1950s Evening Beauty Routines

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I needed a distraction this week, so I decided to revisit our old beauty routines! I never did finish posting about them, but these vintage beauty routines are my favorite. Not only can I look amazing by using them (especially with the emphasis on skincare) but I can also do something that improves my own emotional and mental health (self-care) while I “put a conscious effort into looking attractive, to show respect and regard for my husband and my marriage.” Yay for vintage beauty routines!

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Once again, all of the routines are from Handbook of Beauty by Constance Hart (affiliate link), published in 1955. You can check out the morning routines, as well.

Your 1950s Evening Beauty Routine (Whether You Are a Housewife or a Working Girl)

Before Dinner

1. Remove all make-up with cream.
2. Cream-cleanse or soap-and-water cleanse face.
3. Rest for 10 minutes in darkened room with feet up and cotton pads soaked in witch hazel over your eyelids.
4. Take a warm bath. This is optional if you plan to take a bath before bedtime.
5. Wash hands and nails; push back cuticles.
6. Apply hand lotion or hand cream.
7. Change into fresh clothing.
8. Brush your teeth — after dinner!

Before Bed

1. Massage scalp for at least 2 minutes.
2. Pin up hair if necessary; if not, brush hair for at least 50 strokes. This brushing is optional if you’ve had your brushing session in the morning.
3. Do 5 minutes of general and special exercises. This step is optional if you’ve exercised earlier in the day.
4. Take a warm bath. Skip this bath if you’ve had one before dinner.
5. IF not bathing, scrub hands, nails, forearms, upper arms.
6. Apply body or hand lotion or cream to elbows, backs of heels, and any other rough spots.
7. Check fingernails for rough spots; file them with emery board.
8. Apply petroleum jelly or oil to nails (fingers and toes), lashes, brows, and (if you’re not going to have a bedtime snack) lips.
9. Apply emollient cream to areas around eyes.
10. IF skin is dry, apply a thin film of emollient cream all over your face; if skin is half-and-half, apply it only to dry patches. In both cases leave on overnight.
11. Apply touch of perfume, toilet water, or cologne below nostrils for easier sleeping.
12. IF underweight, have a light snack. IF overweight, write down list of what you’ve eaten during day and record the calorie count.
13. Massage gums for at least two minutes.
14. Use mouth wash.
15. Check bedroom for proper sleeping conditions.
16. To bed and lights out.

Your 1950s Once-A-Week Beauty Routine (Whether You Are a Housewife or a Working Girl)

One Night a Week

1. Get into the most comfortable old robe you have.
2. IF you have make-up on, remove all traces.
3. Thoroughly cleanse your face.
4. Give yourself the tired-eye treatment.
5. Sit in front of a mirror and, for about 15 minutes, experiment with new make-up purchases and new ways of applying your old make-up.
6. Remove all traces of this make-up but keep on the final application of cream you’ve used to remove it.
7. Do five minutes of facial massage.
8. Apply facial mask.
9. While mask is still on, remove old nail polish.
10. Do all steps of your manicure up to but not including the new polish application.
11. Remove facial mask.
12. Give yourself the tired-foot treatment.
13. Start your pedicure. Do all the steps up to but not including the new polish application, if any.
14. Exercise for 15 minutes.
15. Brush hair at least 100 strokes.
16. Shampoo hair.
17. Set hair.
18. Take a warm “luxury” bath.
19. Apply anti-perspirant to underarms (if you use it).
20. Apply toilet water, cologne, or body lotion all over yourself.
21. Finish off with talcum or dusting powder (not, however, if you’ve used body lotion).
22. Apply polish to toenails.
23. While they’re drying, apply polish to fingernails.
24. When fingernails are dry, weigh and measure yourself. Record results!
25. Apply emollient cream to area around eyes.
26. IF skin is dry, leave a thin film of the cream all over your face for overnight. If skin is half-and-half, leave a thin film of the cream on dry patches for overnight.
27. Wash and thoroughly dry hands; push back cuticles.
28. Apply hand lotion or cream.
29. Get into bed and lights out.

3 Nights Later

1. Repair manicure.
2. Give your hair a between-shampoo cleansing.
3. IF you’re over thirty, give yourself a 5-minute facial.
4. Check up on your make-up equipment. Wash sponges, puffs, and brushes in soapy warm water.
5. Apply anti-perspirant to your underarms if you perspire profusely as a rule.

I do have to say that these are some of my VERY FAVORITE beauty routines that I have found yet. I love my vintage beauty books, but this one is the BEST!

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