12 beauty secrets from the past that today hardly anyone would dare to adopt

Even today, when store shelves are full of all kinds of cosmetics, and beauty salons can be found on almost every street, personal care remains something complex. Imagine then in past centuries. People valued appearance and strove to look their best; it took a lot of effort. And the ingredients they use could surprise any modern person.

We, from awesome.clubwe carefully analyzed the beauty secrets of the past and came to the conclusion that we would hardly risk trying some of these recipes.

A healthy, radiant smile has been valued for centuries. However, it was not easy to achieve such an effect without modern means. Even in the Middle Ages, both aristocrats and peasants knew the basic principles of hygiene. And the teeth were cleaned with rags or toothpicks. To remove plaque, a paste made from charcoal, salt and ground black pepper was used.

To give the smile a pearly whiteness, some women mixed burnt rosemary ash with the leaves of this plant, wrapped them in a handkerchief and carefully rubbed their teeth. And to get rid of bad breath, they chewed mint leaves or parsley and clove seeds.

The real heyday of all kinds of cosmetics took place in the 17th and 18th centuries. In that period, everyone wore makeup: women, men and even children. White and smooth skin was considered a true sign of nobility. To achieve this effect, fashionistas used various creams.

Cosmetics often included substances that were potentially hazardous to health. They were also made from completely innocent products like chalk and pearl powder, egg whites and vinegar. This mixture left the face smooth and radiant. However, people had to be careful not to laugh, otherwise the make-up “skin” would crack.

In the 18th century, makeup was dominated by two colors: white and red. The blush was made from sandalwood, carmine or wild saffron. To obtain a special paste for application, the powders were mixed with fat or vinegar. Applying makeup involved a few steps. First, the woman was dressed and had her costume covered by a special cloak, and only then did she apply makeup.

At the time of the Marquise de Pompadour, the layer of makeup was so thick that it was difficult to distinguish one young woman from another. But there were different ways of applying blush to representatives of the aristocracy and provincial nobility. Aristocrats made bright and wide scarlet stripes from the corner of the eyes to the corner of the lips. While the nobility made neat circles on the cheeks, which were supposed to emphasize the whiteness of the face and the brightness of the eyes.

Today, a mirror seems to be a completely accessible accessory, but until the 19th century, many people had never seen their own reflection. The first mirrors, made of glass, appeared in the 12th century, but truly high-quality models were created in Venice from the 15th century onwards. Venetian mirrors were worth a fortune. Some aristocrats sold their land just to get a small piece of this glass.

The Countess of Fiesc sold her wheat fields to buy a mirror, which she considered an excellent investment. The Venetians maintained the monopoly until the middle of the 17th century, when the French king Louis XIV set up an ambitious plan and managed to import 20 glassmakers from the Italian city to France. Since then, products began to be produced in other countries, therefore, they became a little cheaper and more accessible.

Four centuries ago, dark, curved eyebrows were in vogue. Bows should be slightly wider in the center and tapered at the edges. To give them an expressive color, the threads were dyed with charcoal, burnt cork, elderberry sap or soot extracted from oil lamps. The ideal shape was achieved by removing the excess. Some fashionistas of that time completely removed their own eyebrows and drew them on their faces. Or else they used animal fur for that purpose. However, in the latter case, there was always a risk that the eyebrows would fall out because of the glue.

Most creams, lotions and tonics were prepared at home. The recipes for these cosmetics included the most unexpected ingredients. For example, for morning procedures, a mixture of cow’s milk and water was used. And women also washed themselves with mother’s milk. To make the skin smooth and get rid of acne, an infusion of sempervivum plants was used. A liquid made from a mixture of rose water, rice powder, chopped blackthorn, gum arabic and frankincense refreshed the face.

Creams were made from almond oil and white wax with other exotic components. Thinness was not a trend, but a toned and tight body was appreciated. To get rid of sagging, women applied a paste of fox and lily oil mixed with goose and capon fat, resin and turpentine to sagging areas.

Male beauty standards have also changed over the centuries. In the days of Louis XIV, an attractive gentleman would have had a toned body, but not overly muscular, with the exception of the calves. This developed part of the male body often took the court ladies’ breath away. To better demonstrate their toned calves, men wore high heels and tight socks.

Another attractive feature on the male figure was a small prominent belly. This showed others that he could eat often and plentifully, which accentuated his financial status. To add a few seductive centimeters to the waist, some gentlemen wore special linings under their clothes.

Beauty standards in the 18th and early 19th centuries required women to have small, graceful feet. As they could not reduce the size of their feet, they chose smaller shoes with thinner fabric. Proper footwear was considered one that was so tight that the person could barely walk. Lightweight materials and barely noticeable soles made these shoes extremely uncomfortable. And they literally fell apart in a few days, especially if the woman often walked along the cobbled streets. That’s why George Sand (the pseudonym of the French writer Amandine Aurore Lucile Dupin) preferred men’s clothes to women’s dresses, including because of the difference in prices. Men’s shoes were much more comfortable than women’s shoes and lasted longer.

Women should also disguise the bad odor of their feet. To avoid embarrassment with the “bad smell”, several homemade recipes were used. Foot odors were treated with talc or a special solution of mint, sage, rosemary and juniper.

Female fingers, hands and wrists were the true embodiment of female beauty. Ideally, a young woman’s hands should be white, soft and rounded. Gloves were used to protect them from prying eyes and the vicissitudes of time. Long nails were considered rather vulgar, so they were cut short, filed into an oval shape and carefully polished. A real beauty should have shiny, pink, transparent nails.

To soften the skin, women used various products. For example, hands were treated with a solution prepared from ground chestnuts. Or they soaked and rubbed the gloves with horseradish, buttermilk, lemon juice, vinegar, rose water, glycerin, or oatmeal and wore them at night. Women took great care of their hands, to the point where they refused to knock on doors on their own, lest their fingers and knuckles stiffen or become thick-skinned.

Lush and healthy hair was considered a sign of beauty for both men and women. There were many home remedies that were supposed to strengthen locks, improve their growth and prevent hair loss. If signs of baldness appeared, then it was necessary to lubricate the scalp with bear fat, and then massage it, until red, with a thick cloth. Onion, honey or mustard were also often used. For the same purposes, people used to rub mouse droppings.

To make the hair grow quickly and become soft, it was lubricated with a special liquid made from lard and olive oil. For split ends, myrtle oil or a balm made from beeswax, honey and bear fat helped. The hair was covered in dust, not necessarily white but could be brown, pink, orange, blue or purple. For this procedure, a person put on a special mask and robe.

Before the advent of lip balm, women used various natural products to give their lips the necessary softness. Ideally, the person should have a small, plump mouth, shaped like a blossoming rosebud. The lips should be round and soft.

To get rid of dryness and cracks, honey or oil was applied. Some recommended using ear wax. Another recipe included lard, beeswax and lemon oil. To return the color to the lips, girls in the 18th century used vinegar or crimson lipstick on their lips.

Throughout the 18th century, there were strict standards of female beauty that regulated everything from the figure to the shape of the ears. Girls with small, round heads were considered truly charming. According to standards, the nose should divide the face exactly in half, and the forehead should be white, smooth and open. If the natural beauty was being hidden by the hair, then it needed to be gotten rid of.

What modern cosmetic procedures seem objectionable to you?