The Strange Tricks Behind Jackie Kennedy Onassis’ Beauty Routine

People noticed Jackie as soon as she got in front of a camera, of course. When John F. Kennedy was campaigning for the presidency in 1960, Jackie Kennedy — who later became Jackie Onassis — was rarely far from his side. As culture magazine Life noted at the time, “The candidate’s striking wife, Jackie, who sticks close to her husband, has attracted almost as much attention as he has.”

Some women had already begun to look toward the immaculately-turned-out Jackie for style inspiration. Aged just 31 when her husband entered office, Jackie was younger than many of the notable first ladies before her. She was well educated, could talk effortlessly about the arts and fashion, and was proficient in multiple languages. But it was her iconic wardrobe and beauty that people clung to. Yet she didn’t just roll out of bed looking glamorous — she had to work at it. And some of her methods were fairly unusual.

But there are aspects of Jackie’s style playbook that are attainable for her fans, even today. We know this because the former first lady paid regular visits to dermatologist Dr. Erno Laszlo. And it just so happened that, in 2020, Jackie's consultation notes were unearthed by the staff at the skin care experts’ New York office. They made for intriguing reading, too.

The documents are from a consultation Jackie had with Laszlo on May 1, 1963. And some of the instructions given to her may seem bizarre today. However, the advice was specific to the first lady and was based on her circumstances at that particular time. That means that Jackie’s skincare routine was tailored to her specific skin type.

Interestingly, few perhaps realize that Jackie suffered from breakouts of pimples and blackheads. At the time, too, the first lady was due to go on vacation with JFK to Cape Cod, Massachusetts. So the consultation was focused on the weather anticipated during their break. They of course had no way of knowing that it would be the couple’s last getaway.

Still, Dr. Laszlo’s methods may seem unconventional to many. For instance, the Hungarian-born dermatologist suggested that Jackie apply facial toner to her underarm area. The brand she used was Laszlo’s own Light Controlling Lotion, which retails on the company’s website today for $68. Yet we know today that the logic behind using this lotion on the armpits is misguided.

You see, it was thought that applying toner to the armpits would help to reduce unwanted odors. Actually, though, the idea that underarm smells come from sweat is misguided. It’s the bacteria that live on the body that can create an unpleasant smell. So using a toner in that area will lift any dirt or germs that soap won’t shift.

Now, the dermatologist stressed that Jackie shouldn’t use more skincare products than he recommended. Dr. Laszlo suggested that using excessive creams and oils would do nothing to solve the problem of her breakout-prone skin. Pimples and blackheads weren’t the only issues that Jackie had to deal with, however. Because, despite her widely-recognized beauty, what was rarely reflected on camera was that Jackie was a heavy smoker.

And the power she wielded meant she could insist that no one write about or photograph her secret habit in the media. However, friends knew that she would smoke around three packs of Salems a day, and she only quit in 1994, shortly before she passed away from non-Hodgkin’s’ lymphoma. Smoking is obviously incredibly bad for your health — and that means it's also bad for your skin.

Although smoking was apparently unrelated to her death, Jackie’s skin nevertheless suffered from 40 years of the dirty habit. To combat damage, then, Dr. Laszlo prescribed his own Phormula 3-9 Repair Cream, an intensive moisturizer that is said to “protect skin from free radical damage and oxidative stress.” And, although still available, it’ll cost you $290.

However, this moisturizer wasn’t the only luxury product Jackie indulged in. As well as using toner on her underarms, the first lady had a favorite perfume, too. Her scent of choice was Lovely Patchouli 55 by the luxury French marque House of Krigler. A bottle today will set you back $365. She didn't cut corners when it came to soap, either.

Jackie’s worldliness inspired her choice of more rudimentary beauty products. For instance, her favored soap was another in Laszlo’s line, the Dead Sea Mud Soap. It’s packed with minerals, such as magnesium, calcium, and potassium, and these are supposed to invigorate the skin and heal ailments. The salt contained in the mud gently exfoliates while preserving the body’s natural oils. She also looked after her teeth in unconventional ways.

