Magnificence Secrets and techniques Of The Elizabethan Period – Lovely With Brains

Let’s discuss concerning the magnificence secrets and techniques of the Elizabethan period.

Pale, alabaster pores and skin. Curly, purple hair. Skinny, arched brows. Elizabeth I, daughter of Henry XVIII and his second spouse Anne Boleyn, completely personified the wonder excellent of the period.

All the ladies at court docket needed to seem like her. Right here’s the lengths they went via to make that occur:

Face

Again then, a pale complexion was an indication of excellent well being and status. The reason being easy: solely wealthy girls may afford to have honest pores and skin. Poor ones labored for hours outdoors 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 severely 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 ultimately, demise. However hey, wanting ghostly white was price it, proper?

Plus, in addition they used egg whites to pretend a paler complexion and easy out wrinkles. (Egg whites tighten the pores and skin, type 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 have been widespread, 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

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.

In addition they put Belladonna of their eyes to make their pupils large and sparkly. It gave them that dreamy, wide-eyed look, however it additionally blurred their imaginative and prescient and will make them go blind in the event that they used an excessive amount of. Discuss struggling for magnificence!

Skinny, arched brows have been all the fad as a result of they made the brow look greater – apparently, that was a giant deal again then. Girls plucked away to get the right high-arched form. Some even went so far as shaving off components 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

Shiny purple cheeks and lips have been a should. To get that flushed look, girls used crushed crops like madder root or ground-up beetles (cochineal, anybody?).

In addition they dabbled in egg white and ochre to get the right cheek stain. Lip coloration? Vermilion, constructed from mercury sulfide—tremendous poisonous, however the wealthy purple shade was too good to cross up.

Some women combined their lip dye with beeswax to make a type of early lip gloss. Fancy, huh?

Skincare

With all of the junk they slathered on their faces, pores and skin issues have 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, 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 gentle and youthful. And if that wasn’t sufficient, they’d slap pigeon poop on their face to clear up blemishes. Significantly.

Hair

Identical to pale pores and skin, mild hair was the dream. Girls 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, purple 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 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 have been a giant deal, too. In case your hair was thinning (or if you happen to simply needed a unique coloration), a wig was the best way 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 may afford the most effective ones.

Males Hair & Beards

Males’s hairstyles modified loads throughout Elizabeth’s reign. At first, brief hair was in. However over time, lengthy, curly locks grew to become the development. 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 have been lengthy and stiffened with starch. Some even dyed their beards purple 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’ve got it, all the wonder secrets and techniques of the Elizabethan period. All these magnificence methods got here at a severe value – not simply in cash, however in well being. Toxic make-up, sketchy skincare, and chemical hair therapies prompted all types of issues, from pores and skin injury to deadly poisoning. However hey, when has that ever stopped individuals from chasing magnificence traits?

Consider it or not, a few of their magnificence habits have caught round – pure dyes, natural skincare, and thick eyeliner are nonetheless going robust in the present day. 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 – each day. I bust skincare myths and debunk advertising and marketing jargon that will help you work out 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 most effective skincare routine in your distinctive wants.