We have more options than ever before when it comes to makeup and beauty tools. There are plenty of gizmos and gadgets you can use to help you get the hair and skin of your dreams!
But even with all the modern formulas, technologies, and equipment that we enjoy, that doesn’t mean that we can’t learn anything from the past. In fact, there are plenty of beauty hacks that would be considered “old school” today that still work just as well as they did back in the day!
Today I’ll be sharing 11 effective beauty hacks from decades past. These solutions are quick, cheap, and easy, and often rely on natural ingredients. My hope is that these tips prove that when it comes to beauty, you don’t have to reinvent the wheel—sometimes all you need is a great tip that people have been using for years. :-)
11 Old School Beauty Hacks That Still Work
1. Soften Eyeliner
Remember that old lighter trick for softening up an eyeliner pencil? It’s still one of the easiest ways to get your eyeliner to glide on smoothly.
Just light up a lighter and pass the tip of the eyeliner through the flame for a second or two, then blow on the tip of the eyeliner to cool it off and apply as usual. The heat softens the tip and makes it much easier to apply, and it won’t tug on your eyelids either.
2. Tighten Pores
If your face is looking a little red, tired, or puffy, use the magic of ice water! A good old fashioned dunk in cold water will restrict the blood flow in your face, making your skin look less puffy and more awake. Just fill a bowl or your sink with cold water and a few ice cubes and dunk your face right in. Hold it in the water for 8-10 seconds for best results.
3. Soothe Eyes
Staring at a computer screen for hours can make your eyes look puffy and irritated, but previously brewed tea bags make a soothing de-puffing treatment. Just steep two bags of tea in 1/2 cup of hot water for about 3 minutes or so, then remove the bags and refrigerate them.
Once they’re cold, apply a bag to each eye and relax for 10 minutes. Your eyes will feel refreshed and look less puffy!
4. Tone Skin
Apple cider vinegar makes a great toner that not only leaves skin feeling softer and smoother, but can help dry out blemishes too. Mix 1 part apple cider vinegar and 4 parts water together and apply the mixture to your face using a cotton ball or pad.
5. Add Shine To Hair
If your hair is looking a bit dull and drab, you can use olive oil to infuse moisture and shine back in. Heat up 1/2 cup of olive oil in your microwave for about 10 seconds, until it’s warm but not hot. Apply the warm oil to your hair, then put on a shower cap and let it sit for 20 minutes.
Wash your hair as usual (though you will likely need to shampoo it more than once to get all the oil out). Once your hair is clean and dry, you’ll notice it looks softer and shinier than ever!
6. Amplify Lashes
When your lashes need some extra convincing to curl, grab your hair dryer and use it to warm up your eyelash curler for a few seconds. (Make sure you don’t get it too hot—you don’t want to accidentally burn yourself!) Use the warm eyelash curler to curl your lashes, and say hello to your perfectly fanned and flirty lashes!
Related: 23 Unexpected Things You Can Do With Your Hair Dryer
7. Scrub Away Dead Skin
You don’t need a fancy or expensive scrub to exfoliate your skin when sugar from your kitchen works just as well! Combine 2 parts sugar to 1 part coconut oil or olive oil. Rub the mixture gently into your skin, then rinse with warm water. (This mixture also works well as a lip scrub, so you can get two benefits in one!)
8. Reduce Redness
Some blemishes have so much redness that it’s impossible to cover them up. In these cases, it pays to keep a bottle of eye drops handy! Eyedrops are meant to reduce redness in your eyes, but they can have a similar effect on pimples too.
Soak the end of a cotton swab in eye drops, then apply it to your blemish for a few minutes. It won’t make it smaller, but it will mask some of the redness for a few hours!
Related: 11 Practical Uses For Cotton Swabs Around The House
9. Hydrate Skin
Using avocado as a facial treatment can help hydrate and nourish your skin. Just mash up an avocado and spread it evenly over your face. Let it sit for 20 minutes or so, then rinse clean with warm water. You won’t believe how smooth your skin feels afterward!
10. Treat Dandruff
Dandruff can stem from a variety of issues, many of them involving the balance of oils and chemicals on your scalp. You can use apple cider vinegar to rebalance the pH level of your scalp to help eliminate dandruff. Mix 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with 1 cup of water, then pour over wet, shampooed hair. Rinse thoroughly, then condition as usual.
11. Deodorant Substitute
If you’ve run out of deodorant and you’re in a bind, use baking soda to help neutralize bacteria and odor in a snap. Mix 1/8 teaspoon of baking soda with 1/4 teaspoon of water and apply the mixture to your underarms. (You can also add a drop of tea tree essential oil to the mixture for added deodorizing and antibacterial power.)
Do you have a favorite beauty hack from back in the day?