6 Beauty Secrets To Steal From Your Grandma (Plus 2 To Skip)

While modern-day women have a huge arsenal of products available to us to get glam, our grandmothers often looked just as gorgeous -- with much less. Their tips and tricks were wallet-friendly, creative and often yielded jaw-dropping results. We tracked down beauty, skin and hair experts to tell us what your grandmother got right (and what she didn't!).

"If there's something your grandmother recommends that you use and like, don't change it, but there are new, inexpensive products that may work better than the old stuff," says Dr. Jeffrey Dover, associate clinical professor of dermatology at Yale University School Of Medicine and director of SkinCare Physicians in Boston, Mass. Always test out a remedy before going full-on to see if it works on your skin.

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Use: Veggies On Your Skin

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There are a bunch of garden-fresh goodies that boost your complexion -- cucumbers on your eyes are just the beginning. "One I really love that I use on my celebrity clients is raw potato, sliced and rubbed under your eyes to help with puffiness, dark circles and inflammation," says Deborah Burnes, CEO and founder of Sumbody and author of "Look Great, Live Green." Burnes recommends leaving the slice on for five minutes, then swapping out for a new piece. "Another great old adage is cabbage water -- our grandmothers never threw out leftover water when they boiled cabbage, and it works well if you store it in a spray bottle in the fridge and use it as a toner," she says. Burnes also suggests trying the water from cooking kale, spinach or broccoli (even though we don't often boil veggies anymore!).

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There are a bunch of garden-fresh goodies that boost your complexion -- cucumbers on your eyes are just the beginning. "One I really love that I use on my celebrity clients is raw potato, sliced and rubbed under your eyes to help with puffiness, dark circles and inflammation," says Deborah Burnes, CEO and founder of Sumbody and author of "Look Great, Live Green." Burnes recommends leaving the slice on for five minutes, then swapping out for a new piece.

"Another great old adage is cabbage water -- our grandmothers never threw out leftover water when they boiled cabbage, and it works well if you store it in a spray bottle in the fridge and use it as a toner," she says. Burnes also suggests trying the water from cooking kale, spinach or broccoli (even though we don't often boil veggies anymore!).

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Comments

[Rhea M]

06:53 PM on 11/07/2011

As someone allergic to petroleum based products, such as Vaseline, I can tell you this is one of the WORST treatments you can use!!! The key ingredient is Petrolatum, meaning petroleum, the same stuff they make gas out of, it is a by product from the fuel processing. Do you really want to put fuel on your hands overnight? There are better things to use, Japanese women swear by Rice Bran Oil, an Olive Oil has been used for centuries as well. Argan oil, fruit seed oils, all are natural, and contain antioxidants to help heal the skin, remove impurities, and you will see results. I have been making my own oils now and wearing them for six months, and my skin looks so much younger. I am nearly 45, and still have people who find it hard to believe I have daughters at 21 and 22 yrs of age, and a grandchild, because most people assume I am between 28-37 years old.

[DHWBoston]

02:56 PM on 10/11/2011

Great article, interesting to see what the tried-and-true tricks are!

Dr. Jill Smith
http://www.dentalhealthandwellnessboston.com

[gypsynomad]

03:42 PM on 10/02/2011

Applying gobs of vaseline all over the face and body is the most unpractical thing I have read, use cetaphil cream instead, costs a tad more but works well for the face, heels ot elbows. .

[Kelly Jade]

10:27 AM on 09/26/2011

I use witch hazel as a toner and it works great, my skin never feels dry

[Blarg]

02:25 PM on 09/24/2011

Why stop at smearing vaseline on your hands and then wearing gloves to bed? You could also smear it on your face and wear a mask, or even in your hair and wear a hoodie. If you want to keep your ears baby-butt soft, how about securing some greasy earmuffs to your head with duct tape? And why not wear greased galoshes to bed for heavenly ankles?

As a side benefit, you'll have more room to stretch out in bed when you lose your husband!

[gypsynomad]

01:36 PM on 10/02/2011

Sarcasm ? Okay,you are way too funny....hehe

[LizFox]

07:49 PM on 09/23/2011

I would add to the article that silk pillowcases (real silk that is, not satin silk from polyester) also has a very low moisture absorption rate. So your skin keeps more of its moisture at night. Always a good thing for keeping your skin looking good. http://www.lovasilk.com/guide-to-silk-bedding/silk-pillowcase-reasons-to-own

[NevaforLeadership]

06:51 PM on 09/21/2011

What a bunch of hogwash. No wonder the beauty and spa industries have such a bad name.

