As a young girl, I remember having so much fun looking at and playing with my mom and grandma’s makeup and hair products. Their small pouches were full to the brim with gadgets and products, which amazed me. I loved laying them out, swatching their colors, and maybe digging my tiny fingers into a few palettes. However, I now understand the struggle of little fingers in palettes. On the other hand, it’s been such a beautiful thing watching my own makeup bag grow over time. What makes it extra special is that some of their best classic beauty products have really stood the test of time and made their way into the bags of girls everywhere.
Linked below you will find classic beauty products and techniques that people have been using for decades.
Vaseline
Dating back to the 1870s, this thick jelly has had a significant resurgence on TikTok over the past few years. Used most recently for the slugging trend, the product can be applied to keep scrapes clean, heal diaper rash, tame flyaways, remove eye makeup, exfoliate the lips, and extend the life of your perfume. What’s not to love? It is no wonder we still grab Vaseline. It is a clean, essential product that will continue to be a go-to for moms, families, and everyone!
Bag Balm
Similar to Vaseline, Bag balm has been used by many for over 120 years. Bag balm is loved for its thick texture and strong medicinal scent. The green tin the ointment comes packaged in has become an icon, just like the product. While invented in 1899 to soothe irritation on cow udders, the product is now most widely used to soothe dry and cracked skin on humans. Other ways include heel treatments, cuts, scrapes, chapped lips, pets’ cracked noses, moisturizing tattoos, sunburns, and chafing. Having a tin of this on hand can be so helpful.
Rosebud Salve
Smith’s Rosebud Salve outdoes any other lippies on the market. It’s smooth, it shines, it plumps. It’s not sticky, strong-smelling, expensive. It’s everything we need in a lip ointment. If you like it classic, it comes in a cute tin, or they offer a less messy tube option now. The salve will have your lips looking juicy and just the right shade of ‘popsicle’ stain pink. When I see these out, usually at Ulta or Sephora, I try snagging two because I know I will use them up.
Pond’s Cold Cream
Ahh, the famous Pond’s Cold Cream (1905). Pond’s Cold Cream was one of my favorite products, and my grandma had it on her bathroom counter. I couldn’t explain what it did then; I knew it looked and felt luxurious. And any product that makes you feel like it deserves a spot on your sink. Knowing what I know now, it is a skin cleanser and protectant that removes makeup like a dream. It is also used to remove makeup stains and crayon stains. I’m a fan!
We all know SPF’s importance already, so that I won’t go on about that. But the fans have spoken, and since 1944, there have been some big Coppertone supporters. When you offer a range of sun protection products for the whole family and have some cute marketing to go with it, you have a winner! With products everywhere, it’s impossible not to get your hands on this brand. A plus is that the company is big on sustainability and the environment.
Foam Hair Rollers
With help from TikTok, these 1930s variations of foam hair rollers have made a massive comeback. It’s a great, heatless way to achieve those beautiful curls like the commercials. Drool. While they do take some practice, they are relatively easy and quick and cannot only form curls but can also help prolong a recent blowout. The rollers can be used all over the head or in specific places for particular looks. Check YouTube for great in-depth tutorials.
Maybelline Great Lash Mascara
Does Maybelline ever disappoint when it comes to mascara? However, this specific formulation’s chokehold on ladies for decades is unmatched. The brand was one of the world’s first mascara producers, and it shows. Coming a long way from the days of coal dust and Vaseline formula, this specific mascara was introduced in the 1960s! It’s a simple wand, but don’t knock it until you try it. This mascara has long lashes separated and colored.
Dove Bar Soap
For the cleanest, softest skin, grab a bar of this classic Dove bar soap. It lathers like a dream and will make your skin feel the freshest it has ever felt. A staple in many homes, this bar is excellent for anyone in the family. Circulating homes began in 1957, and its patented mix of mild cleansers and moisturizing cream had this Dove bar in the iconic territory within months. The customers all agree it leaves skin clean, soft, and smooth. Take their quiz online to see what bar is best for you, or stick with the classic and see why it is so loved.
Eyelash Curler
This is not a product but a tool; it is a must-have in any decade of beauty. Invented in the early 1900s, this gadget has been modified and made ultra-famous. As a young girl, I had the most challenging time figuring out how to use an eyelash curler successfully, but I loved the learning curve it came with. My lashes started to look better and better. Tradition lash curlers use a spring mechanism to press the lashes between two plates; other variations can be found online, even some that lightly heat the lash.
Powder
Another beauty bag classic. Whether you prefer a pressed pancake-style powder or a loose, finely milled powder, a powder is ready to elevate your makeup. Launched around the 1930s, a product like this from any brand has the industry’s staying power. Forever, the makeup bag staple is compact and has powder in it. Remember the ladies excusing themself to powder their nose? How vintage and great is that?
The Red Lip
A long-standing symbol of status and power, the red lip is here to stay. It’s classy, vintage, its hip, it’s timeless. When you find the perfect shade, you will forever be loyal. Its history, filled with movements and symbolism, epitomizes beauty for me. Never have I met a woman who doesn’t look amazing in the perfect-toned red. “There is a shade of red for every woman.” -Audrey Hepburn
There you have it, products that are tried and true cult classics that have stood the test of time. I still use some of these products today and will grab some just for nostalgia. All these products can work for a wide range of people and have been crowd-pleasers! Let me know what you think, and feel free to add your favorite classic beauty products below!
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