Dolly Parton’s Makeup Routine Includes 2 Drugstore Products Under $6—Plus, How Her Iconic Look Started
From pokeberries to Vaseline, Dolly reveals her makeup must-haves
Key Takeaways
- Dolly Parton's favorite drugstore products are just under $6 each!
- Dolly Parton confirms she always has to be "ambulance ready" and wearing makeup
- Dolly Parton used to have a natural beauty routine before she could wear makeup
When it comes to iconic beauty, Dolly Parton doesn’t just follow trends—she defines them. From sky-high blonde hair to sparkling eyes and perfectly painted lips, her signature glam has been turning heads since she burst onto the scene in the 1960s. And while her voice may be legendary, her larger-than-life look is just as unforgettable.
Dolly Parton’s makeup routine is all about unapologetic glam—think bold, polished, and always “on,” no matter the hour. “I never go out with a bare face,” Dolly explained. “Not even when I go out. Somebody, please open my coffin to put some makeup on me. At night, I leave my makeup on. I don’t want to go to bed in curlers and Clearasil and patches all over me.”
Read on as we break down Dolly’s beauty routine!
How Dolly Parton created her own makeup as a teen
Growing up in extreme poverty, Dolly didn’t have access to fancy creams or high-end makeup—so she had to get very creative.
“You don’t need to buy expensive cosmetics; almost anything will do if you know how to apply it,” Dolly shared. “Until I was a teenager, I used red pokeberries for lipstick and a burnt matchstick for eyeliner. I used honeysuckle for perfume. We were raised in the Pentecostal Church of God and they believed that wearing makeup was sinful. I had to sneak around and make myself look all pretty but then wash it off before they caught me.”
She adds, “I would also paint my eyebrows on. I always had a beauty mark, but I would also make it darker. So a burnt match was good. You’ve got to spit on it after you’ve burnt it. I’ve got to tell you, what I used for powder was flour. You’ve got to be careful though, because if you get hot you’ll break out in little biscuits.”
The drugstore staples in Dolly Parton’s makeup routine
Today, Dolly Parton still loves a makeup routine that is simple, reliable and proves that you don’t need to spend a fortune to look and feel fabulous.
“I try all the new things that come out, but there’s nothing better than good old Vaseline and those Almay eye makeup remover pads,” Parton said of her go-to staples. “I use those little pads to clean my face and it leaves enough mineral oil on my skin that it’s a good nighttime moisturizer. I have pretty good skin considering my age, and I think a lot of it is mineral oil and bacon grease.”
You can try the Almay eye makeup remover pads for just $5.89 at Target for an 80-count container. And while you likely have Vaseline in your drawer already, a fresh jar costs just $3.79 at Walgreens.
Of course, Dolly Parton didn’t stop at inspiring beauty looks—she created her own makeup line so the rest of us can tap into that signature sparkle. And in true Dolly fashion, she keeps it real about her glow, famously joking, “People say, ‘how you stay looking so young?’ I say, well, good lighting, good doctors, and good makeup.”
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