Beautywise, we’re living in the most abundant and diverse era in history—but that doesn’t mean we don’t have something to learn from the primping practices of our predecessors. Here,a comprehensive collection of the most evergreen pieces of wisdom ever gleaned about the art of looking and feeling good, from facialist-recommended creams to drugstore steals to the single most transformative makeup item money can buy
Cleopatra wore eyeshadow made of crushed lapis lazuli.
Silver Screen CollectionGetty Images
Why not try skincare powered by (anti-inflammatory, glow-boosting) pure gold?
La Prairie Pure Gold Radiance Concentrate Serum
La Prairie nordstrom.com
$722.50
Cle De Peau Beaute Precious Gold Vitality Mask
Cle de Peau Beaute nordstrom.com
$250.75
Peter Thomas Roth 24K Gold Pure Luxury Lift Firm Mask (5 fl. oz.)
Peter Thomas Roth dermstore.com
$85.00
Chantecaille Gold Recovery Intense Concentrate P.m.
Chantecaille nordstrom.com
$272.00
Like your mother probably told you, you could use a little blush.
Diana Vreeland and Madame Virginie Gautreau, the model for John Singer Sargent’s iconic Madame X, even wore it on their ears.
Hermes Rose Hermes – Silky Blush Powder – 49 Rose Tan
HERMeS nordstrom.com
$77.00
Blushing Powder Blush
CLINIQUE nordstrom.com
$25.00
Ambient® Lighting Blush
HOURGLASS nordstrom.com
$40.00
Liquid Blush
NARS nordstrom.com
$30.00
Marilyn Monroe’s signature gleam came from a layer of Vaseline.
Sunset BoulevardGetty Images
These highlighters will also do the trick…
BAUME ESSENTIEL Multi-Use Glow Stick
ESSENTIEL chanel.com
$42.00
Hollywood Beauty Light Wand
CHARLOTTE TILBURY nordstrom.com
$38.00
Illuminator
ILIA nordstrom.com
$34.00
Highlighting Powder
BOBBI BROWN nordstrom.com
$36.00
Beyoncé swears by inexpensive Aquaphor to lock in hydration.
These drugstore finds also feel like a steal…
Embryolisse Lait Creme Concentre (2.54 fl. oz.)
Embryolisse dermstore.com
$28.00
Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream – 2oz
Neutrogena target.com
$3.99
NIVEA Creme – Unisex All Purpose Moisturizing Cream for Body, Face and Hand Care
Pantene Pro-V Repair & Protect Conditioner – 17.7 fl oz
… but some cult creams are worth every penny.
Crème de la Mer Moisturizing Cream
LA MER nordstrom.com
$90.00
Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream Face Moisturizer, Size 0.5 oz
Augustinus Bader nordstrom.com
$85.00
Macrene Actives High Performance Face Cream, Size 1 oz
MACRENE ACTIVES nordstrom.com
$225.00
Lancer Legacy Youth Treatment
Lancer bergdorfgoodman.com
$1,000.00
Major lashes are always a win (see Liza Minelli for proof).
Wave these magic wands for serious fringe benefits.
Maybelline Great Lash Mascara
Maybelline ulta.com
$5.99
Eyes to Kill Classic Mascara
GIORGIO ARMANI nordstrom.com
$32.00
Kjaer Weis Lengthening Mascara – Black (0.19 fl. oz.)
Kjaer Weis dermstore.com
$30.00
Byredo Mascara – Space Black
BYREDO nordstrom.com
$38.25
Marie Antoinette covered up complexion imperfections with faux beauty marks in the shape of stars, hearts, and moons.
Heritage ImagesGetty Images
Perhaps you prefer a concealer?
Un Cover-Up Concealer
RMS BEAUTY nordstrom.com
$27.00
Laura Mercier Secret Camouflauge Concealer Duo Stick – 4W
Laura Mercier nordstrom.com
$27.20
Concealer Broad Spectrum SPF 25
CL DE PEAU BEAUT nordstrom.com
$73.00
It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Anti-Aging Waterproof Concealer, Size 0.4 oz – 14.0 Light Tan W
IT Cosmetics nordstrom.com
$23.80
Austria’s Empress Sisi, known for her elaborate beauty rituals, slept in face masks made from raw meat and leather.
Jean-Francois DEROUBAIXGetty Images
Modern sheet masks work (and smell) better.
111Skin Y Theorem Bio Cellulose Face Mask
111SKIN nordstrom.com
$135.00
Avène Soothing Sheet Masks
Advanced Génifique Hydrogel Melting Sheet Mask
LANCME nordstrom.com
$15.00
SK-II Facial Treatment Mask (6 count)
SK-II dermstore.com
$95.00
When you need a facialist who can turn back time…
Consider these essential names for your beauty black book:
Tammy Fender, Palm Beach, Florida
” data-vars-ga-product-id=”8be8b550-b508-43e5-a83d-d218290885a1″ data-vars-ga-product-price=”0.00″ data-vars-ga-product-sem3-brand=”” data-vars-ga-product-sem3-category data-vars-ga-product-sem3-id data-affiliate-network data-affiliate=”true”>Aida Bicaj, New York, NY
Shani Darden, Los Angeles, California
Joanna Czech, New York and Dallas, Texas
And when a facial just won’t cut it…
CoffeeAndMilkGetty Images
These dermatologists and surgeons cater to the faces that give no secrets away.
Robert Anolik, MD, Board Certified Dermatologist, New York, NY
Macrene Alexiades, MD, PhD, Dermatology and Laser Surgery
Julius Few, MD, Plastic Surgeon, Chicago, IL
Andrew Jacono, MD, Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, New York, NY
Dolly Parton owns 365 wigs, one for every day of the year.
