Old-School Beauty Trends That Have Surged In Popularity Again

If you're a vintage movie buff or watched your grandmother getting ready, you may recall seeing beauty routines that seemed quaint and old-fashioned. Whether it's taking off makeup with cold cream or using hair rollers for curls and volume, many fads have come and gone over the years. For example, things like the TikTok sunset blush trend are hot one minute and out the next. Still, what falls out of vogue tends to make its way around again, even if it seems outdated (check out the '80s hairstyles celebs are rocking today, for instance). And, despite all the innovative skincare that's available these days, many are rediscovering the advantages of old-school beauty tricks as part of their daily regimen. 

As a makeup artist, I like to stay on top of beauty trends, and it's always interesting to see which ones come back. Sometimes, it's the runways that dictate what's cool that particular year, and other times a celeb's endorsement influences the masses. Whatever the case may be, old-school beauty hacks are back in a big way, and these are ones you'll actually want to get in on.

If there was one beauty staple that stood the test of time, it would be cold cream. Folks used it for decades to remove their makeup at the end of the day, and in fact, my mom kept a jar of it in the bathroom. Then, foaming face washes and water-based products became popular, and it seemed cold cream was an old-school makeup product people didn't use anymore. Well, it's about to get huge again after Kylie Jenner shared an Instagram reel of herself using it before bedtime. "I use Pond's. I'm back on the Pond's. I used this when I was a teenager, and now I'm just into it again," she told fans.

For folks who aren't into a 12-step skincare routine, cold cream is your answer, as the product removes and dissolves makeup, even waterproof mascara. I love this particular product because it eliminates the extra step of using eye makeup remover. For example, Jenner rubbed a dollop of cold cream all over her face, including her eyes, and it dissolved all her mascara and eyeshadow. "Oil-based cleansers help liquefy and remove oil-based products and cosmetics from your skin without stripping the natural, built-in moisture from the skin surface," dermatologist Alicia Zalka explained to Parade. However, it's not a fit for everyone, particularly if you tend to break out or are sensitive to scents. And it doesn't replace soap, so if you don't want that residue on your face, you'll have to wash it off with a cleanser. If you do, follow immediately with a toner and moisturizer to avoid drying out your skin.

There used to be a time folks would go to the salon every week to get a blowout, but the past few years have been more about breezy, natural styles. Now, with clean-girl beauty making its way out the door, many are embracing maximalist looks, including big, '90s supermodel hair. You can achieve the look with a large rounded brush and a blow dryer, but take a cue from beauty mavens of yore (and save your hair from overheating) with large Velcro rollers. Simply apply some styling mousse onto damp hair, give a section a blast of heat, and then wind it around a Velcro roller. Leave them on until your strands are fully dry, and gently brush them out. You'll be left with endless volume and bouncy waves.

Those with short locks who believe they can't pull off '90s supermodel hair can think again. Instagram user Tatum shared a reel of herself achieving the look on her bob using large rollers. Working in sections, she rolled just the top half of her hair in an outward direction. After blow-drying her strands, she gently twisted the rollers off and was left with unbelievably runway-ready hair. It was totally giving Linda Evangelista circa 1990.

Body sprays and mists were huge after the popular teen scent Malibu Musk was in drugstores everywhere in 1989. Then, Bath & Body Works went in on the trend the following year with various fruity fragrances that reminded you of the mall. "Some of the first body sprays to hit the market from Bath & Body Works, as well as the Body Shop and drugstores, appeared in the mid-'90s and really took off in the early 2000s," Givaudan perfumer Gwen Gonzalez shared with Harper's Bazaar. She added, "For a generation of young people coming of age at this time, body mists were their first introduction to a wearable, more complex type of scent."

These days, body mists have become a bit more sophisticated, with many more complex than their former counterparts. Creative director of Phlur, Chriselle Lim, told Vogue, "What we're seeing now isn't a return to teenage fragrance, but refinement for an elevated audience. Body mists naturally align with how modern consumers want fragrance to integrate into their routines: layered, expressive, and less prescriptive." Think of them as low-commitment fragrances that you can reach for according to your mood. They're also light enough that you can spritz on your strands to freshen them up or use after a gym sesh. 

Lip glosses will always have their place in my makeup kit, but they're not always what's trending. During the '70s, they were on almost everyone's lips, as the shimmery, disco look was in style. Grunge looks reigned supreme in the '90s, but high shine was back in the Y2K era, with girly pink shades taking over. Glosses fell out of favor again around 2010, as matte textures were trending, but now they're back, and the formulas are even better. Gone are the sticky textures of the early 2000s, and instead, they're more lightweight, with some even containing nourishing ingredients like vitamin E. I particularly love lip oils for that reason, as they give all the shine without the heaviness.

For long-lasting color, I recommend using a lip stain, followed by gloss or a lip oil. If you want added dimension, use a darker color on the corners and a lighter shade in the middle. These days, the blurred look is in, so you don't have to be super precise. I like to apply the color and then gently rub the edges of the lips. For an even perkier pout, look for a gloss with a very fine shimmer if you want to add some sparkle, which is always a yes in my case.