Beauty “demanded sacrifices” throughout the history of mankind, and sometimes it was not limited to pain and suffering, and the case ended with the death of the beauty.
Even for 10 thousand years BC. people used cosmetics that contained all kinds of toxins, including lead, mercury, and arsenic. A ban on this kind of cosmetics in some countries began to be introduced by the middle of the 20th century. Let's find out what kind of creepy ways people used to become prettier:
Lubricant for special occasions (oils and balms for the holidays)
Cosmetics were in great esteem even among the ancient Egyptians, 10 thousand years BC. Both men and women applied makeup to their faces using ancient versions of blush, lipstick, and eyeliner. Cosmetics were used not only for aesthetic purposes; oils and creams helped protect the skin from the scorching sun and wind. During the feasts, servants placed a pile of scented fat on each guest's head, which melted and ran down the face, providing a cooling effect.
Lead eyeliner
Promotional video:
Antimony, a popular cosmetic substance in ancient times, was often used in Egyptian and Indian cultures to accentuate the eyes and eyebrows. This mixture was made from soot, lead, and a specialty grease. Due to the sensitivity of the skin around the eyes, these ingredients were quickly absorbed into the body, which over time could lead to irritability, insomnia and decreased mental capacity.
Black teeth and white faces
Traditional Japanese geisha makeup has been around since the 18th century. However, long before that, since the eighth century, beauty standards were established in Japan, involving face whitening.
In addition, there was also the Ohaguro tradition, following which, aristocrats (mainly married women) blackened their teeth. The dye used to stain teeth could become toxic with prolonged use. Facial whitewash was usually made from rice flour, but sometimes bird droppings were added to create an even lighter tone.
Lead face whitewash
In ancient Greece, a pale face was considered beautiful and women, to achieve this effect, covered their faces with lead whitewash. Whitewash corroded the skin, but women used it over and over again to hide the spots that appeared. Lead white could also cause infertility and insanity. The ancient Romans eventually adopted this cosmetic custom, but added red lead to the white for a pink sheen effect.
Mask of youth
Lead white makeup gained new popularity in the 16th century. Queen Elizabeth I became famous for her "Mask of Youth" - an unusually white complexion. Some women even applied egg white to their skin to give their skin the desired paleness. White skin was a symbol of the upper class, as people from the lower strata of society, due to work in the open air, had a darker complexion.
Greasy hair
This fashion was widespread in the 18th century. The women of those times, such as the French queen Marie Antoinette, were known for unusually high hairstyles, often formed with wood and wire. Also, women often used fat to maintain the shape of their hair and did not wash their hair for a long time. Some ladies were forced to wear a cage over their heads at night to protect their hair from rats attracted by the smell of bacon.
Anti aging cream
Look old or die young? That was the choice women faced when using Laird's Blooming Youth Anti-Aging Whitening Cream. The cream that was marketed as "a delicious, harmless skin care product" actually contained lead acetate and carbonate. In 1869, the American Medical Association even published a study on the side effects of the cream. Symptoms such as fatigue, weight loss, nausea, headaches, muscle wasting, and even paralysis were reported. The Blossoming Youth alternative was not much better - the arsenic tablets.
Eyelash killer
Some women in the early 20th century used volumizing mascara. Others have used LashLure, a deadly eyebrow and eyelash tint. The main ingredient in LashLure was toxic coal tar. This cosmetic product caused at least 16 cases of blindness and one death before it was removed from store shelves by the FDA in 1940.
Mercury ointment for freckles
At the beginning of the 20th century, women of fashion declared war on freckles, for which the cosmetic industry proposed a new “miracle remedy”.
Researchers believe that this package of Dr. Berry's freckle ointment belongs to famed pilot Amelia Yarhat. These types of preparations contained 10 to 15 percent mercury. Only by the 40s of the last century, the Food and Drug Administration limited the content of mercury in preparations to 5% and completely banned its use only in the 70s.