According to authors Nancy Schoenberger and Sam Kashner, Jackie started using a peroxide treatment on her teeth while serving as the first lady. The bleach would dull the nicotine stains to help disguise the signs of her heavy smoking habit. And the writers revealed the icon’s early beauty secrets in their book The Fabulous Bouvier Sisters: The Tragic and Glamorous Lives of Jackie and Lee.

The book detailed Jackie’s face-washing ritual, for instance. Its authors wrote, “Wash your face with hot water and a rough washcloth and really rub, with upward strokes on the cheeks and forehead… Rinse with cold water: the shock will stimulate circulation and leave it tingling. With the same upward motions, massage in a rich cream before retiring. Do this for about two minutes and wipe off what is left so you won’t find it on your pillow the next morning.”

Unusually, Jackie’s pillowcase of choice was made of silk. In recent years, the material has been lauded for its anti-creasing and anti-aging properties. However, the first lady’s purported reasons for using one concerned her hair. According to Jackie’s one-time makeup artist, Peter Lamas, she would sleep wearing a silk scarf on a silk pillowcase to keep her immaculate blowouts fresh.

Funnily enough, the silk scarves sometimes made a public appearance too. As hard as it may be to believe, even Jackie wasn’t immune to the occasional bad hair day. And when her tresses refused to cooperate, she simply swaddled the offending ’do in a scarf until it learned to behave itself. So even her off-days were deceptively sophisticated.

After rigorous styling, however, hair can be left fried. Overuse of hairspray, hair dryers, and other products and tools can cause hair to become dry, brittle, and prone to breakage. Therefore, Lamas suggested the first lady apply oil to her locks for extra defense and moisture. Her favorite was lavender oil. That didn't mean she always had her hair on show, though.

Although Jackie was often seen wearing hats in public, her dermatologist actually advised against it. Indeed, Dr. Laszlo insisted that sunshine was “good for her” and that he could “make [brown spots] fade in the fall,” so the first lady shouldn’t fear sun damage. Of course, there was a quick fix for blemishes in the meantime.

Yes, sun spots did become a problem for Jackie later in life. You see, her international jet-setting lifestyle took her to exotic destinations such as Greece, the South of France, and, well, Rhode Island. So to camouflage the blemishes, while maintaining a natural glow, she applied Flawless Finish Foundation by Elizabeth Arden. Nothing but the best for Jackie!

Moreover, if the first lady’s busy schedule didn’t allow time for full coverage, accessories were sometimes in order. That’s right, Jackie was sometimes pictured wearing stylish, oversized shades — a good way to hide eye bags while under the media glare. The style icon knew how to rock the low-key look as well as black tie functions.

Although she was more a fan of the natural look when it came to makeup, Jackie couldn’t resist making her lips pop every now and again. Lipstick would often be matched to the pink or red of her outfit du jour. Also, she made sure her brows were perfectly groomed, too. There was one lifestyle hack she didn't abide by, though.

Surprisingly, Dr. Laszlo’s consultation notes state that Jackie wasn’t a fan of exercise. She thought walking was “boring” and believed varicose veins would appear on her legs if she was too active. However, when she was won over by his argument that exercise was healthy, the first lady “promised to stroll on the golf course in Cape Cod” to appease him.

But it wasn’t just face creams and oils Dr. Laszlo prescribed to maintain Jackie’s healthy glow. Diet played an important part in her beauty regime, too, and her dermatologist recommended an eating plan for tip-top health. He said her day should start with “Hollywood toast” — circles of buttered bread, lightly toasted with an egg cracked in the middle — served with two boiled eggs and honey. Now that sounds like a lot of eggs!

To add to that, Dr. Laszlo recommended that breakfast be accompanied by tea with a splash of skimmed milk. And lunch should consist of broiled beef with cottage cheese, while dinner included Jackie’s choice of meat served with a watercress salad. The first lady admitted she didn’t have a sweet tooth but, “I eat an apple once in a while, like when I have lunch with the children.”

To drink, Dr. Laszlo recommended that Jackie stick to champagne since “that is about the only thing she drinks” anyway. And considering the lifestyle she lived, no doubt the beverage was in abundant supply. We hear her favorite brand came from Veuve Clicquot. But it’s difficult to understand how it was still recommended as part of a dietary plan...

