Elizabethan Makeup Products.

Basic Elizabethan Makeup.

• White face paint called 'Venetian Ceruse'  was a lead based cosmetic product that contained carbonate and hydroxide. Women would use this as a base for their makeup to achieve the pale complexion of a that was associated with high status and wealth. The women would paint over the existing layers of base every month or so never removing the layer underneath. Unfortunately the lead in the makeup had side effects and often turned women skin grey.
• Mercury was used to clear the skin of spots similarly to todays acne treatments. However the mercury had severe side effects such as the corroding of the skin which cause the skin to have large sores and open wounds which would be painted over with lead and never healing. resulting in terrible scars on the women's faces when all makeup was removed. 
• Other forms of skin cleansers were conceited from rain water, donkeys milk, red wine and even urine instead of the soap ingredients and synthesised chemicals we use today that are not harmful or dangerous for the skin or for hygiene purposes.
• Eyeshadow was  made from ground mother of pearl and eyeliner/ makeup pencils were created by mixing plant pigments with plaster of paris which would then be moulded into shape and left to dry in the sun.

A lot of these makeup techniques are still used today however they included different products that are not harmful for the skin and have a larger variety of shades and styles and textures i.e. Powdered eyeshadows and creme eyeshadows.

Elizabethan Solid Perfume Recipe:

Ingredients:

1. 1/2 lb Beeswax
2. 1 tbsp Almond Oil
3. 1 tsp Ground Cinnamon
4. 1 tsp Powdered Sandal Wood
5. 1/4 tsp Amber Paste 
6. 15 drops of Benzoin essential Oil 
7. 1 tsp Ground Cloves

Instructions 

1. Melt the beeswax over medium heat while stirring constantly 
2. once it is completely liquid, lower the heat and continue stirring. Do not let the wax or mixture boil
3. Stir in cinnamon, cloves and sandalwood. Stir until thoroughly mixed 
4. Then add the amber paste and benzoin 
5. Once these are thoroughly mixed add the almond oil and mix completely
6. Pour the mixture into foil lined bowl to cool
7. Roll into balls and leave to harden.

Website reference: http://elizabethanmuseum.weebly.com/facial-beauty.html

Website reference: http://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/elizabethan-make-up.htm