Women's Lives in the Victorian Era ~ Beauty Products for Skin and Hair

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A pale complexion was what a woman sought as this was the popular fashion of the day. Skin so white it was nearly translucent. This announced to the world that you were wealthy, not spending hours in the sun doing menial labor. A woman must have a look of virtue, purity, and refinement. The more beautiful(pale) you are the better the marital match you can secure. Certain products were available to attain this. Arsenic wafers made the skin pale. It reduced blood flow to the skin. But the body develops a tolerance, so you have to use more over time. It made you feel nauseous and weak. It caused brittle nails, hair loss, nerve damage, and ultimately organ failure. Radium face powder was advertised as giving the skin a radiant glow. It would look like you were radiating light from within. Exposure caused bone decay, cancer, anemia and radiation poisoning. Jaws rotted away, tumors grew and women died young. Zinc oxide powder gave the skin a pale, matte finish and was safer than other products. It was less expensive too. Lead based enamels were used as makeup. This was a thick, paint like substance that was left on for days. It gave a porcelain like appearance to the skin, covered every blemish and imperfection. It blocked the pores, was stiff and looked unnatural, It was more like a mask. Continued use caused rashes and infections. Bella Donna (which means 'beautiful lady' in Italian) was also used. It was also called Deadly Night Shade because it was deadly. Even a small amount could cause hallucinations, seizures and death. But women dropped it into their eyes because it caused them to dilate dramatically. Large, dark and luminous eyes were thought of as extremely attractive during this time. Side effects like vision problems, light sensitivity, headaches and potential blindness. It damaged the optic nerve. Hair was a women's crowning glory. Many women went from young girls to old age without ever cutting their hair. Society expected women in high society to look a certain way and to appear with unfashionable hair was simply unacceptable. Several products were used to attain this. Curling tongs were used to make long, lovely curls. It took an alcohol lamp to heat this apparatus and there were no temperature controls. It could reach 600-900 degrees if left on too long. This dried out the hair and left it lifeless. Wigs paid a crucial role in women's fashion during the 18th century up to the mid 19th century. Ringlet wigs were used a lot, and floral or jeweled accessories could be added as well. This could also hide bald spots and other imperfections. Hair was not washed very often-- maybe once a month. The washing process could take all day and the soaps available were harsh and damaging to the hair. They used powders, oils and pomades. The latter was made from animal fat, lard and tallow. This was then perfumed and was the only nourishment the hair received. There were no laws or rules in making these products. Women had no idea they were using poisonous methods to attain fashionable beauty. If they had known, would they have cared? Has the beauty industry changed that much?