Joan Crawford's Morning "Beauty Routine"
Did she have to do it every single morning??
And did it work?
It seems like an awful lot of trouble, scrubbing your face (raw) with soap, scraping your arms, elbows and fingernails with a rough brush, rinsing your face in scalding hot water, and then cooling it off with ice soaked in some undetermined liquid.
From the pictures of Joan's face, her beauty routine didn't seem to be THAT great.
And in the end, she aged like everyone else.
So what was the point, except for dramatic effect?
In my opinion, it was a huge waste of time, for so little benefit.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 59 | July 27, 2024 1:27 PM
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I gotcha mornin' beauty routine right here, Joan
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 1 | July 10, 2024 10:05 AM
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I think the liquid was Witch-hazel.
by Anonymous | reply 2 | July 10, 2024 11:16 AM
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It wasn't really her beauty routine. The opening was meant to illustrate her sickness and obsession with "cleanliness".
Who scrubs their hands raw as part of a beauty routine?
by Anonymous | reply 3 | July 10, 2024 11:42 AM
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Yeah, she does that morning routine shit then she smokes all goddamn day long and destroys her skin anyway.
by Anonymous | reply 4 | July 10, 2024 11:51 AM
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I know shortly after the release Mommie Dearest, I tried pressing ice cubes to my face after pouring rubbing alcohol on them. I was 13 years old. Only tried it a few times and switched to drinking vodka on the rocks instead.
Still a beauty, to this day.
by Anonymous | reply 5 | July 10, 2024 1:49 PM
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Point taken OP, but The Fountain of Youth is a perennial folly — 99% of the over the counter skin treatments, lotions and beauty regimens of this, or any other era, are useless garbage that only monetize human insecurity.
Also, most of the medical interventions and treatments don’t work past a certain point and just make things objectively worse.
by Anonymous | reply 6 | July 10, 2024 2:16 PM
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Washing my face in cold water in the morning invigorates me.
I might try the ice method, but I’d need a maid to prepare it before dawn. I don’t see that in the future.
by Anonymous | reply 7 | July 10, 2024 4:22 PM
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I assumed that was her routine when she was filming.
by Anonymous | reply 8 | July 10, 2024 4:25 PM
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Try as she might Joan could never scrub off the stench of whore.
by Anonymous | reply 9 | July 10, 2024 5:22 PM
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Love the flute music-Mancini yes? Was it rubbing alcohol?
by Anonymous | reply 11 | July 25, 2024 3:12 PM
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Paul Newman supposedly did the face in a bowl of ice thing.
by Anonymous | reply 12 | July 25, 2024 3:27 PM
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I used to do the ice thing to close the big pores on my nose. Kinda redundant in Canada in winter though.
by Anonymous | reply 13 | July 25, 2024 3:33 PM
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My mother STILL does the ice cube thing every morning. I don't know if she got it from the film or somewhere else, but she does admit she loves that sequence in the film. I agree that it might be the best part of the entire film.
by Anonymous | reply 14 | July 25, 2024 3:36 PM
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A better regimen would have been to quit smoking and stop drinking.
by Anonymous | reply 15 | July 25, 2024 3:54 PM
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Madonna does a similar routine now, but it involves daily injections and small surgical tweaks performed in the comfort of her home.
by Anonymous | reply 16 | July 25, 2024 3:59 PM
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A chain-smoking alcoholic will overcompensate elsewhere.
by Anonymous | reply 17 | July 25, 2024 4:03 PM
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sounds more like self flagellation than a beauty routine
by Anonymous | reply 18 | July 25, 2024 4:25 PM
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I was always intrigued by what was the liquid in that bottle. I recall some intrepid investigator was once able to zoom in on the label, it said 'Distilled Water'. I always thought that coffee pot was freakin' awesome.
by Anonymous | reply 19 | July 25, 2024 4:30 PM
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The movie that launched a million social media skin care routine videos.
by Anonymous | reply 20 | July 25, 2024 5:57 PM
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SCRUB!
Chapter XI
A program for a lovely face and glowing hair.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 21 | July 25, 2024 7:54 PM
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My bf gives me a facial each morning. Does that count?
by Anonymous | reply 22 | July 25, 2024 8:01 PM
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Her real secret was a daily Pepsi douche.
by Anonymous | reply 23 | July 25, 2024 10:44 PM
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The opening scene of the film is a highlight. It depicts a disciplined to the point of ruthless woman with unique ritual.
by Anonymous | reply 24 | July 26, 2024 12:41 AM
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I never laughed at the film, the performances or the memoir. It's a grim tale but I am interested in old Hollywood and love Joan Crawford's films in the 1950s.
by Anonymous | reply 25 | July 26, 2024 12:51 AM
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Does it do anything for her, R14?
by Anonymous | reply 26 | July 26, 2024 1:00 AM
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[quote] I think the liquid was Witch-hazel.
What in the hell is Witch-hazel???
by Anonymous | reply 27 | July 26, 2024 1:09 AM
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Old-school product, an astringent. The astringent and the ice cubes are supposed to make the pores of the skin look smaller.
by Anonymous | reply 29 | July 26, 2024 1:12 AM
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1. Beat Christina. 2. Beat Christoper.
by Anonymous | reply 30 | July 26, 2024 1:24 AM
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[quote] 1. Beat Christina. 2. Beat Christoper.
Berate Carol Ann and Helga.
Make love to Greg.
Rinse and Repeat!
