Classic beauty tips that have stood test of time
THESE days beauty counters and clinics are packed with cutting-edge products and treatments. And it’s easy to assume that when it comes to skincare, the more high-tech it is the better.
However, we firmly believe this isn’t always the case. Long before wrinkle-smoothing creams, chemical peels and Botox, our grandmothers and their grandmothers before them were creating their own beauty and anti-ageing treatments using the simplest of ingredients. Decades later many of these beauty tricks remain as effective and popular as they were all those years ago.
We have rounded up our pick of the best timeless tips for you to try out.
HAVE A MILK BATH
TV presenter Holly Willoughby has revealed she keeps her skin soft and dewy by having a long soak in a relaxing milk bath.
Holly says she makes her own bath powder by mixing dried milk powder with lavender and rose petals and adding it to warm water. Why it works: Milk is packed with beauty benefits.
Not only is it budget friendly (a tub of milk powder can be picked up at the supermarket for around £3) but milk also contains a host of skin-friendly ingredients such as vitamins A and D, which both have firming qualities, and lactic acid, a proven skin softener and gentle exfoliator.
Adding lavender oil and rose petals will help the skin retain more moisture and leave it delicately scented.
ICE YOUR WRINKLES
This simple beauty trick is a favourite with both legendary actress Dame Joan Collins and supermodel Kate Moss.
Dame Joan wraps ice cubes in cotton pads and rests them on her eyes to brighten and tighten the skin.
Kate plunges her face into a sink full of water and ice cubes. “It instantly reduces puffiness and tightens up your skin,” says Kate. Why it works: Ice has been used for years to soothe aches and pains but you can also incorporate it into your beauty routine to help shrink pores, decongest oily skin and fight wrinkles.
The cold temperature causes the skin’s blood vessels to contract and then dilate.
This immediately improves the oxygen and nutrient supply to the skin’s surface, making it appear radiant while banishing puffiness.
Never apply ice straight from the freezer, let it rest at room temperature for a few minutes, otherwise it can damage the skin.
If your skin is very sensitive, thin or you have broken capillaries only use ice for a couple of minutes to avoid irritation.
For extra skin benefits you can try making ice cubes using rosewater, green tea or a drop of lavender oil.
OIL UP YOUR HAIR
Olive oil has been used to thicken hair and boost shine for decades and was screen siren Rita
Hayworth’s top tip for lustrous locks.
Rita would shampoo her hair with hot water, saturate it with oil and wrap it up in a towel for 15 minutes to allow the oil to work its magic.
To finish she would rinse her hair with hot water and lemon juice to get rid of any oily residue. Why it works: Rich in vitamins A and E and packed with antioxidants, olive oil helps protect the keratin in the hair and seals in moisture by penetrating the hair shaft.
It also helps protect tresses from free-radical damage caused by exposure to sunlight and pollution.
MARVELLOUS MULTI-TASKER
Petroleum jelly, best known as the brand Vaseline, has long been seen as one of the most useful additions to every dressing table.
It can be used as a cleanser and moisturiser, as an eye primer before applying shadow and as a natural mascara to make lashes stand out. Why it works: Petroleum jelly is an oil-based emollient that helps create a thick barrier between your skin and the environment.
It is also the cheapest and most effective way to soften hard skin and can be used on dry places such as elbows, knees, lips and anywhere else that could use a little extra hydration, especially in the winter.
SCRUB WITH SUGAR
Despite living on rations during the war some women turned a bit of their sugar allowance into a natural exfoliator by mixing it with warm water, olive oil or lemon juice. Why it works: Sugar is a natural humectant, meaning it draws moisture from the environment into the skin so helps keep it hydrated. It is a natural source of glycolic acid which penetrates the skin and gently exfoliates dead cells.
Sugar grains also make an excellent topical scrub. Brown sugar is softer than granulated sugar so is ideal for the face and sensitive skin.
Raw sugar is best used on the body. Do a small patch test if you aren’t sure how your skin will react.
FADE DARK CIRCLES
It may seem hard to believe but one age-old remedy for dark circles under the eyes is the humble spud. You wash and peel a cold potato, cut two thin slices and place them under the eyes for 10 to 15 minutes. Why it works: Potatoes contain both vitamin A which helps firm skin and vitamin C which nourishes the delicate skin around the eye.
The combination of coldness and starch in potatoes also has an anti-inflammatory effect that shrinks blood vessels under the eyes, diminishing dark circles.
For advice on cosmetic surgery consult your GP. For more of Lesley’s tips see lesleyreynolds.com