Anyway, for all of the secrets that Dr. Lazslo’s consultation notes have disclosed about Jackie, a more surprising revelation was made by her former assistant in 2017. Kathy McKeon served as the first lady’s personal helper for 13 years from 1964. Her memoir, Jackie’s Girl: My Life with the Kennedy Family, gave a rare and up-close insight into Jackie’s world — and her beauty routine.

McKeon wrote, “I couldn’t know… mere days into my new job, how thoroughly I would be swept up into this most royal of American families.” And in her role, the assistant learned things that the rest of the world weren’t privy to. For instance, she described, “One of the elegant beauty’s legs was a quarter of an inch shorter than the other.”

And so to combat her affliction, Jackie had a unique collection of shoes. “I had never seen such a dazzling selection of shoes!” McKeon recalled. “London-look boots, pumps in every color, spotless sneakers for morning jogs around the reservoir.” But, more fascinating than the shoes themselves was how each pair was customized for the first lady.

To correct her malady, Jackie had one shoe in every pair fitted with a quarter-inch lift on its heel. According to McKeon, this was “apparently… to compensate for one leg being slightly shorter than the other.” And the inspiration behind this fix was no less than President Kennedy, who once suffered chronic back pain from the same affliction.

This wasn’t the only beauty hack the couple shared, either. To keep her asymmetrical pins looking otherwise pristine, Jackie was prescribed Laszlo’s Phelityl Oil. But her dermatologist suggested she share the cleanser with her husband to apply to his back. You see, President Kennedy’s skin was “so dry and breaks out in pimples because he has to take four baths a day.”

The lengths Jackie Kennedy Onassis undertook to maintain her public image mean that today she is among the most iconic beauties of the 20th century. Mind you, her efforts weren’t lost on her late husband. When the couple was driven through the streets of Dallas on November 22, 1963, Jackie was wearing her famous pink Chanel-style suit. And President Kennedy’s last words to his wife that fateful day were that she looked “smashing.”

That's not surprising, as Jackie’s chic wardrobe was a staple before she stepped into the world’s spotlight. For instance, there’s a portrait of an 18-year-old Jacqueline Bouvier, daughter of a stock speculator, taken by fashion magazine Vogue in 1948. It shows the future first lady wearing a sophisticated white gown with a lace apron and embroidery detail — and she looks stunning.

And even as a new mother, Jackie maintained a stylish and polished appearance. In a photo taken in 1958 with her newborn daughter, Caroline Kennedy, Jackie wore a silk dress with floral motifs. The scene couldn't be more picture-book perfect. Tailored dresses were a staple of the first lady’s wardrobe, too, with shifts and boat necks among her signature looks.

Interestingly, Jackie’s style choices back then were heavily influenced by the big-name fashion houses in Paris. Two labels she particularly favored were Chanel and Givenchy. Outfits were often topped with smart jackets, gloves, and pearl necklaces for a sophisticated edge. However, Jackie would regularly complete her look with another accessory that she wasn’t particularly a fan of.

While the pillbox hat became a part of Jackie’s signature look, she wasn’t fond of the adornment. According to the book Vintage Fashion Accessories by Stacy Loalbo, the first lady took her political role very seriously. Dressing well, then, came with the territory of being a leading politician’s wife, and she wore hats out of respect for her husband’s career.

Jackie’s style was a big influence on U.S. fashion trends in the 1960s — as you no doubt guessed. Retailers would often look to the first lady’s wardrobe and recreate their own off-the-rack versions, calling it the “Jackie Look.” However, with the icon’s love of French couture, direct emulation of her wardrobe was an indulgence few could afford.

We know that the first lady of the United States, Jacqueline Lee Kennedy Onassis — born Bouvier — was a tour de force of style, grace, and sophistication. And like her husband, John F. Kennedy, she brought a sense of youthfulness to the White House and would become arguably one of the most iconic faces of the 20th century. But these rare photographs offer tantalizing glimpses into what life was really like for one of America’s most inspiring leading ladies.

Jackie was only six years old when this photo was taken, but she was already showing signs of what would become a lifelong fondness for animals. The future first lady would have several pooch pals over the course of her 64 years, in fact. She hailed from an affluent background, having been born to Wall Street mogul John Vernou “Black Jack” Bouvier III and Janet Norton Lee, a Manhattan socialite. And Jackie therefore enjoyed many privileges in her early life, including taking ballet and learning French.

