8. Poisonous Lead Face Powder
Throughout much of history, pure white skin has been valued as a symbol of youth, health, beauty, and purity. This trend was at one of its peaks during the 18th century, the era of many horrifying and dangerous beauty trends. Leading the pack as one of the most dangerous was the use of lead face powder to achieve an even, stark white complexion. While safer options like vinegar and bismuth were available to make a white powder or cream, the most popular and luxurious choice was lead powder.
The lead was valued for its opacity, allowing for the stark white coverage depicted in historical paintings of deathly white-faced women. All of the women, and many of the men, of high society caked on an entire layer of lead facepaint for every social event. The full coverage also allowed the rampant smallpox scars of the era to be evened out or even hidden. However, using lead came at a high price for both the skin and one’s overall health.
In addition to being an incredibly toxic bioaccumulative poison, lead also destroys the skin. A high society Georgian woman who began using lead makeup would soon find her skin looking worse each morning, necessitating the use of ever more lead. As this cycle continued, the surface would literally start to break down with blackening patches and wounds. It also caused eye problems as well as a loss of hair and teeth.