks Used by Old Hollywood Stars You Need to Try Today!
We live in a golden era of beauty products with endless options to fix every skin concern or makeup challenge.
Yet, some of the best beauty tricks come from Hollywood’s golden age—simple, timeless hacks that stars swore by.
Believe it or not, the iconic actresses of yesteryear used clever, effective beauty secrets that many of us can still use today.
Let’s explore a few legendary beauty hacks from classic Hollywood stars that are surprisingly easy and totally worth trying.
Grace Kelly: The Original Contour Queen
Grace Kelly, a movie star turned princess, remains an eternal beauty icon. Long before Instagram influencers popularized contouring, she perfected a simple cheekbone-enhancing trick.
Instead of layering numerous creams or powders, Grace used just two shades of blush.
A darker shade went in the hollows of her cheekbones to create depth, and a lighter blush was applied to the apples of her cheeks for a natural flush.
This minimal yet effective trick adds instant dimension and glow to your face. In fact, it’s still a backstage secret at fashion shows like Victoria’s Secret.
If it worked for a princess, it’s definitely worth a shot!
Sophia Loren: Olive Oil for Radiant Skin and Hair
Italian actress Sophia Loren famously credited her glow to “a love for life, spaghetti, and the odd bath in olive oil.” This natural oil is packed with antioxidants and offers incredible skin benefits.
Olive oil soothes inflammation, helps prevent premature aging, and calms sunburned skin. Applying it post-sun exposure can reduce redness and hydrate deeply, promoting a youthful complexion.
The idea of relaxing in a bath of olive oil sounds decadent—and if it keeps you looking as stunning as Loren did in her 80s, consider it your new self-care ritual!
Mae West: The Coconut Oil Glow Secret
Mae West, known for her sultry roles and ageless beauty, kept her skin radiant with a simple secret: coconut oil. This versatile oil has been a beloved beauty staple for generations.
Coconut oil moisturizes deeply, protects against environmental damage, and promotes skin elasticity. It’s no wonder this natural ingredient is still trending in beauty routines worldwide.
Mae West’s timeless glow proves that some beauty favorites never go out of style.
Marilyn Monroe: Multi-Liner Magic for Wide, Awake Eyes
Marilyn Monroe’s luminous complexion wasn’t her only beauty asset—she was also a pioneer in skin care and eye makeup.
One of her skincare secrets was dermaplaning, a technique to gently shave peach fuzz and dead skin for smoother makeup application.
Monroe’s eye makeup tricks are legendary. She used four different eyeliner shades to create her signature doe-eyed look:
Black liner on the upper lash line, smudged and winged for fullness and feline flick.
Brown liner along the lower lash line for a soft yet sultry effect.
White eyeliner in a small triangle at the outer corner between the black and brown liners to enlarge the eye.
Red liner on the inner corner to brighten the whites of her eyes.
It may sound complicated, but this layered approach created the classic, wide-eyed Hollywood glamour Monroe was famous for.
Audrey Hepburn: Lash Perfection with a Risky Tool
Audrey Hepburn’s delicate, fluttery lashes were part of her iconic look. To separate and perfect her lashes after applying mascara, she reportedly used a pin!
While that sounds a bit terrifying and unsafe, it shows how far stars would go for flawless lashes. Thankfully, today’s spoolie brushes achieve the same precise lash separation—without the risk of injury.
This hack reminds us that sometimes beauty is about attention to detail—and a little creativity!
Why These Old Hollywood Hacks Still Work
These star-studded beauty tricks from Hollywood’s golden age are proof that simple, natural methods can be incredibly effective. Some have evolved with modern products and tools, but the core ideas remain powerful.
Whether it’s Grace Kelly’s cheek contouring with two blushes or Sophia Loren’s olive oil baths, these tips focus on enhancing your natural beauty.
They are easy to incorporate into daily routines and don’t require an arsenal of expensive products.
Plus, trying these time-tested hacks connects you to the glamor and elegance of the icons who set beauty standards decades ago.
How to Incorporate These Hacks into Your Routine
Try Grace Kelly’s blush contouring with just two shades—darker in the hollows, lighter on the apples of your cheeks.
Use a natural oil like olive or coconut oil as a moisturizer or after-sun treatment to nourish and soothe your skin.
Experiment with layering eyeliners to create depth and brightness in your eyes, inspired by Marilyn Monroe.
Replace risky lash tools with modern spoolie brushes for safe and effective lash separation.
By adapting these classic tips, you can elevate your beauty routine while celebrating timeless glamor.
Final Thoughts
Old Hollywood stars had an elegance and charm that continue to inspire beauty lovers today.
Their tricks remind us that less can be more and that natural ingredients and simple techniques often deliver stunning results.
So, if you want to add a touch of vintage glam to your look, start with these legendary hacks. Who knows? You might just uncover your new favorite beauty secret straight from the golden age of Hollywood.
Feeling inspired to try any of these hacks? Or maybe you know another classic beauty tip from the past? Let me know—I’d love to hear what timeless secrets you swear by!
These vintage beauty secrets prove that you don’t always need the latest gadget or product to look fabulous. Often, nature and simplicity go hand in hand to create timeless beauty.
Many of these stars focused on enhancing their natural features rather than masking them. Their routines were about self-care and confidence, which is truly the best beauty boost.
It’s also fascinating how some ingredients like olive and coconut oil have stood the test of time in skincare. Modern science continues to support what these icons believed decades ago.
By combining classic hacks with today’s technology, you get the best of both worlds. Remember, beauty is personal, so feel free to adapt these tips to what suits you best.
Embracing these old Hollywood tricks might even add a fun, nostalgic twist to your routine. After all, who wouldn’t want to glow like a movie star from the golden era?
DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek.
“Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more.
Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals.
Sunscreen
“We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.”
Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen
An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup.
Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand.
Vitamin C Serum
“A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum
The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum
This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants.
Peptides
Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.”
Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream
This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively.
This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek.
At-Home Peel Pads
Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate.
“The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.”
According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says.
Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad
A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection.
KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads
These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids.
Emollient Night Cream
“In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.”
“Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products.
Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream
One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme
“The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.