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 31 | July 26, 2024 1:31 AM
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The first time I saw the movie I didn't know that machine was a coffee maker. I was scared she was going to do something disfiguring.
by Anonymous | reply 32 | July 26, 2024 10:59 AM
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R26, I'm not really sure if it helps. Her skin looks fine for a woman her age, she's not that wrinkled. She's very thin and for a while was getting fillers in her face, which did help because her face was so gaunt. She also used to slather Vaseline on her face before she went to bed for years. Don't think she does anymore, just moisturizer, I think.
by Anonymous | reply 33 | July 26, 2024 12:46 PM
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The ice bath for the face is a long-held beauty trick. It reduces puffiness and makes pores smaller.
by Anonymous | reply 34 | July 26, 2024 2:33 PM
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[quote] She also used to slather Vaseline on her face before she went to bed for years.
My grandma used to do this too.
I heard that petroleum jelly is very bad for your skin.
I mean, it's PETROLEUM for fuck's sake!
by Anonymous | reply 35 | July 26, 2024 2:47 PM
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She didnt have retinA back then...I use the stuff religiously. My skin at almost 70 looks good
by Anonymous | reply 36 | July 26, 2024 4:08 PM
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r35 it's terrible for your skin, clogs your pores.
by Anonymous | reply 37 | July 26, 2024 4:41 PM
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Back then all they had was basic moisturizer and cold cream, none of the million skin care products we have now. And of course no laser treatments etc.
Something for your sking that you can buy at the drugstore for $10 is better than the best lotions etc. they had back then.
by Anonymous | reply 38 | July 26, 2024 4:43 PM
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R36, where do you get it? Did you get a prescription? Do you use the cream or the gel?
by Anonymous | reply 39 | July 26, 2024 5:15 PM
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Martha Stewart puts all of her facial treatments on then puts Vaseline on her face. She claims it seals up the creams, serums, etc… making them more effective.
by Anonymous | reply 40 | July 26, 2024 5:21 PM
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There were entire armies of makeup and skin care specialists working at the studios, and every working morning the actors and actresses would spend at least half an hour in the makeup chair before filming began. So, can I assume that the professionals were telling the stars which skin routine and products they recommended?
Also, I recently got served some YouTube videos about 'stinky classic movie stars' and Crawford was one who they claimed had b.o. That does not match at all with having a cleanliness fetish.
by Anonymous | reply 41 | July 26, 2024 5:28 PM
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Yep. Vaseline is a good moisture barrier. Sometimes I will slather it on my face after my moisturizers. Usually when the weather is really dry. Other wise it is too icky feeling. At night I do use a lip moisture mask and then add the vaseline. It really works.
by Anonymous | reply 42 | July 26, 2024 5:29 PM
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R27, Witch Hazel contains chemicals called tannins. When applied directly to the skin, witch hazel might help reduce swelling, help repair broken skin, and fight bacteria. She probably just used it to close up her pores before the professional makeup people went to work on her.
Old remedy, not much used today, though you can find it at drug stores and online. I think I remember reading in a bio that Cole Porter used it on his face every day too.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 43 | July 26, 2024 5:36 PM
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It makes a nice aftershave.
by Anonymous | reply 44 | July 26, 2024 7:00 PM
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Thank you, R43!
I wonder if I should try it?
I'm happy with my basic skin care routine that I use right now, but witch hazel sounds like it might have some good effects.
by Anonymous | reply 46 | July 26, 2024 9:01 PM
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The ice thing worked for Paul.
by Anonymous | reply 47 | July 26, 2024 9:06 PM
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Kitty Carlisle never used soap on her face.
by Anonymous | reply 48 | July 26, 2024 9:12 PM
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Neither did Miss Jean Brodie.
by Anonymous | reply 49 | July 26, 2024 9:30 PM
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In another cut the ice is brought from Joan’s face with two enormous eyebrows stuck to it
by Anonymous | reply 50 | July 26, 2024 10:55 PM
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You never put hot water on your face, and you'd never follow it up with ice water- you'd break blood vessels.
by Anonymous | reply 51 | July 26, 2024 11:05 PM
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I've never used witch hazel but now I want to try it.
by Anonymous | reply 52 | July 26, 2024 11:39 PM
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I used witch hazel on my face during the summer when I have been sweating and feel greasy.
by Anonymous | reply 53 | July 27, 2024 12:10 AM
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Tell us how it goes R52, and if you experience any good effects!
by Anonymous | reply 54 | July 27, 2024 1:36 AM
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Witch hazel is also good for vocal fry.
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 55 | July 27, 2024 1:39 AM
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She also used to slather Vaseline on her face before she went to bed for years.
Must have been hell on her pillowcases.
by Anonymous | reply 56 | July 27, 2024 5:18 AM
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Putting out the fire 🔥 with Vaseline!
by Anonymous | reply 57 | July 27, 2024 9:24 AM
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[quote]It seems like an awful lot of trouble, scrubbing your face (raw) with soap, scraping your arms, elbows and fingernails with a rough brush, rinsing your face in scalding hot water, and then cooling it off with ice soaked in some undetermined liquid.
All to look like a hard as nails bitch. One does have to wonder.
I suspect the "some undetermined liquid" was from the liquidized children she adopted without fanfare.
by Anonymous | reply 58 | July 27, 2024 10:26 AM
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R57 I can stare for a thousand years, colder than the moon 🌚
Those who feel me near, close their blinds and change their minds
by Anonymous | reply 59 | July 27, 2024 1:27 PM
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