[bella1972]

06:08 PM on 09/21/2011

This probably wouldn't be considered a beauty trick, unless you consider the pleasant look on your face after using it..however, for upset stomach or heartburn, try a couple of apple cider vinegar tablets, or take the liquid form. I guarantee within 30 minutes you'll have a beautiful face!

[juliana1217]

05:57 PM on 09/21/2011

It say '' we don't boil veggies any more '' . . . . . We don't ? What does everybody do. . . . micro them, or eat all of them raw ?

[bella1972]

06:02 PM on 09/21/2011

Steaming vegetables is more popular and doesn't destroy nutrients.

[NevaforLeadership]

06:53 PM on 09/21/2011

Raw veggies are best. I don't think there are any that can't be eaten raw. Well, maybe potatoes, but I don't count them as veggies. In fact, in my view, they sould be avoided.

[mebemommee06]

07:25 PM on 09/21/2011

actually sweet potatoes are really good for you..they are great for fiber and have other good benefits as well..

[bella1972]

05:54 PM on 09/21/2011

The bobby pin twist was what my mom called "pin curls"

[killkubota]

05:20 PM on 09/21/2011

Vaseline is not the best. Bag Balm is the best moisterizer. Its original use was on dairy farms in Vermont, used to treat sore and chapped udders. It is the best there is for chapped hands, feet and lips. Have to be in a rural area to find it though.

[Pacaba]

05:37 PM on 09/21/2011

Nope. CostCo carries it in all of their pharmacies. You just have to ask for it!! Amazing stuff for taking out soreness and pulling out splinters, too!!

[Blarg]

02:34 PM on 09/24/2011

For pulling out splinters? Hmmm ... how does it help do that? I've never heard of greasing splinters before pulling them out. What's the trick or whatever?

[dragondancer1814]

06:48 PM on 09/21/2011

Not necessarily-I grew up in the DC-Metro area, and ever since I can remember, my mom had a tin of Bag Balm in her dressing table. I now have and use one too-that stuff is dynamite!

[killkubota]

05:17 PM on 09/21/2011

Epsom salts are a source of magnesium and other minerals. A good soak in epsom salt is all good for sore feet, or sore anything for that matter.

[mebemommee06]

07:27 PM on 09/21/2011

and if you have rose bushes, they love epsom salts too!

[Chaz2150]

05:14 PM on 09/21/2011

I disagree with the silk or satin pillowcases as a beauty secret. I happen to love the feel of a satin or silk pillowcase (and I am a man) and they do look great ... however is has been my experience that the silk or satin pillows also make you perspire more than the cotton ones. In my younger years I dated someone who loved silk sheets and pillowcases ... (without going into details ... suffice it to say they may have looked good and felt good ... but they are too sippery and very clingy (if you catch my drift)

[bella1972]

05:56 PM on 09/21/2011

Satin pillow cases do make a difference in facial creases, assuming you're a side sleeper, but I get what you mean about them being too warm...especially in summer! It's a trade off I guess. Wrinkes or sweats! :o)

[juliana1217]

05:58 PM on 09/21/2011

They're great in the winter for keeping my hair in place.

[bella1972]

06:05 PM on 09/21/2011

Absolutely! Great for the hair....just fluff and go in the morning!

[Luise Davis]

05:12 PM on 09/21/2011

it's not alcohol, it's water (H20) with an extra oxygen molecule which is unstable and flies off, releasing energy (which is why it acts as a bleach)

[juliana1217]

05:59 PM on 09/21/2011

what ?. . . . .hydrogen peroxide ?

[BamaRainbow]

04:27 PM on 09/21/2011

Well, somebody needs to go back to basic chemistry. The last slide for "Don't Use" is "Alcohol-Based Products" and there's a picture of a bottle of hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is NOT an "alcohol-based product"--it's a combination of two hydrogen atoms and two oxygen atoms. ALL alcohols involve a hydroxyl molecule (-OH) combined with a carbon atom; there's no carbon in hydrogen peroxide.

[juliana1217]

06:00 PM on 09/21/2011

I got kicked off of aol's akaQA site for correcting people like that. I was just correcting misinformation --like you are.

[mebemommee06]

07:30 PM on 09/21/2011

they are a tad touchy, aren't they.

[Blarg]

02:45 PM on 09/24/2011

Sounds like another example of peer monitoring, with all the reliable repercussions. Some peers will take action against you simply for disagreeing. I think we all know sites like that. *ahem*