TIDBITS of Historical stuff
Skincare During the Regency
A Lady's Complexion Was Very Important
The rule for the Regency Era was a natural complexion, departing dramatically from the white painted faces (the use of the white lead-based paint often led to disfigurement and even death), black beauty patches, rouged cheeks and dramatic looks of the previous century. The era took on a focus of enhancing the natural beauty. This emphasis, rather than safety, is what led women to eventually move away from the use of these toxins.
There was no legislation regulating the safety of such products, allowing many cosmetics to continue to use unhealthy substances. Prominent ladys’ fashion magazines contained advertisements claiming to cure anything (think any skin disorders—from freckles to acne lesions) with their powder, tonic or lotion. While they had recognized mercury and lead as being dangerous, the chemicals were still prominent in ‘cures’ and cosmetics. Perhaps the saving grace for skin was that appearance was everything during the Regency period. The importance was the natural look featuring an unblemished, unfreckled complexion.
While they encouraged outdoor exercise, young women shielded their skin from the sun. Society believed freckles and suntans meant poor health, and their appearance frequently marked that person as part of the working class.
Cosmetics and skincare remedies were both purchased and made by hand. In middle-and upper classes, lady’s maids (or another servant) often created the skincare product. Magazines often included recipes and the ingredients could be purchased from the chemist or found around the home—garden, kitchen, or the like. Often the products included almond oil or milk, making the shelf life of cosmetics short.
While the white paint of the Georgian era was no longer popular as a foundation, it did not mean face cover was ignored. Often the older patrons would use the makeup base to cover the ravages of time. White face powder made from talc, rice, or crushed pearls became the norm. To meet fashion’s dictates for the natural, dewy and delicate complexion, and cover imperfections, lightly tinted foundations came into use, eventually moving women away from the more toxic ingredients.
Most women used rouge—sparingly—to highlight the bloom of nature. It always required a light touch to give that healthy glow dictated by the era. Powder rouge was the most popular, often made with a talcum powder base, although creams were also used. Frequently, rouge was made of vegetable ingredients, red sandalwood, vermilion (description further down) and saffron. Occasionally, more unhealthy ingredients found their way into the pomade or powder, such as muriate of tin, and other compounds used to make it thicker or pigmented.
They usually used matching lip color, even though it was discouraged during the period. The sheerer the better. These lip colors were also often derived from vegetable dyes, with wax, almond oil, melted fat, rose, lavender water, and other additives that combined to give lips a sheer, natural appearance. The bright red painted look came from the use of vermilion, a vivid red pigment taken from the powdered mineral cinnabar, used in art and cosmetics since the ancient days of Rome.
Even while mascara and eyeliner had been in use and available (since Egyptian times), they frowned upon their use. They did not promote the desired natural look and unnaturally covered the eyes. Except for minimal use of elderberry and some light stains on the brows or lashes, makeup stayed off the eyes, save a light brush of powder over the eyelid.
Here is an example of an advertised recipe used to rid the complexion of pimples.
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