Elizabethan Cosmetics

Today I have been doing some more research into Elizabethan cosmetics and found out some interesting things. Not only did the men and women of the Elizabethan era use Ceruse (a mixture of White Lead and Vinegar) for foundation, many people also used tin ash, sulphur, alum and even egg whites. not only did these products lighten the skin but they were also used to hide wrinkles.
However many of theese products were in fact toxic and would have extreme detrimental effects on the skin and to the overall health of the people chosing to wear them. To many reading this poisonus white lead would be the obvious danger, but it wasn't the only unsafe indredient in the cosmetics and beauty treatments of the Elizabethan times, it was also common practice to use a toxic plant extract called Belladonna, from the plant Atropa belladonna, also known as Deadly nightshade, to brighten the eyes. The method in this case was to use the plant extract in a form of liquid eye drops to dialte the pupils, therefore giving the eyes a sparkling appearance. Belladonna has also been used throughout history by the Ancient Romans and in the middle ages for tipping poisoned arrows and for anesthetic during surgery.
We may look at theses treatments and wonder if they were worth risking ones health for, but in reality they are no different to some of the risks taken in modern times in the effort to maintain a "beautiful" and youthful appearance. treatments such as Botox, collagen fillers and cosmetic surgery all come with dangers attached, not to mention a great deal of pain.. Dermal fillers are often reported to to have adverse side effects, and plastic surgery even more so, not only is there the risk regarding complications with the surgery itself but taking into consideration the risks associated with anesthetics and post surgical infection.

returning to the subject of Elizabethan make up, other methods used during this era to accentuate the eyes included outlining them with kohl which was also used to darken the lashes (again similar to modern techniques, using eyeliner and mascara). In addition to this they would pluck their eyebows into very thin arched shapes thus making the eyes appear larger and the forehead appearing higher.
Queen Elizabeth herself was of course a redhead and given her style icon status red/yellow or lightened hair became fashionable amongst the weathly women of Britain during her reign. In order to achieve a lighter hair shade women would use a mixture of spices such as Saffron Celadine and Cumin, and in some cases even Urine would be used.
The webistes I used to obtain this information included: http://www.stylecraze.com/articles/beauty-during-the-elizabethan-times/  https://www.google.co.uk/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4SKPB_enGB299GB299&q=Belladonna
http://www.allaboutvision.com/cosmetic/botox.htm
http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/cosmetic-surgery/basics/risks/prc-20022389
http://www.thebeautybiz.com/78/article/history/beauty-through-ages-renaissance