10 Vintage Beauty Secrets From Old Hollywood's Most Glamorous Stars

10 Vintage Beauty Secrets From Old Hollywood's Most Glamorous Stars
circa 1955: Autographed studio portrait of American actor Marilyn Monroe (1926 - 1962) wearing a fur stole around her bare shoulders. It reads 'Best Wishes, Marilyn Monroe.' (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
circa 1955: Autographed studio portrait of American actor Marilyn Monroe (1926 - 1962) wearing a fur stole around her bare shoulders. It reads 'Best Wishes, Marilyn Monroe.' (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

With their glowing skin, simple elegance and striking makeup, there's a reason why people are still obsessed with the style and glamour of Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly and other classic Hollywood beauties.

We decided to take a look back and see what simple tricks and tips were favored by the most stylish icons of early Hollywood. Check out how these gorgeous vintage stars kept themselves beautiful, and be sure to share your own secrets in comments below!

Marilyn Monroe
Camerique Archive via Getty Images
Marilyn Monroe was famous for her enviable figure -- and especially for having curves in all the right places. Apparently, it was mostly due to a regimen that included weight training and a high protein diet. In a 1952 interview with Pageant Magazine, Monroe detailed her morning fitness routine and told of her bizarre breakfast. "Before I take my morning shower, I start warming a cup of milk on the hot plate I keep in my hotel room. When it's hot, I break two raw eggs into the milk, whip them up with a fork, and drink them while I'm dressing," Monroe said. Ick.
Elizabeth Taylor
Silver Screen Collection via Getty Images
There's no eye makeup more iconic than Liz Taylor's dramatic winged liner and heavy eyeshadow in "Cleopatra." Taylor said in an interview that she liked to be in charge of her own beauty routine, cutting her own hair and even learning to do her "Cleopatra" makeup -- on her own.

But even with that striking eye makeup, there's one thing that's most important when trying to look wide-eyed and awake: beauty sleep. "Honey, you'll look like hell if you don't get a good night's sleep," Taylor said.
Audrey Hepburn
Hulton Archive via Getty Images
Audrey Hepburn's doe-eyed look was her trademark. Along with a strong brow, and efforts to keep the rest of her makeup neutral, Hepburn focused on her lashes to draw attention to her eyes. To ensure separation of each lash, her makeup artist used to apply mascara -- and then painstakingly separate each lash using a safety pin. We wouldn't recommend trying this one at home!
Grace Kelly
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Celebrity hair and makeup artist Peter Lamas told Style.com that when working with actress Grace Kelly, he noticed her repeatedly applying lotion to her hands. Kelly reportedly said it was because hands are where people show their age first -- a definite no-no for the princess who rocked a stunning Cartier diamond engagement ring of over 10 carats!
Marlene Dietrich
General Photographic Agency via Getty Images
Marlene Dietrich's perfectly arched, thin eyebrows weren't a gift from nature. In the early 1930s, it was reportedly stylish to pencil in your lashes. Dietrich is said to have completely shaved off her natural brows so that she could draw artificial ones on to perfection. Hmm... what do you think?
Rita Hayworth
Silver Screen Collection via Getty Images
We like to think of Rita Hayworth as one of Hollywood's original redheads, paving the way for other flame-haired stars like Emma Stone and Julianne Moore. Surprisingly, her natural color was not red. To advance her career, Hayworth had her hair dyed and was even convinced to have her hairline moved back, to create a bigger forehead, through electrolysis. Yikes. She also reportedly kept her star feature in tip-top shape by doing hot oil treatments after every wash, and then rinsing them out after 15 minutes with water and a bit of lemon juice.
Mae West
Hulton Archive via Getty Images
You've probably heard of the recent coconut oil fad, with people swearing to its virtues for beauty, health and cooking. But Mae West was in on this little secret decades ago. The sex symbol relied on coconut oil to give her skin its dewy, youthful glow.
Ingrid Bergman
Archive Photos via Getty Images
Unlike many of her counterparts, the lovely Ingrid Bergman was known more for her natural beauty than for being a made-up bombshell. Bergman said she rarely wore makeup outside of when she was filming. She also chalked her looks up to good genes. Her approach to beauty was more about inner wellness. She also made sure to get plenty of exercise, simply by walking and taking the stairs instead of the elevator. She also said one of her favorite things was getting in the sauna and enjoying a rub down. Nice!
Sophia Loren
Camerique via Getty Images
The bombshell Sophia Loren, who often wore revealing outfits, kept her skin soft and hydrated by occasionally taking baths with olive oil, according to the BBC. Our environment and water can be drying on the skin, so olive oil does help seal in much-needed moisture. Incidentally, Loren still looks glamorous today -- even at 80.
Jean Harlow
ASSOCIATED PRESS
The platinum blonde actress Jean Harlow felt contouring was important in giving her face all the right angles. She purposely avoided a center part and liked voluminous hairstyles to make her face appear less full.

And it appears contouring wasn't invented in the modern day. The actress used to apply blush high on her cheeks to give the illusion of a slimmer face and even plucked out her eyebrows so she could draw them on perfectly herself. Ouch.

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