Dolly Parton Swore by This $6 Cold Cream—Now It’s Making a Comeback
Dermatologists reveal why the classic drugstore staple a smart choice for mature skin
Key Takeaways
- Cold cream can remove makeup without leaving dry, mature skin feeling stripped.
- Mineral oil, glycerin and beeswax can help dry skin hold on to moisture.
- Some cold creams contain fragrance that may irritate sensitive or eczema-prone skin.
If you took a look inside your mother’s or grandmother’s medicine cabinet growing up, odds are you’d find a jar of Pond’s Cold Cream—and you wouldn’t be alone. After all, the drugstore beauty staple is more than 100 years old. Even with tons of new beauty products on the market, tried-and-true products like cold cream have stood the test of time across generations. In fact, the late country legend Dolly Parton even shared that she used Pond’s Cold Cream herself. And these days, it’s still winning new fans. So we asked the experts to reveal what all the fuss is about and if the wildly popular skincare product lives up to the hype.
What is cold cream?
“Cold cream is made with mineral oil, water and waxes,” explains Debra Jaliman, MD, New York City cosmetic dermatologist and author of Skin Rules. “It provides a cooling sensation when it is applied to the skin. It dissolves makeup and sunscreen and helps cleanse the skin, but it also leaves a residue that helps prevent moisture loss. So it is hydrating as well as cleansing.”
If you’ve seen your daughters and granddaughters hopping on the Pond’s wave, you’re likely wondering why they’re using something that’s older than they’ve been alive? Pearl Ugwu-Dike, MD, a New York City based board-certified dermatologist, has thoughts on the cold cream comeback.
“I think we’re witnessing a collective return to simplicity,” says Dr. Ugwu-Dike. “For years, skincare has been something that has been overcomplicated with numerous creams, serums, cleansers, toners, exfoliants and moisturizers. I think people are finally starting to realize that complex skincare routines don’t equate to better skin. Cold cream represents something refreshingly straightforward. It’s affordable, familiar and has a clear purpose.”
Why Dolly Parton was a fan of Pond’s Cold Cream
In a 2021 interview with Refinery29, Dolly Parton was asked whether she takes the same money-saving approach to beauty as she does to fashion, and she confirmed that she did.
“My favorite beauty products are some of the old-timey ones that are not all that expensive,” Parton said in the interview. “I’ve always gone with what works well for me, even though I like to try some of everything. Maybelline has great products; I love Olay. Max Factor, Pond’s Cold Cream—I’ve got shelves and drawers full of every new makeup going on, even the expensive ones, but I still tend to go back to old faithfuls.”
Parton also mentioned Pond’s in a 2021 interview with Harper’s BAZAAR. “I send people out to the drugstore to get beauty products for me,” Parton said at the time. “I love Maybelline New York’s eyelash curler, and I’ve always used Pond’s Cold Cream. I still find to this day, even though I have all kinds of expensive products, that the simpler ones are just as good. A lot of the time they work even better.”
How women’s skin changes after 50
If you’re in your 40s or 50s and feel like one day you woke up and discovered that your skin has done a 180 change from what you’re used to, know it didn’t come out of nowhere even if it feels sudden.
“It’s important to know that mature skin isn’t just younger skin with wrinkles,” explains Dr. Ugwu-Dike. “The physiology of the skin actually changes. So the goal should be to understand what the skin is losing and what it actually needs.”
“As we age our skin changes, both structurally and functionally,” continues Dr. Ugwu-Dike. “We lose collagen and elastin which are responsible for a lot of the skin’s elasticity and firmness. The skin also becomes less efficient at retaining moisture, which is reflective of changes in our lipid barrier.”
How cold cream can benefit women over 50
So is cold cream all it’s cracked up to be, especially for mature skin? Dr. Ugwu-Dike says yes. “It can be particularly beneficial for aging skin because it addresses two main concerns: removing the day’s buildup without excessive stripping and also replenishing moisture,” she explains.
And as Parton pointed out, “it’s an excellent reminder that effective skincare doesn’t have to be expensive,” adds Jennifer Gularson, PA-C, IFMCP, a board-certified physician assistant and Institute for Functional Medicine Certified Practitioner at the Osteopathic Center for Healing in Maryland. “For roughly $6 to $12, you’re getting a product that can remove even stubborn makeup without the aggressive rubbing that can irritate mature skin.”
Regardless of whether you take a page out of Parton’s book and pick Pond’s or decide to look for a different brand of cold cream, Dr. Ugwu-Dike says these are three ingredients worth looking for:
- Mineral oil: Dr. Ugwu-Dike calls this one of the most established moisturizing ingredients in dermatology, explaining that mineral oil forms a barrier over the skin to help prevent water loss.
- Glycerin: This humectant helps the skin hold onto water, temporarily improving the appearance of fine lines and making the skin look and feel supple, explains Dr. Ugwu-Dike.
- Beeswax: Beeswax helps reduce water evaporation from the skin, locking in hydration, says Dr. Ugwu-Dike.
Tip: Before starting any new skincare regimen, check in with your dermatologist to account for any skin concerns. For example, although Dr. Ugwu-Dike recommends Pond’s Cold Cream, she notes that the classic formula contains fragrance, which can be irritating for eczema-prone or sensitive skin.
3 cold creams worth trying
If you’re ready to give the makeup remover wipes a break and start your cold cream journey, we asked our experts to share the products they recommend. Here’s what they said.
Pond’s Cold Cream Facial Cleanser and Makeup Remover
It turns out Parton was on to something with her go-to cold cream, which costs around $5.89 at Target. “I think Pond’s is a wonderful example of a product that doesn’t have to be reinvented every few years in order to stay relevant,” says Dr. Ugwu-Dike. “I would absolutely recommend. Their classic cold cream has a rich cleansing texture and provides a reasonable and affordable option.”
Albolene Moisturizing Cleanser
“I think Pond’s is the quintessential cold cream cleanser, but Albolene has an anhydrous [water-free] cleansing balm that comes close,” says Dr. Ugwu-Dike of the formula, which costs about $9.74 at Walmart. “It is fragrance-free, so it’s less irritating to sensitive skin,” adds Dr. Jaliman, who also recommends Albolene.
Noxzema Classic Clean Original Deep Cleansing Cream
Dr. Jaliman also recommends this cold cream cleanser. “This product contains camphor, which decreases inflammation and redness,” she says. And for just $4.99 at Target, it’s a steal.
The bottom line on cold cream’s comeback
While there’s something to be said for new innovations in skincare that help us evolve our routines, there’s also something worth celebrating about passing down traditions that truly stand the test of time. And cold cream has proven to be just that. As Dr. Ugwu-Dike says, “There is something so elegant and beautiful about a beauty ritual that connects generations of women.”
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