Let’s speak 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 splendid of the period.
All the ladies at court docket needed to appear to be 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 ladies might afford to have honest pores and skin. Poor ones labored for hours exterior and developed a tan consequently.
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 severely 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 finally, loss of life. However hey, trying ghostly white was value 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, form 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 frequent, ladies 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.
Additionally they put Belladonna of their eyes to make their pupils enormous 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 craze as a result of they made the brow look larger – 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
Vibrant purple cheeks and lips have been a should. To get that flushed look, ladies 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 colour? Vermilion, constituted of mercury sulfide—tremendous poisonous, however the wealthy purple shade was too good to move up.
Some women combined 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 have been a given. To cope with 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, regardless that 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
Identical 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, 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 ladies wore their hair down, however as soon as they bought hitched, up it went – normally right into a neat bun so they might pin on fancy headpieces.
Wigs have been an enormous deal, too. In case your hair was thinning (or for those who simply needed a distinct colour), a wig was the way in which to go. Some ladies went full dedication and shaved their heads to rock wigs 24/7.
Each actual and pretend hair bought the royal therapy with jewels, pearls, and fancy equipment. Solely the super-rich might afford one of the best 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 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. Mainly, they smelled like an herb backyard.
The Backside Line
There you’ve it, all the wonder secrets and techniques of the Elizabethan period. All these magnificence tips got here at a severe value – not simply in cash, however in well being. Toxic make-up, sketchy skincare, and chemical hair remedies precipitated every kind of issues, from pores and skin harm 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 sturdy at this time. No less than 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 finest 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 finest left on the shelf – utilizing science, not hype. I additionally provide skincare consultations that will help you create one of the best skincare routine on your distinctive wants.