It might seem like you hear new beauty tips every other day. With all that new information, many tips that were once popular are now forgotten. The fact is that some of your mom’s (and grandma’s) beauty hacks never should’ve gone out of style. If you’re wondering what the best beauty secrets of the past were, we’ve got some tips that still work to this day. So put a pause on your favorite modern beauty tips. Instead, take a blast to the past with these four old-school beauty secrets.
ICE WATER FACIALS
Legendary Hollywood actress Joan Crawford swore by ice water facials. She claimed to splash her face with ice water 25 times every morning to keep her skin smooth and tight. Ice water doesn’t have any anti-aging properties, but it can ease acne and reduce face puffiness. Celebrity facialist Candace Marino compares icing the skin to icing a swollen injury. In the same way that ice reduces swelling, it also will reduce facial puffiness.
“Many people who suffer from inflammatory skin conditions like acne and rosacea can benefit from cold therapy because of its ability to reduce the inflammation the skin, which is a key trigger to both conditions,” she said.
Icing blemishes can also reduce their swelling. This helps topical creams reach bacteria in the pores. Want to try an ice water facial but don’t feel like dunking your face into water? There are many other ways to apply the ice. For example, you can roll several ice cubes in a cloth and massage your face with it in circular motions. Do this a few times a day for one or two minutes at a time. To get rid of under-eye puffiness, apply ice or a cold compress on the area for a few minutes. When treating acne, change the ice and its wrapping often to avoid spreading bacteria.
WARMING YOUR EYELINER
Putting fire to anything that goes in your eyes is usually a big no-no. But this old-school beauty trick is an exception. Holding the tip of your coal pencil eyeliner to a flame will soften the coal. That will make applying it much smoother. Celebrity makeup artist Scott Barnes and YouTube beauty guru NikkieTutorials are big fans of this trick. Coal liner has a sharp tip that makes applying it rough. Place the tip of the pencil to a flame for a few seconds until it softens up. Test it on the back of your arm to make sure it isn’t too hot. If it’s not, apply it to your eyes as usual. The softer coal won’t drag and will make application easier to control. You can also use this tip to revive dried out eyeliner pencil.
EXFOLATING WITH SUGAR/SALT
Exfoliating is a major component of a healthy skin-care routine. It removes dead skin cells, giving the skin a fresh and rejuvenated look. Exfoliation helps your skin stay firm and radiant by stimulating the production of collagen. These days, you use spinning brushes, microdermabrasion and store-bought scrubs to exfoliate. But back in the day, our moms and grandmas made exfoliating scrubs at home. This is an easy-to-make beauty product that will give you great results while save you money at the same time.
What’s the difference between a sugar scrub and a salt scrub? While both sugar and salt will exfoliate the skin, salt scrubs are much rougher. So steer clear of salt scrubs if your skin is sensitive. Salt scrubs not only exfoliate but stimulate the lymphatic system too. This encourages natural detoxification. To make a basic salt scrub, mix 1 cup of sea salt, ¼ cup of carrier oil and 10-20 drops of essential oil.
Due to the abrasiveness of salt, stick to sugar scrubs for the face. Here’s a simple sugar recipe. Mix 1 teaspoon of organic cane or granulated sugar, 2 drops of water and 1-2 drops of orange, lemon or tea tree essential oil. Rub the mixture onto the face with your fingertips, avoiding your eyes. Rinse the scrub off with cool water and pat your face dry with a clean towel.
VINEGAR HAIR RINSE
Rinsing your hair with vinegar is an old trick that doesn’t get talked about much anymore. A vinegar hair rinse might be what you need to treat dandruff. Apple cider vinegar kills fungus, and helps clear up excess product residue. According to dermatologist Martha H. Viera, “Dandruff is caused by a yeast infection in your skin. The apple cider vinegar is used for its natural acidity to adjust the pH balance on the skin as close to neutral as possible.”
If you want to try this beauty trick, mix 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar into 1 cup of water. After shampooing your hair in the shower, pour the mixture onto your head. Rinse out the vinegar, then condition your hair like usual.
