1. Skin Care Was of the Upmost Importance
The ideal woman in the middle ages had pale, smooth skin without any pockmarks or blemishes. As we mentioned earlier in the list, nearly everyone washed their face with cold water at the end of the day. Some women used ointments made with animal fat in order to keep the skin soft and smooth. Even back then, people believed in the power of crystals and gemstones to heal. Women would lick amethyst and rub it over their pimples to make them go away.
Where do we find this stuff? Here are our sources:
What Was Hygiene Like In A Medieval Castle? Melissa Sartore. Ranker. 2019
Scissors, or Sword? The Symbolism of a Medieval Haircut. Simon Coates. History Today. 1999
Black Death quarantine: how did we try to contain the most deadly disease in history? Helen Carr. History Extra.
The Medieval Invention of Toilet Paper. Medievalists.net.
11 Facts About Medieval Hygiene that Will make You Thankful for the Modern Bathroom. Cheryl Khan. Trade Wind Imports.
The (not so) stinky Middle Ages: why medieval people were cleaner than we think. Katherine Harvey. History Extra. 2020
Medieval Hairstyles. Medieval Chronicles. 2020
Medieval parasites. Katherine Harvey. AEON. 2020
Medieval Feminine Hygiene. Rosalie’s Medieval Woman. 2020.
It Was Once Someone’s Job to Chat With the King While He Used the Toilet. Natalie Zarelli. Atlas Obscura. 2017.