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10 Strange Beauty Habits from the Past

3 min readMay 28, 2023

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Beauty is a concept that has been around since the beginning of time. Throughout history, people have come up with different ways to enhance their appearance and present themselves in the best light. From strange beauty habits to bizarre fashion trends, here are 10 strange beauty habits from the past will leave you grateful for modern beauty practices.

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Photo by freestocks on Unsplash

White Lead Face Powder:
In the Renaissance era, having pale skin was seen as beautiful. Women used a face powder made from white lead to look fair. They didn’t know that this dangerous substance could cause health problems like hair loss, skin damage, and even death.

Venetian Ceruse:
During the 16th century, European women used Venetian ceruse to lighten their skin. This paste had lead and vinegar in it. It made their skin look porcelain-like, but it had terrible side effects. It caused paralysis in facial muscles and lead poisoning.

Eyebrow Shaving:
In the 16th century, when Queen Elizabeth I ruled, women thought it was fashionable to have high foreheads and no eyebrows. They plucked or shaved off their natural brows and used materials like mouse fur to make it look like they had no eyebrows.

Belladonna Eye Drops:
In the 18th century, people wanted their eyes to look…

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Skalindesign
Skalindesign

Written by Skalindesign

Dog and cat mom, freelance writer with interest in graphic design, ocasional translator.