Jackie first rode a horse at barely a year old – an early introduction that was courtesy of her mother. And at the age of 11, she had already become a successful equestrienne, competing in a number of national championships and scoring a double victory in one. “Miss Bouvier achieved a rare distinction,” a 1940 New York Times story read. “The occasions are few when a young rider wins both [horsemanship] contests in the same show.”

Horse riding would remain a passion for Jackie throughout her life, but it was during childhood that she truly flourished. This picture was taken in 1938 – when she was just nine years old – at the Piping Rock Horse Show in Locust Valley, New York. Around a year later, Jackie’s parents would sign divorce papers, marking the beginning of a turbulent time in the future first lady’s life.

In 1951 Jackie spent the summer traveling around Europe with her sister Caroline Lee Radziwill – born Bouvier. The siblings would later co-author Jackie’s only autobiography, One Special Summer, which detailed their European adventures. And this photo was snapped at the end of said trip, when the women were en route back to America.

John F. Kennedy popped the question to Jackie in the summer of 1953, while she was working in England. The following June, the betrothed couple vacationed at the Kennedy Compound in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. And it would become a frequent getaway location for the pair, with the future president even using it as a base during his 1960 campaign.

During John and Jackie’s 1953 retreat at the Kennedy compound, they were questioned by a reporter for a feature in Life magazine. And the engaged couple are pictured here during that very interview. The story ended up taking the front cover of the July 20 issue with the strapline, “Senator Kennedy Goes A-Courting.”

It’s fair to say that back in the 1950s, the Kennedys were serious fashion icons. But it wasn’t just what the couple wore that captured the public’s imagination; it was how they vacationed, too. It’s no wonder, then, that their summer trips to the Kennedy Compound were of such interest – enough to take the front cover of a magazine, after all. In this snap, the future Mrs. Kennedy is inspecting photographs that hang on the wall of one of the estate’s buildings.

In 2012 the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate became the lucky recipient of the Kennedy Compound’s Main House. By then, it had seen years of history. After all, not only had John F. Kennedy organized his 1960 presidential campaign from there, but his brother Ted also lived there until 2009. And, of course, the summer retreat held many happy memories for Jackie, as pictured here, barefoot and carefree.

Before the presidency swept into the lives of the Kennedys, they presumably had more time to enjoy simple pleasures like sailing. And the couple’s summer trip to the Kennedy Compound in 1953 – just before they married – produced plenty of lovely snaps, including this one. Indeed, the pair look absolutely content.

Just over three months after announcing their engagement, John and Jackie tied the knot at a Rhode Island church on September 12, 1953. And the wedding turned out to be quite the event, with around 700 guests attending the ceremony and a further 500 joining for the reception. The couple are pictured here on their big day, surrounded by the Kennedy family.

Unsurprisingly, John and Jackie’s wedding was widely considered to be the season’s hottest social affair. And that status was no doubt elevated by the latter’s glamorous ivory wedding dress, which can be seen in all its glory here. The gown is the work of Ann Lowe, a high-society fashion designer, and it’s now stored at the Kennedy Library in Massachusetts.

Following their wedding, Jackie and John traveled to Acapulco, Mexico, for their honeymoon. And upon the couple’s return, they moved into their new house in Hickory Hill, which is located in the Washington, D.C., suburb of McLean, Virginia. In this picture, the pair are pictured fiddling with a camera outside their vacation home in Hyannis Port.

Meanwhile, in the first few years of their marriage, the John and Jackie faced multiple hardships. John, for his part, was blighted by Addison’s disease, a condition affecting the adrenal glands. And he was also troubled by back pain stemming from an injury he had received while in the service. In 1954 John even had to have surgery on his spine, which almost proved fatal.

However, JFK’s operation in 1954 wasn’t his first. Over the course of his life, in fact, he underwent four different procedures to alleviate his back problems, including a particularly risky one in 1944. But it was the 1954 operation that took the biggest toll on the future president. Indeed, complications from a resulting urinary tract infection were so serious that a priest was called to read John his last rites.

