12 Beauty Products and Tools Our Grandmas Used in Their Prime

Beauty has always evolved, but let’s be honest, our grandmas were absolute pioneers when it came to looking fabulous with whatever they had on hand.

Before high-tech serums and airbrushed foundations, they worked with powder puffs, metal contraptions, and potions that smelled like a mix of roses and pure mystery. Some of these beauty staples still hold up today, while others? Let’s just say we’re glad for modern updates.

Let’s take a look at 12 beauty products and tools that defined our grandmas’ beauty routines.

1. Pond’s Cold Cream

Before double-cleansing and micellar water, every grandma swore by Pond’s Cold Cream. This thick, creamy formula worked as a makeup remover, moisturizer, and anti-aging secret all in one. Plus, the scent was unmistakably “classic grandma”—a mix of nostalgia and floral powdery goodness.

2. Cake Mascara

Forget wands and tubes—back in the day, mascara came in a little cake compact with a tiny brush. You had to wet it, swirl it, and carefully paint it onto your lashes (and hope for the best). A little fussy? Maybe. But it gave dramatic, long-lasting results that modern mascaras still try to replicate.

3. Pin Curls

Before curling irons, grandmas relied on pin curls to achieve bouncy, movie-star waves. It was an overnight commitment, requiring carefully placed bobby pins and a whole lot of hairspray. The results? Pure vintage glamour that today’s heat-damaged hair can only dream of.

4. Roux Fanci-Full Rinse

This wasn’t just hair dye—it was a tinted rinse that washed out over time, giving hair a boost of color without the commitment. Whether grandma wanted to enhance her silver or bring back a youthful brunette hue, this was the go-to trick before at-home dye kits took over.

5. Metal Eyelash Curlers

These old-school lash curlers looked more like torture devices than beauty tools, and if you weren’t careful, they pinched more than just your lashes. But they worked, and for many grandmas, a good squeeze meant sky-high lashes before mascara even touched them.

6. Max Factor Pan-Cake Makeup

This wasn’t just foundation but a full-face transformation. Originally designed for movie stars, Max Factor’s Pan-Cake makeup gave a flawless, matte finish that could withstand bright lights and long days. The only downside? If you didn’t blend it right, you risked looking a little… theatrical.

7. Aqua Net

Every updo, bouffant, and beehive of the past was held together by Aqua Net and sheer determination. This legendary hairspray wasn’t just a styling tool but a protective shield against wind, rain, and possibly even natural disasters.

8. Lipstick in Metal Bullet Tubes

Today’s plastic lipstick tubes have nothing on the heavy-duty, metal cases from the past. These lipsticks lasted forever, and some even had built-in mirrors for quick touch-ups on the go. The shades? Always a bold red or a perfect pink, because subtle nudes weren’t really a thing back then.

9. The Hooded Hair Dryer

If grandma wasn’t sitting under a salon-style hooded dryer, was she even getting ready? These portable, spaceship-like dryers were essential for setting rollers and drying pin curls. They took forever, but the results were undeniably worth it.

10. Depilatory Creams

Long before laser hair removal, grandmas relied on depilatory creams that promised smooth skin with just a wipe. The only catch? The smell could clear a room, and if left on too long, it burned like fire. Beauty, as they say, is pain.

11. Erace Concealer Stick

Before liquid concealers, this thick, crayon-like stick was the go-to for covering up anything from dark circles to acne scars. It was compact, effective, and, let’s be real, probably still rolling around in a few makeup drawers today.

12. Perfume Sachets

Instead of today’s roll-on perfumes and spritzes, many grandmas kept scented sachets in their handbags, closets, and drawers. These tiny pouches filled with lavender, rose, or powdery florals made sure clothes, linens, and even grandma herself always smelled elegant.