Grandma Knew Best: 12 Old School Beauty Hacks That Never Miss

Before TikTok tutorials and 12-step skincare routines, our grandmas were out there serving looks with whatever they found in their kitchen cabinets. Reddit's beauty enthusiasts recently spilled the tea on 17 old-school tricks that still deliver, proving that sometimes the best solutions come with decades of field testing. Between Vicks VapoRub turning crusty feet into silk and charcoal and creating the kind of eyeliner that survives ugly crying, these vintage beauty hacks hit different than their modern, packaged-in-pink counterparts.

Who needs a $50 lip scrub when a clean toothbrush and some honey do the job? Watch coffee grounds transform from morning necessity to exfoliation sensation, while beer makes your hair grow faster than your Friday night confidence. These aren't just random discoveries – they're time-tested beauty secrets passed down through generations of people who knew how to work smarter, not harder. From yogurt face masks that make your skin glow without emptying your wallet to the eternal truth that sunscreen remains undefeated in the battle against aging, each hack proves that beauty doesn't need a fancy label to work wonders.

12 PHOTOS

#1 "Sunscreen every day, all da,y is the best wrinkle prevention." - reddit user

Hand holding Banana Boat sunscreen bottle, illustrating effective old-school beauty hacks for sun protection.
Review: "Good application on the skin. My daughter is fair-skinned, and she didn't get burned even though she stayed a few hours under the sun. It is the perfect travel size for the airport." - caroline

#2 "Get a cloth headband (the stretchy circle ones) and wrap your hair around it to sleep for heat-free, non damaging curls." - iusedtobefamous1892

Review: "The only headbands that stay on and don't give me a headache" - Sheri M.

#3 "Neosporin on cystic acne is a godsend! If I feel one forming under the skin, I put a dab of Neosporin on it each night before going to sleep and by the next 1-3 days, the pimple will be gone without ever surfacing." - WordsAndThots

Review: "The cream has no smell and is very easy to use. Definitely will buy again." - Henrietta M

#4 "Applying yogurt as a mask - lactic acid can exfoliate and give you brighter skin." - knov5

Review: "Love this yogurt. Nice consistency. Smooth. Good protein source. Good price. I also use it as sour cream." - Vel

#5 "If you have dry skin, Vaseline won’t do much of anything. But if you apply it over top of a layer of moisturizer, it will work in tandem to keep your skin soft." - reddit user

Review: "I used it twice a day. It’s lightweight, and the quality is amazing. My skin feels good, and the pump works well. Overall good value for money for a daily skin care." - Ly

#6 "I had a bald spot in 12th grade because I accidentally pulled my hair. Aloe vera made my hair grow faster." - lxnxb

Review: "Personal care products. Your packaging is perfect, in my opinion. I love the fact that it’s pure." - Sandra A.

Simplicity meets effectiveness as we explore more beauty wisdom that predates social media. These next tricks remind us that sometimes the most powerful solutions have been hiding in plain sight, waiting for us to rediscover what our ancestors already knew about looking and feeling fabulous.

#7 "The best and easiest way to get curls (and to comfortably sleep on them) is with pin curls! Get you a huge box of bobby pins and pin your hair." - faithcircus14

Review: "I like that these pins are long and that they secure my hair rollers very well. The tips of the pins are rounded so that they do not scrape my head." - Monet Lady

#8 "Honey + (brown) sugar makes a nice lip scrub." - reddit user

Review: "My son loves this. It’s the only honey he likes to use." - Brenda Flaherty

#9 "Coconut oil for healthier eyelashes and eyebrows." - knov5

Review: "This 54-ounce container is organic virgin coconut oil can be used for cooking and is great for the skin. great value for the money." - Sheri K Gwatney

#10 "VapoRub for smooth feet. I rub it on my feet, put socks on, and go to sleep. Once a week is enough for me." - MeriDianeMeri

Review: "I’ve used this stuff for years, and I love it for myself and my kids." - Tiffany Collins

#11 "Apple Cider Vinegar to burn off small dark spots and moles. Can mix with bentonite clay for brightening facial." - locksoflore

Review: "I enjoy this apple cider vinegar! It has a rich, natural flavor with just the right amount of tanginess." - CHAO W.

#12 "Using a toothbrush to exfoliate your lip." - knov5

Review: "Love this sonic toothbrush. It works so much better than my clunky, bulky spinbrush!! It is a lot more gentle on my teeth and gums and my teeth feel cleaner than when I used the spinbrush. Great price and fast shipping, and two for one!!! Can't beat that. Highly recommend." - BakedAlaska

The wisdom of past generations continues to shine through our following collection of tried-and-true beauty hacks. Skip the trending products and expensive solutions as we dive deeper into remedies that have passed the ultimate test: time. Because sometimes the best beauty secrets come from people who figured it out long before influencers existed.