8 beauty routines Boomers used that were natural long before “clean beauty”

It’s funny, isn’t it?

We’ve rebranded half the habits our mothers and grandmothers did naturally as part of this modern “clean beauty” movement. Yet decades ago, Boomers were already leaning into many of these routines, without the fancy packaging, influencer endorsements, or $80 price tags.

Before there were jade rollers and hyaluronic acid serums, there were cold cream jars, olive oil bottles, and homemade tonics sitting quietly on bathroom counters.

And while not every 70s beauty fad deserves a comeback (I’m looking at you, baby oil sunbathing), some of their rituals were surprisingly wholesome and genuinely sustainable.

Maybe it’s nostalgia. Or maybe, deep down, we’re realizing that the beauty industry has circled right back to where it started: simple ingredients, steady rituals, and self-trust.

Let’s take a look at eight of those timeless routines and what they can still teach us today.

1) Cold cream cleansing

Before micellar water or double-cleansing routines filled our feeds, there was one beloved staple: cold cream.

Every Boomer household had it. It was a multipurpose marvel, makeup remover, moisturizer, and soothing mask all in one.

Unlike foam cleansers that strip the skin of its natural oils, cold creams (like the classic Pond’s) used mineral oil and beeswax to gently dissolve dirt and makeup. It left skin soft, not squeaky.

The funny part? What we now call “oil cleansing” was exactly what Boomers were doing half a century ago. The principle is the same: oil attracts oil, so using it to lift away makeup and grime actually supports your skin’s natural barrier.

Many women even applied a thick layer at night like a sleep mask, wiping off the excess in the morning for a dewy glow. It wasn’t a 10-step system. It was one jar, one ritual, and a sense of trust in the process.

Sometimes progress looks suspiciously like circling back.

2) Apple cider vinegar toning

Every time I see a $40 “natural toner,” I think of my grandmother’s vanity. There was always a small glass bottle filled with apple cider vinegar and water, sitting beside her cotton pads.

She used it religiously after cleansing, decades before the term “pH balancing toner” was ever printed on a label. The vinegar’s mild acidity helped tighten pores, balance oil production, and combat bacteria naturally.

Did it smell like salad dressing? Absolutely. Did it work? Definitely.

What’s fascinating is that the science has since caught up. Apple cider vinegar has antibacterial and antifungal properties that can calm acne and regulate the skin’s microbiome when used properly (and diluted, of course).

Boomers weren’t doing it for trends or aesthetics. They were guided by practicality. They didn’t need to be told something was “clean,” it just made sense.

And in a way, that’s what made their routines so beautiful. They were rooted in observation, not obsession.

3) Olive oil for everything

Boomers didn’t need TikTok to tell them that the pantry was a goldmine for skincare. Olive oil was their holy grail long before it became a wellness buzzword.

They used it to moisturize their skin, treat dry ends, strengthen nails, and even remove makeup. I still remember seeing a small cup of warmed olive oil on my mom’s bathroom counter. She’d massage it into her cuticles or rub a few drops between her palms before smoothing it over her hair.

And if you’ve ever wondered where that trend started, you can thank the Mediterranean influence. Sophia Loren famously credited her glow to olive oil baths, a claim that sparked an entire wave of beauty experimentation in the 60s and 70s.

The truth is, olive oil contains vitamins E and K, plus antioxidants that protect against environmental stress. It’s one of those rare ingredients that nourishes both inside and out.

And maybe that’s the real lesson. Beauty wasn’t about chasing products, it was about supporting the body holistically. What was good for your health was often good for your skin too.

4) Brushing hair 100 strokes a night

“Brush your hair 100 times before bed.” If you grew up hearing that, you weren’t alone. It sounds excessive now, but it was more than an old wives’ tale, it was a nightly ritual of care.

Boomers saw brushing not as vanity, but as a way to nurture themselves. Running a brush through your hair that many times distributes your natural oils evenly from root to tip, giving shine and improving circulation in the scalp.

It was also mindful. It gave women a few quiet minutes to unwind, no screen, no noise, just a small act of gentle attention.

These days, we might swap the boar bristle brush for a wide-tooth comb or scalp massager, but the message is timeless: care for yourself slowly and intentionally.