In 1957 Jackie welcomed into the world a happy and healthy daughter, Caroline, who was named after Jackie’s sister. And the parents posed with their baby on the April 21 cover of Life magazine the following year. This particular photograph of a pregnant Jackie was snapped in September 1957 – just two months before Caroline was born.

On November 8, 1960, John secured the presidency with a slender victory over opponent Richard Nixon. And just a fortnight later, Jackie gave birth to their first son, John F. Kennedy Jr. Meanwhile, this shot was taken on December 10, when JFK Jr. was only 15 days old.

Of course, as first lady of the United States, Jackie was expected to follow a busy schedule of events. One of her earliest White House meetings, which took place in February 1961 in the Diplomatic Reception Room, is pictured here. This archived photograph shows Jackie talking with young representatives from the American Heart Association Fund Drive, twin girls Debbie and Donna Horst.

Remember Alan Shepard? Well, he may not be a household name like Neil Armstrong or Buzz Aldrin, but in May 1961 the astronaut in fact became the first American to enter space. And yet he wasn’t the first human to make it; that accolade had gone to Russian Yuri Gagarin a month earlier in the Soviets’ first Space Race victory. Still, the Kennedys nevertheless watched the momentous occasion on television in a White House secretary’s office.

In 1961 the newly elected President Kennedy headed for his first official visit to Europe. His wife joined him, of course, but she also added her own extra stop onto the end of the trip: a tour of the islands of Greece. Here, she can be seen boarding a flight to Athens at a London airport alongside her sister Lee.

During the first lady’s solo trip to Greece, John reportedly ordered that his wife be kept away from multi-millionaire Aristotle Onassis. That’s according to Secret Service agent Clint Hill, who claimed as much in a book published in 2016. The president was apparently worried about Onassis – whom, incidentally, Jackie would later marry – and his womanizing ways. And so, Jackie and the Greek businessman did not encounter each other on that particular trip.

In 1928 American art collector Charles Loeser died and left an original Paul Cézanne painting to Calvin Coolidge, then-President of the United States. And “House on the Marne” still hung in the White House when the Kennedys arrived there some three decades later. Here, the 35th first lady can be seen admiring Cézanne’s work alongside Loeser’s granddaughter, Philippa Calnan.

Just because you’re the President of the United States, it doesn’t mean you can’t take a vacation. And here, the Kennedy family are photographed at Hammersmith Farm in Rhode Island in September 1961. While it was admittedly a working holiday for John – who named a new head of the CIA during the trip – he still found time to relax with Jackie and the kids, as this cute snap proves.

As part of Jackie’s duties in her first year in the White House, she paid visits to hospitals. And with her kindness and warmth – as is obvious in this snap taken in 1961 at the D.C. Children’s Hospital – it’s not difficult to see why she was so widely loved. For instance, after a trip to Europe, one of the president’s advisors told her, “Once in a great while, an individual will capture the imagination of people all over the world. You have done this.”

From her very first day at the White House, Jackie Kennedy took it upon herself to bring back to life the building’s historical character. For example, she stripped out the unremarkable furniture and replaced it with antique furnishings. And within Jackie’s first year in Washington, she made sweeping changes to the ways in which the White House’s furnishings and artwork were handled.

There’s nothing like a snowfall to transform an ordinary scene into something magical. Of course, when the White House is involved, it’s not exactly a typical scene to begin with. But it’s fair to say that this picture of Jackie riding in an open sleigh along the South Lawn is something really special. What’s more, the sleigh is being pulled by daughter Caroline’s very own pony, Macaroni.

When Jackie visited India in 1962, she may not have drawn crowds like Queen Elizabeth II or President Dwight Eisenhower did, but her presence was undoubtedly felt. Jackie took the trip at the suggestion of John Kenneth Galbraith, the U.S. Ambassador to India, and visited Pakistan along the way. The tour was well-documented by photojournalists, including this shot of the first lady, dressed stylishly and enjoying a cruise on Lake Pichola.

As part of her role as first lady of the United States, Jackie had plenty of formal duties to complete. In 1962, for instance, she was tasked with hosting Iranian Empress Farah Pahlavi at the White House. In this picture, Jackie can be seen introducing Pahlavi to her son, JFK Jr. And yes, that’s the Kennedy’s pony, Macaroni, in the background.

