Let’s speak in regards to the magnificence secrets and techniques of the Elizabethan period.
Pale, alabaster pores and skin. Curly, pink hair. Skinny, arched brows. Elizabeth I, daughter of Henry XVIII and his second spouse Anne Boleyn, completely personified the sweetness ideally suited of the period.
All the ladies at court docket needed to appear like her. Right here’s the lengths they went by way of to make that occur:
Face
Again then, a pale complexion was an indication of fine well being and status. The reason being easy: solely wealthy girls might afford to have truthful pores and skin. Poor ones labored for hours exterior and developed a tan in consequence.
To get the pale look, girls (and males) used a number of various things: Ceruse (a basis made with toxic white lead and vinegar), sulphur, alum or tin ash.
Ceruse was significantly unhealthy information. The lead soaked proper into their pores and skin, inflicting all types of nasty well being points like hair falling out, muscle issues, and finally, dying. However hey, trying ghostly white was value it, proper?
Plus, in addition they used egg whites to faux a paler complexion and easy out wrinkles. (Egg whites tighten the pores and skin, form of like a DIY face masks.) Some even sprinkled crushed pearls on their faces or blended up potions with poppy seeds and snail slime. Yep, they went all in for that flawless look.
Since smallpox scars had been frequent, girls coated them up with thick layers of ceruse. Others bought artistic and used tiny velvet or silk patches in enjoyable shapes like stars and moons.
Eyes & Eyebrows
Ladies again then went heavy on the eyeliner, utilizing black kohl to make their eyes pop. They didn’t know (or care) that kohl contained lead – something for that sultry stare.
Additionally they put Belladonna of their eyes to make their pupils large and sparkly. It gave them that dreamy, wide-eyed look, nevertheless it additionally blurred their imaginative and prescient and will make them go blind in the event that they used an excessive amount of. Speak about struggling for magnificence!
Skinny, arched brows had been all the craze as a result of they made the brow look greater – apparently, that was a giant deal again then. Ladies plucked away to get the proper high-arched form. Some even went so far as shaving off elements of their hairline to make their foreheads look additional tall.
To darken their lashes, they’d burn cloves and rub the ashes on. Others used elderberry juice blended with tree sap to maintain their lashes darkish and dramatic.
Cheeks & Lips
Vivid pink cheeks and lips had been a should. To get that flushed look, girls used crushed crops like madder root or ground-up beetles (cochineal, anybody?).
Additionally they dabbled in egg white and ochre to get the proper cheek stain. Lip coloration? Vermilion, created from mercury sulfide—tremendous poisonous, however the wealthy pink shade was too good to go up.
Some girls blended their lip dye with beeswax to make a form of early lip gloss. Fancy, huh?
Skincare
With all of the junk they slathered on their faces, pores and skin issues had been a given. To take care of the mess, Elizabethans had some… fascinating fixes.
They used rosewater and lemon juice to fade spots, however the actual hardcore remedies concerned bizarre mixes of eggshells, alum, mercury, and honey. Mercury was a go-to, despite the fact that it made their pores and skin worse in the long term.
Rich girls even bathed in donkey milk, believing it made their pores and skin comfortable and youthful. And if that wasn’t sufficient, they’d slap pigeon poop on their face to clear up blemishes. Critically.
Hair
Similar to pale pores and skin, gentle hair was the dream. Ladies used all types of issues to bleach it – even urine! It labored due to the ammonia, however nonetheless… gross.
One other DIY blonde hack? A mixture of cumin seeds, saffron, and oil. Some additionally rinsed their hair with chamomile tea to maintain it golden.
And sure, pink hair grew to become a factor due to Queen Elizabeth I. Ladies began dyeing their hair with henna, rhubarb, and saffron to repeat her fiery locks.
Single girls wore their hair down, however as soon as they bought hitched, up it went – often right into a neat bun so they may pin on fancy headpieces.
Wigs had been a giant deal, too. In case your hair was thinning (or when you simply needed a special coloration), a wig was the way in which to go. Some girls went full dedication and shaved their heads to rock wigs 24/7.
Each actual and faux hair bought the royal therapy with jewels, pearls, and fancy equipment. Solely the super-rich might afford the perfect ones.
Males Hair & Beards
Males’s hairstyles modified quite a bit throughout Elizabeth’s reign. At first, brief hair was in. However over time, lengthy, curly locks grew to become the pattern. Males used scorching irons to get these excellent curls and held them in place with wax or tree sap.
Beards? The larger, the higher. They got here in all shapes – spherical, sq., pointed. However one factor was fixed: they had been lengthy and stiffened with starch. Some even dyed their beards pink or golden blonde with saffron simply to face out.
And for additional aptitude, wealthy males scented their hair and beards with rosemary, thyme, or lavender. Mainly, they smelled like an herb backyard.
The Backside Line
There you might have it, all the sweetness secrets and techniques of the Elizabethan period. All these magnificence methods got here at a severe price – not simply in cash, however in well being. Toxic make-up, sketchy skincare, and chemical hair remedies triggered all types of issues, from pores and skin injury to deadly poisoning. However hey, when has that ever stopped individuals from chasing magnificence developments?
Consider it or not, a few of their magnificence habits have caught round – pure dyes, natural skincare, and thick eyeliner are nonetheless going sturdy right now. A minimum of we ditched the lead and mercury!
About Gio
Hello, I am Gio. I am a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is pores and skin coach and author on a mission that will help you obtain your greatest pores and skin day ever – day-after-day. I bust skincare myths and debunk advertising jargon that will help you determine what’s well worth the splurge and what’s greatest left on the shelf – utilizing science, not hype. I additionally supply skincare consultations that will help you create the perfect skincare routine on your distinctive wants.
