Beauty is only skin deep
Women have always tried to slow down the signs of ageing and make themselves appear more beautiful. But back in the old days, there was no such thing as cosmetic surgery. Through the ages, women have gone to the extremes to improve their appearance, from draining themselves of blood to covering themselves in poop.
In ancient times Greek women would mix crocodile excrement with mud and apply it their face to slow down the ageing process.
Women used to pluck their hairline from the middle ages right up until the Elizabethan time to make their foreheads appear bigger.
Between the 14th and 17th century women tried to recreate the fragile and delicate look often associated with flowers. They did this by trying to create a pale complexion and draining their blood. Some women even attached leaches to their ears.
Back in Elizabethan times women didn’t have any highlighter products and so used to paint their face with egg whites to make their skin appear glazed. They also curled their hair with hot irons and as they were still awaiting the invention of hairspray, opted for gum as a way to keep it in place.
Elizabethan women also used the herb belladonna (also known as night shade) to dilate their pupils, with the side effects of blurred vision, confusion and hallucinations. The plant is deadly and was also used for poisons and was used to make the tips of poisoned arrows.
Weird and wacky treatments don’t stop in this day and age though, some women use snail slime to cure their skin of spots. Yuk.
FemaleFirst Emma Chaplin