That’s what most of us miss in our current “hustle and hydrate” culture, the calm that comes from simple, repetitive acts of self-tending.

5) Homegrown skincare

Long before “farm-to-face” became a luxury phrase, Boomers were mixing cucumbers, honey, and oatmeal right in their kitchens.

If you had a sunburn, someone would break a piece off the aloe plant in the window. Puffy eyes? Cucumber slices straight from the fridge. They used bananas for moisture, oatmeal for exfoliation, and lemon for brightness. No preservatives, no fragrance, no marketing campaign, just pure ingredients and a little creativity.

I still remember my mom telling me, “If you wouldn’t eat it, why put it on your skin?” At the time, I rolled my eyes. Now, it’s practically the motto of the modern clean beauty movement.

The heart of it was self-sufficiency. There’s something empowering about knowing how to make what you need instead of relying on endless consumption. And it connected them to nature in a way many of us are trying to reclaim.

It’s not just nostalgia, it’s the wisdom of simplicity.

6) Epsom salt baths

Today, we spend $25 on “detox soaks” in glass jars. But the original version was sitting on every Boomer’s bathroom shelf: a plain box of Epsom salt.

They used it for sore muscles, swollen feet, tension headaches, or just plain relaxation after a long day. It wasn’t called self-care back then, it was just something you did to feel better.

Science now supports what they instinctively knew. The magnesium in Epsom salt can reduce inflammation, ease pain, and help the body unwind. Add a few drops of essential oil, and it becomes an incredibly restorative ritual.

I still take Epsom salt baths after trail running. It’s not fancy. It’s not aesthetic. But it’s deeply effective and it reminds me how comfort doesn’t have to come in a designer jar.

Boomers understood that beauty wasn’t just about appearance. It was about how you felt in your own body. A calm nervous system, relaxed muscles, and steady breath were part of the glow.

7) Less-is-more makeup

Here’s something I’ve noticed: while younger generations often bounce between full-glam and bare-faced minimalism, Boomers lived comfortably in between.

Their daily look was simple, powder, mascara, lipstick. Maybe a dab of rouge for color. The goal wasn’t to hide flaws but to highlight natural features.

Many of their makeup products were multitaskers before that was a buzzword. Vaseline doubled as lip balm, highlighter, and cuticle cream. A compact served as both foundation and mirror. They didn’t need contour kits or “dewy finish” sprays to look polished.

There’s a quiet confidence in that approach. It says, “I’m not trying to be someone else, I’m just showing up as myself.”

And ironically, that’s what we now call the “clean girl aesthetic.” Funny how everything old becomes new again.

8) Staying loyal to rituals, not products

If there’s one thing that truly set Boomers apart, it was their loyalty. They didn’t chase trends or constantly overhaul their skincare shelf. They found what worked and they stuck with it for decades.

There was trust in consistency. A jar of Noxzema, a favorite shade of Revlon lipstick, a soap that smelled familiar. Those items weren’t just products, they were small anchors in daily life.

There’s a psychological comfort in that kind of routine. You’re not constantly asking, Am I missing out on something better? Instead, you move from consumption to connection.

And that’s the essence of sustainable beauty: commitment over curiosity.

Rudá Iandê talks about something similar in Laughing in the Face of Chaos, how repetition, not novelty, creates inner balance. When you perform a ritual over and over, whether it’s cleansing your face or meditating, you strengthen your relationship with yourself.

Maybe the same logic applies to beauty. Because the real glow doesn’t come from switching serums every season. It comes from the calm of knowing who you are and what works for you.

Final thoughts

When I think about how Boomers approached beauty, one word comes to mind: intentional. They didn’t call it “clean,” but that’s what it was, minimal, natural, and rooted in care.

No 15-step routines, no miracle claims, no influencer codes. Just a few trusted ingredients, a mirror, and a moment of self-connection.

And maybe that’s what we’re all craving now, not just cleaner products, but a cleaner relationship with beauty itself. One that’s less about performing and more about presence.

Because in the end, the best beauty practices aren’t revolutionary. They’re remembered. They remind us that less isn’t boring, it’s grounding. And that sometimes, the most natural glow comes from doing a little less, but doing it with a lot more love.