Seeking Ideal Beauty
There seems to me to be definite parallels between this era, and
the Elizabethan Age, when it comes to women, and their desperate
struggle to either halt the natural aging of their appearance,
or, to discover a miracle age-reversal method. During the sixteenth
century, well-born women were obsessed with achieving, and maintaining,
'ideal' beauty, as they perceived it, to the point of what we would
call 'madness'. What was this ideal they so longed to possess?
Youthful unlined alabaster skin, overly bright eyes, red cheeks
and lips, and the fairest of hair colors. Add to these attributes,
a high, arched, pale eyebrow, and high brow line. To achieve the
'look' of perfection, these women made use of the period’s
highly respected skin care techniques, and the finest cosmetics
available to them, at the time.
First, the hairline was plucked back, an inch or more. Next, the
eyebrows had to be plucked and arched, and the hair of the head
and eyebrows was then bleached out using a variety of the most
up-to-date bleaching agents, including urine, and sulfuric acid.
Women, who could afford the high cost, purchased the top of the
line skin whitener, 'ceruse', a mixture of white lead, and vinegar.
This was used on the face, neck, bosom, and often the hands and
arms as well. This concoction was used in conjunction with the
'skin firmer' of choice, uncooked egg white. This noxious mess
was then spread on the face, neck and bosom, and allowed to dry,
to tighten, and hide wrinkles, and give the face a white, unlined,
mask-like finish. To imitate a blush and pout of youthful beauty,
vermilion (mercuric sulfide) was THE choice for lips and cheeks.
Faintly traced veins were then added to the skin surface of the
bosom, for that 'natural' look. Drops of belladonna were then administered
to the eyes, to achieve that desired 'sparkle', and the eyes were
outlined in kohl. To care for their complexions, the ladies made
use of what was highly touted as the best cleanser. Mercury mixed
with alum, and honey. Of course, a common practice was the 'facial
peel', and the most widely used, and highly regarded peel agent,
was mercury.
These were the commonly accepted 'beauty' practices, of women
over four hundred years ago, and yet, how 'in the moment', it all
seems! We may not use mercury for chemical peels, but glycolic
acid, salicylic acid, or lactic acid; trichloroacetic acid (TCA),
or carbolic acid (phenol) - are used. We don't spread raw egg white
on our complexions as a temporary skin firmer, but modern women
may be surprised to learn, they could very well have used 'skin
firmers' containing formaldehyde. We may gasp in horror over sixteenth
century women applying poison to their faces; yet, Botox injections
seem perfectly mundane, and safe, to us.
What were the long-term results of the use of their miracle beauty
and facial products, for the classy Elizabethan lady? Complexions
more rapidly aged, gray, shriveled, and mummified.
When I read of young women still in their twenties, opting for ‘beauty
treatments’ that require they have their complexions chemically
treated, or otherwise ravaged, I am appalled. I can only wonder
at the long-term effects of such drastic measures. Mature women,
obsessed with seeking some elusive anti-aging/age-reversal miracle,
become nothing more than willing test-subjects for any new facial
product/procedure that hits the market. Often, they have no idea
as to the ingredients in the products they are smearing on their
faces. Nor, do they take into consideration future effects of certain
procedures. Perhaps, we modern women should consider the lessons
of the past, and proceed with caution, and common sense, when choosing
our ‘beauty’ regimens.
Author-Jeannine Schenewerk
http://www.intouchwithjeannine.com
About the Author
Jeannine Schenewerk is a freelance writer
residing in Atlanta, Georgia. Her recent article, 'Self Image
and the Mature Woman', has been published on numerous sites.
She maintains an informative, inspirational, website, 'In Touch
With Jeannine', for mature women.
http://www.intouchwithjeannine.com
intouchwithjeannine@yahoo.com
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