A Slave To Fairness
Elizabeth was then chained to maintaining this ghostly complexion. She would need some help keeping up appearances, however, and so relied on a primitive skin product called Venetian ceruse. Such a mixture was made through the combination of white vinegar and lead. We don’t need to tell you that this was an extremely poisonous potion, especially considering how frequently it was applied by Elizabeth, for long periods of time. Thankfully, makeup has come a long way since then!
A Slave To Fairness
Common Practice
It might sound ridiculous, but plenty of women during this period would smear this toxic solution on their faces and, worse, would not take it off until days later. Upon her passing, Elizabeth’s body was found to be wearing an inch-thick layer of Venetian ceruse, among other forms of makeup. Now, you might be wondering why people would think that applying lead to one’s face was a good idea. During the 16th century, people were fatally oblivious to the chemical’s hazardous nature and the risks of using it.
Common Practice
