Let’s speak concerning 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 wonder ideally suited of the period.
All the ladies at court docket wished to appear like her. Right here’s the lengths they went by 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 ladies may afford to have honest pores and skin. Poor ones labored for hours exterior and developed a tan in consequence.
To get the pale look, ladies (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 critically dangerous information. The lead soaked proper into their pores and skin, inflicting every kind of nasty well being points like hair falling out, muscle issues, and ultimately, demise. However hey, trying ghostly white was price it, proper?
Plus, in addition they used egg whites to faux a paler complexion and clean out wrinkles. (Egg whites tighten the pores and skin, sort of like a DIY face masks.) Some even sprinkled crushed pearls on their faces or combined up potions with poppy seeds and snail slime. Yep, they went all in for that flawless look.
Since smallpox scars had been frequent, ladies coated them up with thick layers of ceruse. Others obtained artistic and used tiny velvet or silk patches in enjoyable shapes like stars and moons.
Eyes & Eyebrows
Girls 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 big and sparkly. It gave them that dreamy, wide-eyed look, but it surely 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 fad as a result of they made the brow look greater – apparently, that was an enormous deal again then. Girls 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 combined with tree sap to maintain their lashes darkish and dramatic.
Cheeks & Lips
Brilliant pink cheeks and lips had been a should. To get that flushed look, ladies used crushed vegetation 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, produced from mercury sulfide—tremendous poisonous, however the wealthy pink shade was too good to move up.
Some women combined their lip dye with beeswax to make a sort 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 therapies concerned bizarre mixes of eggshells, alum, mercury, and honey. Mercury was a go-to, though it made their pores and skin worse in the long term.
Rich ladies 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. Significantly.
Hair
Similar to pale pores and skin, mild hair was the dream. Girls used every kind 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. Girls began dyeing their hair with henna, rhubarb, and saffron to repeat her fiery locks.
Single ladies wore their hair down, however as soon as they obtained hitched, up it went – often right into a neat bun so they may pin on fancy headpieces.
Wigs had been an enormous deal, too. In case your hair was thinning (or if you happen to simply wished a distinct coloration), a wig was the best way to go. Some ladies went full dedication and shaved their heads to rock wigs 24/7.
Each actual and faux hair obtained the royal remedy with jewels, pearls, and fancy equipment. Solely the super-rich may afford the very best ones.
Males Hair & Beards
Males’s hairstyles modified rather a lot throughout Elizabeth’s reign. At first, quick hair was in. However over time, lengthy, curly locks grew to become the development. Males used scorching irons to get these good 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. Principally, they smelled like an herb backyard.
The Backside Line
There you may have it, all the wonder secrets and techniques of the Elizabethan period. All these magnificence tips got here at a severe price – not simply in cash, however in well being. Toxic make-up, sketchy skincare, and chemical hair therapies brought about every kind of issues, from pores and skin harm to deadly poisoning. However hey, when has that ever stopped individuals from chasing magnificence traits?
Imagine it or not, a few of their magnificence habits have caught round – pure dyes, natural skincare, and thick eyeliner are nonetheless going sturdy immediately. At the very least 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 – daily. I bust skincare myths and debunk advertising and marketing 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 very best skincare routine on your distinctive wants.
