Another guest post for you guys! I thought I’d widen out and give you something that I am in want of – beauty secrets. Unless “don’t do anything” is a secret. I’m going to guess that it’s not. Worry not! Marcela De Vivo is here to help. Marcela…take it away:
Beauty Secrets from the Past
Many of the most famous faces in Hollywood history —Marlene Dietrich, Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly—were all in their prime long before the advent of modern plastic surgery, botox or laser treatment. Their secrets? Often, these screen goddesses relied on shockingly simple home remedies to insure their trademark radiance. Here are just a few hints from the old school of glamour:
Image Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Facial Care
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Legend has it that Joan Crawford obsessively chewed gum to tighten her neck muscles and stave off a double chin. While this may seem a bit much, the same effect can be achieved with some highly effective facial exercises (“frownies” and “wrinklies,” as some women call them). Another trade secret from Miss Crawford is to vigorously rinse your face with bracingly cold water after every wash. Try not to touch your face – too much. It can transfer dirt and rub off make-up.
- Avoid excessively touching your face—this prevents the spread of oils and dirt. Instead, carry a supply of clean facial tissue or cotton handkerchiefs for blotting perspiration. Subsequently brighten your makeup with a conservative amount of powder.
- When applying cleansers or creams to your face, always work with brisk, upward motions—this combats sagging.
- As magical as its name suggests, the old remedy, known as witch hazel, works a whole host of wonders. A one-stop for everything from insect bites, shaving nicks, sunburn and itches, witch hazel is amazingly effective as an astringent, clearing up blemishes on the double. It’s also incredibly cheap.
Hair Tips
- While we generally remember to protect our skin from sun damage, our hair is just as vulnerable to ultraviolet onslaught. Protect hair from sun damage by wearing a scarf, hat or turban—and be extra chic at the same time.
- Use an all-natural thistle brush when grooming, making sure to work from the roots upward. This way, the oils you already have in your locks will be evenly distributed, preventing both dry ends and oily roots.
- While this may sound like a crazy old wives’ tale, washing your hair with beer can actually do your hair some good as beer actually contains proteins and a slew of B vitamins. Work some warmed, high quality brew into your hair and scalp as a shampoo and conditioner and rinse well.
- The auburn tresses of Rita Hayworth, a screen legend, were a staple of her classic look. After a hot shampoo, she soaked her tresses in oil and carefully wrapped them in a towel for about 15 minutes. Afterwards, she would rinse her hair with her favorite cleanser—lemon juice.
Image Courtesy of Mademoiselle Mermaid/Flickr.com
Eye tricks
- You can fight puffiness by pressing two fridge-cooled spoons against your closed eyelids just after you wake up. Another old faithful technique is to apply cucumber slices over your eyes, as they will reduce swelling and calm your skin.
- Perhaps no Golden Age screen star relied more on her enigmatic eyes than Greta Garbo. To emulate her classic gaze, simply apply a fine layer of petroleum jelly over your eyelids, cover them with a subtle powder, then work in a darker color into your crease to make your eyes pop dramatically.
- When applying creams, concealers or any other under-the-eye product, always use your ring finger. As this is your weakest digit, you can best avoid damage this way.
Skin secrets
- Of course, regular moisturizing is a no-brainer, but to optimize its effectiveness, apply immediately after a hot bath or shower—before you’ve even dried. Because your pores will be wide open, your skin will absorb all of the moisture.
- For the softest hands and feet imaginable, apply a liberal layer of petroleum jelly just before bedtime, then slip into old pairs of socks (yes, on your hands, too) to wake up to buttery skin.
For years, celebrities have been using the same, simple tricks for beautiful hair, skin and eyes. By following a few of these beauty routines, you can too! Stay lovely, darlings!
Marcela De Vivo is a freelance writer from Los Angeles whose writing covers a variety of topics, including skin and hair care solutions, health tips and more. She loves caring for her skin and, in addition to picking up a few beauty secrets, she prefers using the most natural products and often offers beauty tips on her blog.
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