The Best Old-School Beauty Tips From Dolly Parton, Joan Crawford & More Hollywood Icons

It seems as if new beauty innovations drop every day, and being a makeup artist for over 15 years has kept me on my toes with all the latest fads. However, there's a reason we often go back to the hacks older Hollywood stars turned to. For example, although the late Dolly Parton will be remembered as a fashion icon, she was also known as a beauty queen who always looked stunning. It's no secret that the "Jolene" singer loved a full glam, but underneath the makeup, she took care of her skin with surprisingly basic products. "I try all the new things that come out, but there's nothing better than good old Vaseline and those Almay eye makeup–remover pads," Parton told First For Women in 2020. 

Parton wasn't the only icon to use Vaseline as a moisturizer — Old Hollywood stars used the product to give themselves a luminous glow. It seems they were onto something, and their beauty tricks have lived on for a reason. From skincare tips to makeup hacks, these tried-and-true methods are something to be studied to this day.

Way before HD and 4K, celebs still wanted to blur their skin's texture, and for Joan Crawford, that meant shrinking her pores. Her beauty regimen included washing her face with piping hot water and then immediately splashing ice-cold water on herself twenty-five times. While that may temporarily shrink your pores, I don't recommend using hot water on your skin, as it will strip your face of natural oils and cause redness. Having visible pores on your face is okay, but an ice bath facial is pretty refreshing and can reduce puffiness, so if it worked for Crawford, I'm all for it.

Marilyn Monroe was known to apply Vaseline under her makeup to give herself a luminous glow. While that may have worked for her and Dolly Parton, those who are prone to breakouts should use a water-based moisturizer as opposed to an oil-based moisturizer. If you want that radiance Monroe loved, apply an illuminating face primer underneath a light layer of foundation to get that lit-from-within finish. For even more dimension, add a shimmery highlighter on the high points of your face, such as the tops of your cheekbones, the bridge of your nose, and brow bones.

As one of the most famous women of color during the '40s and '50s, Dorothy Dandridge was an unparalleled beauty who was known for her coral lips, which complemented her warm skin tone. The soft shade highlighted her plump lips, with minimal eye makeup that didn't fight for attention. It looks like she used a creamy formula with a slight sheen, which gave her pout a dimensional glow. If you fall into the same skin tone range as Dandridge and are looking for the perfect lipstick, try one that falls in the orange family, just like hers.

Another Hollywood icon who was super into maintaining her looks naturally was Audrey Hepburn. The "Roman Holiday" star used a Greek yogurt mask to gently exfoliate her skin. This is a very easy and wallet-friendly facial to do at home, but be sure to do a patch test first to check for an allergic reaction. You can add some honey for an antibacterial effect, especially if you're prone to breakouts. If these Old Hollywood legends have taught us anything, it's that skincare doesn't have to cost mega bucks, although splurging on La Mer every once in a while doesn't hurt.

Elizabeth Taylor was one of the biggest Old Hollywood greats who knew a thing or two about beauty. To keep her face fuzz-free, she would shave it with a razor, which also had the benefit of getting rid of dead skin cells. Many go to a professional regularly for a dermaplaning sesh, but you can totally do it at home with a special tool that resembles a scalpel. Start with clean skin and angle the blade downward, using gentle strokes. Just be sure to avoid areas that have breakouts or cuts.

Sometimes, makeup is used to create an optical illusion, which is what Carole Lombard did to make her nose look straighter by drawing a white liner down the bridge. Depending on your skin tone, white may be too drastic, so I suggest going with a concealer two shades lighter. Using a flat brush, draw a thin line along the middle and gently blend it. For even more definition, apply a slightly darker color than your skin tone on the sides of your nose to really make that bridge pop.