Practically everyone knows Marilyn Monroe’s signature scent — she famously said she only slept in Chanel No. 5 — but her skincare routine isn’t as well known. Incredibly, most of it is still available today, and you can even shop it on Amazon.
Monroe was one of many famous fans of the Erno Laszlo Institute, which also included Audrey Hepburn, Gloria Vanderbilt, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Greta Garbo as clients. Erno Laszlo has been known for its science-driven skincare for nearly a century. Dr. Laszlo himself was Monroe's dermatologist and prescribed the below-customized skincare routine in 1959. But how does her regimen hold up over six decades later? We went to the experts to find out — and I tested Marilyn Monroe’s skincare routine myself for a week.
Marilyn Monroe’s skincare routine
Morning routine
To start her morning routine, Monroe was advised to fill a bowl with warm water to wash her face and neck with Active Phelityl Soap (now known as the Phelityl Cleansing Bar). “Phelityl Cleansing Bar belongs to the group of traditional soaps, which are now primarily found in niche and artisanal product spaces,” says Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab Director Sabina Wizemann. “They use cleansing agents created by combining animal or plant fats and lye (a caustic substance, such as sodium or potassium hydroxide). Phelityl soap bar contains sodium palmitate, a product from combining palmitic acid (a saturated fatty acid commonly sourced from palm oil) and sodium hydroxide.”
Wizemann explains that most soaps today, especially those designed for facial skin cleaning and sensitive skin, are made from synthetic detergents (syndet) that have a much better track record for reducing transepidermal water loss, supporting the skin barrier and being less drying and irritating than traditional soaps.
Filling a basin with water was a traditional method for washing the face. “Though it may still appeal to some, I question whether this method truly surpasses the effectiveness of washing and rinsing the face with warm tap water — assuming the water temperature is stable and comfortable,” Wizemann says. “Plus, I worry that rinsing the face with soapy water could leave behind residues, disrupting the skin’s acid mantle and possibly leading to irritation.”
For the next step in Monroe’s morning routine, she applied Erno Laszlo Shake-It Tinted Skin Treatment in Neutral all over the face. Made of 80% active ingredients and 20% powdered pigment, the featherweight tinted moisturizer controls excess oil, minimizes the appearance of pores and evens out skin tone. “It is formulated with oil-mattifying ethanol, corn starch for oil and moisture absorption, and iron oxides (pigments) for tint,” Wizemann says. “I’m not sure if this was the original formula, but it appears to be tailored to keep oily and combination skin in check from excessive shine while also incorporating glycerin for long-term hydration.”
Next, Monroe applied Erno Laszlo Phelityl Reviving Cream under the eyes and Duo-Phase Face Powder on the entire face and neck and brushed off the excess. This was “likely to make sure that skin under her eyes stayed hydrated while the rest of her face stayed mattified,” Wizemann says. “It makes me realize how far cosmetic chemistry has come, as we now have products tailored for oily skin that can add moisturization while also mattifying the skin.”
Erno Laszlo gallery
Evening routine
In the evening, Monroe kicked off with a double cleanse. She applied the Active Phelityl Oil (now the Hydro-Therapy Phelityl Cleansing Oil), followed by the Phelityl Cleansing Bar. “I’m not familiar with how makeup was removed back then or what products were available, but I’m sure someone realized that oil would remove it much more effectively than traditional soap,” Wizemann says. “So, it makes sense that oil would remove makeup, and the soap would eliminate oil residue to achieve that squeaky clean face underneath. I think women were very resourceful back then.”
After drying her face, she applied Active Phelityl Cream and Controlling Lotion. “This seems quite unconventional to me, as she was instructed to double cleanse and then use the Phelityl cream as a cold cream or a mask, removing it with a controlling lotion,” Wizemann says. “The cream was likely applied to lock in moisture, nourish the skin, and calm any irritation. I believe this process was implemented to ensure that the skin stayed hydrated under the controlling lotion, which minimized excessive oil production during the night.”
The final prescription from Dr. Laszlo was for Monroe’s diet. He instructed, “Do not eat: Any kind of nuts, chocolate, olives, oysters and clams.” GH Nutrition and Fitness Director Stefani Sassos, M.S., R.D.N., C.D.N., NASM-CPT, believes this comes down to the era and is likely more anecdotal. “The restriction on nuts is the most perplexing to me, since we know that many nuts are rich in vitamin E, and some like walnuts are even high in omega-3s and other nutrients that support healthy skin,” Sassos says. “My only thought is that perhaps during the time period, high-fat foods (even healthy fats) may have been associated with oily skin and acne? Or even food allergies to nuts manifesting as inflammation or skin rashes?”
