Magnificence In The Victorian Age – Stunning With Brains

Can we discuss magnificence within the Victorian age? You’d assume an 18 12 months outdated woman changing into queen would give the sweetness business a lift. Absolutely, such a younger woman liked to play with make-up, attempt the most recent lotions and potions, and launch tendencies, no?

Mistaken. Queen Victoria liked to get together and dance into the wee hours of the morning – however sans make-up. After the profligacy of her predecessors, Victoria was decided to make the monarchy respectable once more. And she or he didn’t assume there was something respectable about cosmetics.

She thought face paint vulgar, and make-up appropriate just for prostitutes and actresses (there wasn’t a lot distinction between them again then). In reality, Victoria famously declared in 1870 that “The Queen is most anxious to do what she will be able to to discourage using cosmetics.” That royal disapproval actually didn’t assist the struggling cosmetics business. However that doesn’t imply that her topics stopped sporting make-up. They simply grew to become higher at hiding it.

Moderately than the heavy white paints and vivid rouges of the previous century, respectable well-off women went for the no-makeup make-up look. It completely suited the best of fantastic thing about the period, which demanded a fragile and fragile look, with a pale complexion, and lengthy curls. Right here’s how they achieved it:

Complexion

The Victorians liked pale pores and skin. It was an indication of the Aristocracy. It meant ladies have been well-off, and will afford to not spend hours working outside, which might inevitably end in a tan. The horror!

Whereas their ancestors had used harmful concoctions like Venetian ceruse (a lethal mixture of lead and vinegar) to whiten their faces, the Victorians turned to safer alternate options. Zinc oxide grew to become the go-to. This white mineral powder gave pores and skin a porcelain-like end with out the nasty unwanted side effects of lead poisoning. It’s nonetheless used as we speak in sunscreens—although now we complain concerning the white solid it leaves behind as a substitute of embracing it as a magnificence commonplace!

Those that didn’t like Zinc, merely averted the solar and recent hair. After they ventured outside, they’d carry parasols to guard their pores and skin from the solar. Some even drank vinegar. Apparently, they thought that, someway, it’d stop a tan!

For probably the most fashion-forward, pale wasn’t sufficient. They needed to look so delicate that you can virtually see by means of their pores and skin. To attain this, some ladies took issues a step additional and painted advantageous blue strains on their arms and temples to imitate seen veins, an indication of utmost femininity and fragility. Just a few even went so far as emphasizing darkish circles underneath their eyes to seem extra ethereal. Think about individuals intentionally making themselves look sleep-deprived as we speak!

And, after all, at any time when their faces acquired too oily or shiny, a lightweight dusting of powder helped preserve the grease at bay. However solely simply sufficient – overdoing it was a social fake pas!

Make-up

With Queen Victoria’s sturdy stance towards face paint, make-up took a critical hit in respectability. A “correct woman” couldn’t be seen shopping for it, not to mention making use of it in public. However that didn’t imply they deserted it fully. As a substitute, ladies grew to become consultants on the artwork of subtlety.

Make-up was now all about reaching a pure, “my-skin-but-better” impact. Every part needed to be utilized with the lightest contact. Rouge was nonetheless a staple, however as a substitute of vivid reds, ladies opted for tender pinks, typically achieved with crushed beet juice. Some ladies used rice powder blended with a touch of carmine to get that pure flush.

Lip shade was utilized in secret and sparingly. Beeswax and plant-based dyes have been frequent substances, whereas extra daring ladies used cochineal (a purple dye derived from bugs) to provide their lips a faint pink hue. However heavy lipstick? Completely not! That was reserved for “fallen ladies.”

Eye make-up was virtually nonexistent by as we speak’s requirements. Heavy kohl-lined eyes have been far too risqué, so ladies opted for lead-based powders to subtly improve their eyes – sure, nonetheless poisonous, however at the very least much less apparent! Eyebrows have been plucked, however solely evenly, simply sufficient to create a pure, polished form.

Skincare

Make-up might have been out, however skincare? That was a special story. Should you couldn’t cowl up imperfections, you needed to stop them within the first place. DIY magnificence remedies grew to become all the fad.

Ladies concocted their very own lotions, lotions, and tonics utilizing pure substances discovered of their kitchens and gardens. Almond oil, rosewater, glycerin, and beeswax have been frequent staples of their skincare arsenals. Lily water and elderflower water have been believed to melt the pores and skin, whereas cucumber juice was used as a brightening agent.

For these scuffling with zits (which they typically referred to as “spots” or “blemishes”), options ranged from natural infusions to downright weird practices. Some Victorian magnificence manuals advisable washing the face with rainwater to maintain the pores and skin clear. Others steered making use of mashed strawberries or honey as a primitive face masks. And let’s not overlook the idea that bathing in milk might keep youthful pores and skin – a pattern Cleopatra would have authorised of!

Hair

If make-up was scandalous, a girl’s hair was sacred. Lengthy, voluminous locks have been thought-about an indication of femininity and sweetness, and most girls hardly ever lower their hair. Trimming was reserved for excessive circumstances, similar to sickness or mourning.

To attain that coveted fullness, ladies typically used false hairpieces. Hair collected from servants or purchased from wigmakers was sewn into elaborate extensions to reinforce pure tresses. Oils like rosemary, castor, and macassar oil (which impressed the invention of “antimacassars” – these lace doilies positioned on chairs to stop greasy stains) have been broadly used to maintain hair clean and glossy.

Hairstyles weren’t significantly experimental. Chignons, buns, and cascading curls have been the usual. Younger ladies typically wore their hair down in lengthy, tender curls, however as soon as married, they have been anticipated to put on it up as an indication of maturity. Hair equipment have been important – ornamental combs, ribbons, and bejeweled pins added a contact of magnificence.

Males’s Grooming

Victorian ladies might have been all about tender femininity, however the males? The alternative. A well-groomed Victorian man sported a thick, full beard or at the very least a powerful mustache. A clean-shaven face was typically related to youth or, worse, boyishness, one thing no self-respecting Victorian gentleman needed.

As for hairstyles, shorter cuts grew to become extra in style, a stark distinction to the lengthy, flowing locks of the earlier century. However one factor remained constant: the love of pomades. Macassar oil was the hair product of selection, slicking again hair to perfection – a lot in order that furnishings producers began making antimacassars to guard upholstery from the greasy residue.

The Backside Line

There you’ve got it, all you ever needed to find out about magnificence within the Victorian age. Whereas Queen Victoria might have needed to banish cosmetics to the shadows, magnificence tendencies didn’t disappear fully. They simply tailored. Ladies grew to become consultants on the artwork of “barely-there” make-up, mastered DIY skincare, and located artistic methods to take care of their delicate, doll-like look. And regardless that Victorian magnificence beliefs might sound excessive (portray on veins? Encouraging darkish circles?), they have been deeply tied to the cultural and social expectations of the time.

So subsequent time you complain concerning the white solid out of your sunscreen or spend hours perfecting your “no-makeup” make-up look, simply keep in mind – you’re not the primary to go to nice lengths for magnificence!

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 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 one of the best skincare routine on your distinctive wants.