Iconic Dolly Parton is known for a lot of things: her music, her philanthropy work, her Dollywood theme park, her glittery outfits — the list truly goes on and on. But of course, we can’t forget her signature beauty look. The superstar gave fans a look into her beauty routine in her book Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones. And most recently, some of her more out-there techniques (which are also featured in her book) came up in the Netflix docuseries America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders when Dolly performed for the halftime show of the Cowboy’s 2023 Thanksgiving Day game. To see some of the Dolly Parton beauty secrets that keep the country star looking gorgeous in her 70s, keep scrolling.

Related: Dolly Parton Reveals What She Really Looks Like Without a Wig

6 Dolly Parton beauty secrets

As mentioned, when Dolly performed at a Dallas Cowboy’s game last year (peep the photo below of her dressed up as a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader, aka a DCC), the team surprised her with some of the items she said she used for her makeup. Learn what they are by reading on.

1. To enliven dull skin: Look to berry rouge

One of the more surprising tips that Dolly mentioned in her book, was using pokeberries in place of blush. She notes that she would mash the berries after taking them straight off the vine and dab a light amount onto her cheeks. DCC Reece Weaver, who works at a floral shop, was tasked with finding some pokeberries to give Dolly in her dressing room as shown in DCC coach Kelli Finglass’ Instagram post below.

Dolly also shared on her Instagram account that she used the berries for lipstick too.

Celebrity makeup artist Erin Parsons dives into a few Dolly Parton beauty secrets in her TikTok below, including another one that gave her bright red lips.

2. To define eyebrows: Try this DIY

Another unique trick Dolly has talked about is enhancing her eyebrows and eyes with burnt matches (we cannot caution enough about being safe when trying this). Basically, Dolly would light a match, blow it out and let it cool down before using the ash to fill in her brows, line her upper eyelids and emphasize the beauty mark near her lips.

See Dolly talk about this and her advice for making it work in the below YouTube video from @beautyworkout.

Related: 8 Best Eyebrow Products That Make Thin, Sparse Brows Look Instantly Thicker

3. To help makeup last: Set with flour

A kitchen staple that can also help makeup stay in place according to Dolly is flour. The powder whisks away excess oil and locks liquid makeup products into place. And this gives a whole new meaning to the technique of baking, when you heavily apply a setting powder to the face to ensure make makeup doesn’t melt or fade.

Related: How to Bake Makeup Undereyes So Dark Circles and Fine Lines Disappear Fast + the Powder You’ll Want to Avoid

4. To smell great: Use nature’s perfume

Instead of perfume, Dolly has talked about using honeysuckle flowers. She would just take the flowers and rub the petals against her wrists, which leave behind a light floral aroma. And while she likely doesn’t still use this trick to this day, Dolly does have a signature scent. “I’ve always worn two or three different perfumes at once and people always ask about it,” says Dolly to Woman’s World. “This perfume [Scent from Above] is as close as we could get to that. We call it Dolly’s Scent from Above because it smells heavenly!”

Related: 7 Best Summer Perfumes That Boost Your Mood and Can Be Worn All Year Round

5. To smooth wrinkles: Rub on Vaseline

“I try all the new things that come out, but there’s nothing better than good old Vaseline,” Dolly said of her skin-care favorite to our sister magazine FIRST for Women. In fact, today women apply Vaseline to their faces using a trick called slugging before going to bed. And it works because the jelly’s petrolatum seals in moisture so skin is hydrated and looks plump come morning.

6. To gently remove eye makeup: Sweep on these pads

Dolly also told FIRST that she loves Almay Biodegradable Longwear & Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover Pads. “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.” She goes on to say, “I have pretty good skin considering my age, and I think a lot of it is mineral oil and bacon grease.”

Bonus: How Dolly Parton stays looking slim

Dolly Parton has also been known to occasionally enjoy a glass of dry red wine, and it may be a reason she stays so slim. Research has found that a wine compound called ellagic acid may slow the growth of fat cells. Harvard scientists who tracked 20,000 women for 13 years found that those who drank two glasses of wine a day were 70% less likely to be obese.

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See more celebrity beauty tricks:

Best Beauty Products Celebrities Over 50 Swear by for Mature Skin! From Martha Stewart to Sherri Shepherd

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The Foods Celebrities Swear By To Make Their Skin Look Younger