Dolly Parton Richard E. AaronGetty Images
Consider these hair beautifiers also worth the investment.
Leonor Greyl Masque Quintessence Deep Nourishing Treatment Mask (7 oz.)
Leonor Greyl dermstore.com
$147.00
Sisley Paris Hair Rituel Soothing Rebalancing Cure Hair & Scalp Serum, Size One Size
Sisley Paris nordstrom.com
$114.75
Philip B Russian Amber Imperial Gold Masque (8 fl. oz.)
Philip B dermstore.com
$225.00
Christophe Robin Cleansing Mask with Lemon (8.33 fl. oz.)
Christophe Robin dermstore.com
$49.00
Liberace famously bathed in a $55,000 marble tub.
Indulging in these items will enhance even the simplest soak.
SUSANNE KAUFMANN Oil Bath for the Senses (8.4 fl. oz.)
SUSANNE KAUFMANN dermstore.com
$76.00
Dr. Hauschka Rose Nurturing Bath Essence (3.4 fl. oz.)
Dr. Hauschka dermstore.com
$25.00
Paris Scented 190G Candle w/ Lid
Diptyque bergdorfgoodman.com
$105.00
Napoleon Bonaparte went through 50 bottles of cologne every month.
DEA / G. DAGLI ORTIGetty Images
Consider these a modern gentleman’s scent essentials:
Arancia di Capri
Acqua di Parma bergdorfgoodman.com
$180.00
Ombré Leather Eau de Parfum
TOM FORD nordstrom.com
$96.00
Cannabis Eau de Parfum
MALIN+GOETZ nordstrom.com
$95.00
Kilian Paris Apple Brandy On The Rocks
Kilian Paris nordstrom.com
$165.75
Elizabeth Arden distributed red lipstick to suffragettes in New York City in 1912 to wear as a symbol of strength and defiance.
Suffragette march, 1912. BettmannGetty Images
The shade is still an instant confidence booster.
Beautiful Color Moisturizing Lipstick
Elizabeth Arden macys.com
$26.50
Rouge de Beaute Brilliant Shine Glow and Care Lipstick
Gucci Beauty bergdorfgoodman.com
$42.00
The Slim Velvet Radical
bergdorfgoodman.com
$39.00
Betty Grable, who insured her legs for $1 million in 1943, used cold cream to keep them moisturized.
Hulton ArchiveGetty Images
Guarantee good-looking, gleaming gams with these body-beautifying indulgences.
Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Glycolic Body Lotion
Drunk Elephant ulta.com
$25.00
Lord Jones High Cbd Formula Body Lotion, Size 1.69 oz
Lord Jones nordstrom.com
$40.00
Moisture Cream
bergdorfgoodman.com
$165.00
Clarins Body Fit Anti-Cellulite Contouring Expert
Barbra Streisand has revealed that the only time she cut her famously long nails was to play Yentl, in 1983.
Keep your talons in tip-top-shape with these tried-and-true varnishes.
Tenoverten Nail Polish, Liberty
Tenoverten amazon.com
$14.08
Nail Polish by Emilie Heath
Sally Hansen Advanced Hard As Nails
Sally Hansen ulta.com
$3.49
LE TOP COAT Quick Dry and Shine
CHANEL nordstrom.com
$28.00
Joan Crawford reportedly splashed her face with ice water 40 times every morning.
Hulton ArchiveGetty Images
Extreme cold has been proven to de-puff the face and boost micro-circulation, enhancing glow.
Dermstore Collection Set of Two Ice Globes (1 pair)
Dermstore Collection dermstore.com
Joanna Vargas Magic Glow Wand (1 kit)
Joanna Vargas dermstore.com
$285.00
Cryo Facial Freeze Tools
GEORGIA LOUISE revolve.com
$130.00
Italian siren Sophia Loren’s soft skin secret? Olive oil.
Donaldson CollectionGetty Images
These facial oil formulations lock in moisture and keep skin supple.
Guerlain Abeille Royale Advanced Youth Watery Oil, Size 1.69 oz
Guerlain nordstrom.com
$46.75
0.8 oz. Face Oil
bergdorfgoodman.com
$110.00
Retinoic Nutrient Face Oil – 30ML
tataharperskincare.com
$150.00
Active Botanical Serum
VINTNER’S DAUGHTER nordstrom.com
$185.00
Ancient Romans used a thin blade called a strigil to scrape away dead skin.
AskinTulayOverGetty Images
These exfoliators effectively sweep away dry skin and encourage cell turn over.
1 oz. PM Active12 Serum
bergdorfgoodman.com
$98.00
Natura Bissé Glyco Extreme Peel (1 fl. oz.)
Natura Bissé dermstore.com
$285.00
Lotion P50 Exfoliating Toner
Rice Enzyme Powder
Tatcha sephora.com
$65.00
King Louis XIV employed a perfumer to create a new scent for every day of the year.
Heritage ImagesGetty Images
Create your own perfume wardrobe with these must-smell scents.
Frederic Malle Synthetic Jungle Parfum, Size – 3.4 oz
Frederic Malle nordstrom.com
$210.00
Dior Miss Dior Eau De Parfum, Size – 1.7 oz
Dior nordstrom.com
$117.30
Delina Exclusif Eau de Parfum
PARFUMS DE MARLY nordstrom.com
$335.00
Tiffany & Co. Rose Gold Eau De Parfum, Size – 2.5 oz
Tiffany & Co. nordstrom.com
$91.80
April Long
Beauty Director April Long writes about beauty, wellness, and luxury skincare for Town & Country.
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