6 Old School Beauty Tips That Will Cost You Practically Nothing To Try

Certain old-school beauty tips have proven to be timeless; these easy, at-home remedies loved by generations before might seem surprisingly simple but work well. Plus, there's no hefty price tag attached to high-end products or the overwhelm of an elaborate skincare routine. Sometimes, simplicity really is best when it comes to beauty regimens. 

From as far back as the '40s and '50s, women were using simple household products and creative hacks to glam things up and primp for the day. Hollywood icon Grace Kelly was a fan of old school beauty tips that people still use today, and in decades like the '80s and '90s, women were getting creative with what they had at home to look beautiful and feel their best. For instance, '90s icon Princess Diana was a fan of several old-school beauty tips like proper skincare and complementary eyeliner, and while many OG beauty practices were loved by royalty and Hollywood elite, the truth is that these easy tips and simple, household products cost next to nothing.

The humble tub of Vaseline — generically referred to as petroleum jelly — has been a mainstay of beauty and grooming techniques for decades. The simple product is such a staple that there isn't one designated use for it, though for our intents and purposes, we're honing in on Vaseline's usefulness for both makeup and locking in moisture. Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe famously used Vaseline as a makeup primer because it gave her skin a soft glow. While it sounds outdated, the trend has actually gained traction on TikTok, with beauty influencers like Erin Parsons touting its effects. The trick is to apply a pea-sized amount to washed and moisturized skin. Gently press the Vaseline into the skin, rather than rubbing it in, avoiding oily zones. Skin should feel tacky rather than greasy. Use a sponge or tissue to dab away any excess, then apply makeup as normal. 

Vaseline is also an old-school favorite for beauty needs, proving that Vaseline really should take up space in your beauty routine. Women applied a small amount of Vaseline to their pulse points before applying perfume, because it helped the scent last longer. Finally, Vaseline is a wonder for the viral skin slugging technique and has long been used to lock in moisture. Since petroleum jelly is occlusive, it works best after applying a layer of lotion to damp skin, then follow with a thin layer of Vaseline to lock it in.

From our grandmas to the divas of Hollywood, these gals loved cold cream, particularly for removing makeup. The heavy product doesn't sink into the skin quickly, allowing it to cleanse and dissolve impurities on the skin's surface while leaving a soothing, hydrating residue behind. This is why cold cream is such an effective makeup remover. "Cold creams are a mixture of certain fats — usually oils — and water," Joshua Zeichner, MD, told Who What Wear. "They gently remove dirt and grease as well as makeup without drying out the skin, and since they are so hydrating, they're also great for helping to protect the skin barrier." 

Apply a small dab of cold cream — Pond's Cold Cream or the classic Nivea Cream in the blue pot are the OGs — to the face at night and gently rub it in as the cold cream attracts oil, dirt, and makeup. Follow by gently wiping it off with a cotton pad or a warm washcloth. If this doesn't feel like enough of a cleanse, it's perfectly acceptable to cleanse a second time with a gentle, foamy wash. However, if the skin feels clean, it's totally fine to just cleanse with cold cream. The trusty product also acts as a wonderful moisturizer on its own.

One of the oldest tricks in the book — and the cheapest — is an ice bath for your face. This form of cryotherapy is a tried-and-true way to look and feel fresh at virtually no cost. Icons like Marilyn Monroe and Joan Crawford loved ice baths because they were effective at reducing puffiness in the face and minimizing the appearance of pores. "Submerging the face in ice water causes rapid constriction of blood vessels, which can temporarily reduce inflammation, puffiness, and redness," board-certified dermatologist Dr. Anetta Reszko told NBC News. 

It's shockingly easy. Start your day by halfway filling a large bowl with cold water and applying a generous amount of ice cubes. Then dunk your face in the bowl for 10 to 20 seconds. You can repeat this three times, for a total submersion time of no more than 60 seconds. Pat your skin dry, apply moisturizer, and continue with the rest of your skincare routine. 

Another age-old beauty secret involves simple, DIY methods to de-puff eyes, and you can pick them up at the grocery store. Believe it or not, putting cucumber slices on the eyes is actually effective. Place cold, fresh cucumber slices over closed eyes for 10 to 15 minutes, and let the antioxidants in the cucumbers soothe your skin while the chilling effect reduces puffiness.

Another favorite remedy to de-puff eyes involves tea bags. Simply save your used bags from black or green tea in the fridge from the day before. In the morning, take two chilled tea bags, gently squeeze out any excess liquid, and rest them under your eyes for 15 to 30 minutes. Again, the cooling effect works to constrict blood vessels and reduce the appearance of puffiness. The caffeine in black and green tea is also helpful, as caffeine tightens and brightens skin and temporarily reduces the appearance of swelling. If you don't have tea bags saved, you can steep two tea bags for 3-5 minutes and then cool them off in the fridge before using them under your eyes. The key is chilling the tea bags for maximum effectiveness. 

Another OG beauty hack that's had decades of staying power is castor oil for hair growth. The simple oil is a cult classic and for good reason: Old beauty folklore claimed that castor oil was a beneficial eyelash serum, boasting that castor oil could make eyelashes grow longer and thicker. While these exact claims aren't backed by science, it's been widely accepted that the fatty acids in castor oil are full of benefits for eyelashes. 

Gently apply a small amount of castor oil along the lash line with either a cotton tip or a spoolie brush at night. The oil conditions and hydrates lashes, which actually does help them. If it doesn't necessarily make them grow longer, the castor oil certainly keeps them hydrated and healthy. After all, brittle lashes are more likely to break, so giving them added moisture to keep them long and healthy makes sense. Of course, as any old Hollywood diva knew, castor oil had myriad benefits beyond just lashes. It's an easy and affordable way to achieve smoother, silkier hair when styling. Use it to moisturize dry ends to keep hair looking and feeling hydrated and glossy. 

Using apple cider vinegar as a hair rinse is another vintage beauty tip that is tried, tested, and true. And the best part is that it's a common, affordable household item. An apple cider rinse is a great way to clarify the scalp and add shine to hair; simply use it to rinse your hair in the final step after shampooing and conditioning. Just make sure you get your ratios right. You should use about two tablespoons of vinegar for one cup of water, and pour it over your scalp and damp hair. There's the option of rinsing out the vinegar after two to three minutes, but some prefer pouring the vinegar and water mixture all over and leaving it on, allowing the hair to dry with the vinegar still in. The rinse is best if used about twice a week. 

This simple, at-home hair hack has been a long-time favorite beauty secret. It's widely believed that apple cider vinegar removes scalp buildup and improves scalp health, and can also make the hair feel softer, giving it a glossy finish.