Jackie’s influence as a style icon didn’t stop when she entered the White House. If anything, she became even more of a fashion sensation when she took on the title of first lady at just 31 years old. And her youth and beauty captivated the nation. She looks as glamorous as ever in this photograph at an April 1962 dinner in Washington, D.C., which was held to honor the winners of the Nobel Prize.

In this stunning color photograph taken in September 1962, JFK and Jackie watch as sailing yachts race for The America’s Cup. That year was a notable one for the competition, in fact, marking the first time that the challengers had not come from Canada or Britain. Meanwhile, the Australian syndicate ultimately lost, but it ran a close race.

Jackie was happy to introduce her kids to horse riding, as her mom, Janet, had done with her. Indeed, equestrianism was one of the former’s lifelong interests, so it made sense that she continued to ride into adulthood. Sharing a horse with her in this November 1962 photo is John Jr. – not even two years old when the snap was taken – while her daughter, Caroline – here aged four – rides on her own.

John F. Kennedy’s final Christmas in 1962 looked as though it was a merry one – if this adorable photo is anything to go by, that is. After all, he and Jackie are pictured surrounded by their family, including Jackie’s sister Lee and her husband and children. And the festive scene was captured in the White House that the first lady had spent months restoring.

Jackie’s sister Caroline went by her middle name, Lee, practically from birth. And in 1959 she entered into her second marriage – this time to Prince Stanisław Albrecht Radziwiłł, a Polish aristocrat. In this photograph, Jackie stands outside the White House in 1963 with Lee and her daughter – Jackie’s niece – Anna Christina Radziwiłł.

On November 22, 1963, John F. Kennedy traveled to Dallas, Texas, for a presidential visit. The trip was arranged to smooth tensions between local political figures and Democratic party members – as well as launch Kennedy’s re-election campaign. But while riding through Dealey Plaza, the president was shot and killed by Lee Harvey Oswald, an ex-marine. Jackie was by his side at the time, as pictured here.

Just 128 minutes after Oswald had shot John dead, Jackie was aboard Air Force One. In this photo, she is seen standing beside Lyndon B. Johnson to witness him being sworn in as the 36th President of the United States. The swift transition was made partly due to concerns over Johnson’s own safety and his desire to provide the nation with some sense of order after such a shocking event.

John’s memorial took place over the three days following his death. The president’s body was flown back to Washington, D.C. Then, his coffin was taken to the Capitol building, where thousands of supporters gathered to pay their respects ahead of the state funeral. In this poignant picture, Jackie and her family can be seen leaving the ceremony on November 25, 1963.

Meanwhile, in the years that followed John’s untimely demise, life for Jackie had to go on. But she mostly vanished from the public eye in 1964, understandably seeking privacy for herself and her children. A few rare photos of the former first lady in this period do exist, though, such as this one. The snap was taken in 1967, and it shows Jackie attending the opera at New York City’s Lincoln Center.

Four and a half years after her husband’s death, Jackie attended the funeral of Martin Luther King, Jr. However, she had apparently been reluctant to go at all, as she felt wary of large crowds. And of course, the event was presumably a painful reminder of John’s death. But Jackie made the trip to Atlanta, Georgia, to pay her respects nonetheless.

In 1968 Jackie said “I do” again, this time to her old friend Aristotle Onassis. At this point in her life, she apparently wanted privacy and security – two things that her new husband, a wealthy shipping tycoon from Greece, could presumably provide. And while the marriage certainly thrust a great deal of attention on Jackie, she wasn’t afraid to be seen in public with him. This photo, for instance, was taken outside a nightclub in Athens around her 40th birthday.

Jackie’s passion for horse riding continued as she went into her 40s, as this photo from 1970 demonstrates. She continued to ride horses for almost her entire life, in fact. For instance, 20 years after this snapshot was taken – and just a few years before her death in 1994 – the former first lady participated in the Orange County Hunt.

You may not know it, but Jackie smoked three packs of cigarettes a day for more than four decades. But only those who knew her personally were really aware. That’s because she controlled her image as first lady precisely, rarely being photographed smoking. But this picture was taken in 1970 – long after she had left the White House.