Sugary foods, like chocolate and candy for instance, may contribute to acne and inflammation, according to Sassos. “This one probably makes the most sense out of all the foods he recommended to avoid, though chocolate contains cocoa, which is rich in beneficial antioxidants, especially dark chocolate varieties,” she says.
Olives are an excellent source of healthy fats and antioxidants that can benefit the skin, Sassos notes, but she hypothesizes that maybe the salt content was a concern as it could cause puffiness. As for the shellfish, that restriction could be due to potential allergies or sensitivities, because oysters in particular are loaded with zinc which is great for skin health. “There isn’t one common theme between these foods to be honest, and we also don’t know the context of why the dermatologist recommended these things,” Sassos says.
I tried Marilyn Monroe’s skincare routine for a week
As someone who grew up watching Some Like It Hot, I was very excited to try Monroe's routine. But I had a major concern: Her skin type was on the drier side, while mine is oily. As a beauty editor, I'm constantly testing the newest, most cutting-edge products, so I was concerned about how a decades-old routine would stand up to my usual high-tech serums and the like.
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised. I was impressed that Monroe was doing a double cleanse way back in the day, which is a cornerstone of my personal skincare routine. “She was ahead of her time with the double cleansing technique, though it has always been important to ensure proper makeup removal, and double cleansing is one way to ensure this happens,” says Marisa Garshick, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist in New York City and Englewood, New Jersey.
Typically, I’m not a fan of oil cleansers, but I appreciated how the Hydro-Therapy Phelityl Cleansing Oil gently removed every last drop of makeup from my face, including mascara. It felt like the cleaning oil left a little residue behind, but once I followed up with the Phelityl Cleansing Bar my complexion felt super clean, but not stripped.
"In general, washing the face with warm water — not too hot, not too cold — is typically recommended, and the important thing to consider with face washing is not using a soap that is too drying," Dr. Garshick says. "The Active Phelityl Soap works to gently but effectively cleanse while still nourishing the skin as it is rich in fatty acids and helps to support the skin barrier."
Initially, I was wary of the Active Phelityl Cream due to its heavier texture. "This helps to nourish the skin, and by keeping the skin hydrated, it kept her skin looking healthy and youthful," Dr. Garshick says. The feel reminded me of Vaseline, so Monroe might have been onto slugging eons before the TikTok trend was a thing. My skin can be sensitive and prone to acne, so I was pleasantly surprised that it didn't cause me to break out. I always woke up with my skin feeling hydrated.
But my favorite product was, hands-down, the Erno Laszlo Shake-It Tinted Skin Treatment. "This treatment helps to reduce oiliness and shine and served as a primer for makeup," Dr. Garshick says. Quite the multitasker, it's essentially a tinted toner that leaves skin shine-free yet hydrated. One of the best no-makeup-makeup products I've ever tried, it provides just enough coverage to even out skin tone with a hint of tint, yet feels weightless on the skin and minimizes the appearance of pores. Consider it a filter for your face. It comes in four shades — Light, Neutral, Medium and Deep — and is earning a permanent spot in my medicine cabinet.
After a week of sticking to Monroe’s routine, my skin felt hydrated and healthy. My only gripe is that I missed some modern elements (I cheated a little and still applied sunscreen every morning), and the experts agreed.
“I think it establishes a good routine, focusing on moisture and hydration while still being gentle on the skin,” Dr. Garshick says. “I would also add sunscreen as part of the morning routine and consider the addition of a retinoid at night to help repair the skin and an antioxidant like vitamin C in the morning to provide added protection.”
Monroe's skincare routine was bespoke to her, so I wouldn't expect to have the same complexion, given my different skin type, along with other factors, such as not being a world-famous movie star. "I'm not familiar with Marilyn Monroe's skin type or any potential issues she may have experienced, but this routine was based on proper cleansing with minimal disruption to the skin's barrier and oil control," Wizemann says. "I wish we could have seen Marilyn age to determine how this routine served her, as she passed away at 36, the age when skin starts to show visible signs of aging."
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
The GH Beauty Lab has decades of experience testing the best serums and skincare products. Celia Shatzman has covered beauty for nearly 20 years, including all things skincare. Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab Director Sabina Wizemann has researched, tested and evaluated thousands of beauty products.
We also consulted GH Nutrition and Fitness Director Stefani Sassos, M.S., R.D.N., C.D.N., NASM-CPT, as well as Marisa Garshick, M.D., F.A.A.D., a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology.
