6 Beauty Secrets You Didn't Know About Grace Kelly

In 2019, Grace Kelly would have turned 90. Although it's been more than three decades since she passed, her classic approach to beauty remains as iconic as ever. She was widely known for her understated elegance and poise, but that doesn't mean the actress didn't have a few beauty tricks up her sleeve. 

Keep reading to discover six tidbits you might not have known about Grace Kelly's beauty routine.

Hard to believe that her regal coif wasn't the handiwork of a stylist extraordinaire, right? But according to biographer Gina McKinnon, the truth is that Kelly preferred to primp herself, especially (and most unbelievably) after she became Princess of Monaco. She always kept a brush and powder in her bag for touch-ups.

Long before it became today's overplayed trend, Kelly took a more subtle approach to sculpting her cheekbones, using two different shades of blush. To give your cheeks a similar look, place a darker, cooler tone under your cheekbones and a brighter pink color on the apples of your cheeks. Try Clé de Peau's Powder Blush Duo ($50) to channel her approach. 

Creed's Fleurissimo ($390) was a perfume custom-made for Kelly on her wedding day to complement her bridal bouquet—a gift from her husband, Prince Rainier. Talk about a signature scent. With notes of bergamot, rose, and violet, the fragrance channeled a "fairytale romance," subtle, yet elegant and glamorous. Plus, it's still available today if you want to try it for yourself.

Kelly was religious about keeping her hands moisturized, says beauty expert Peter Lamas, who often worked with Kelly (along with countless other icons). "When I asked her why, she replied, 'A woman's age shows on her hand much quicker than anywhere else,'" he reveals. Another thing we recommend? Don't forget to put sunscreen on your hands to prevent further sun damage and signs of aging.

"She looked after herself," says McKinnon. "She drank lots of water, she didn't smoke, she swam a lot, and when she was younger she did ballet." She also enjoyed yoga and brought snacks of carrot sticks, celery, and dried apricots to movie sets to tide herself over between meals. Since she was a dancer, her posture was important to her, too. She always stood tall with her shoulders back, elongating her body.

While Kelly was known for her natural beauty, she was also aware of her angles. According to biographer Wendy Leigh, Grace was self-conscious about certain parts of her body, like her jaw. To make it look smaller or less square, she would turn her face to show more of her cheek or hide it entirely behind a collar during photoshoots. She started modeling around 18, so she definitely had practice finding "her good side."

What do you think of Kelly's beauty routine?