- Joined
- Nov 26, 2016
- Location
- central NC
"Southern Belles" by Alan Maley
"If women are to govern, control, manage, influence and retain the adoration of husbands, fathers, brothers, lovers or even cousins, they must look their prettiest at all times."
So how did Victorian ladies try to “look their prettiest at all times"? These are some beauty tips from the 19th century:
Olive oil baths: Our Victorians ladies could make their own olive oil baths by pouring a full cup of virgin olive oil in their warm bath water. Most probably just rubbed olive oil on their bodies, left it on for 5 to 10 minutes, then rinsed it off with warm water. Olive oil contains vitamins A and E, which are very nourishing, along with antioxidants that guard against environmental toxins.
Face mists: Victorian ladies liked to spritz their faces before going outside. They believed face mists protected their skin against inflammation and infections. Floral scented spritzes were a favorite. Many made their own by layering flowers petals in a bottle and dousing them with cider vinegar and distilled water. This was covered tightly and allowed to infuse for two days. The liquid was strained away and used to spritz their faces.
Body wraps: Apparently some Victorian ladies enjoyed body wraps. They thought they fortified the immune system and boosted metabolism. Some 19th century wraps were made out of hay. The hay wrapping practice was supposedly discovered by tired field workers who found themselves refreshed after sleeping in hay at night despite long hours of manual labor. This is a real thing – one you can enjoy at select spas today.
Face masks: Our Victorians had a really simple and effective way of toning their complexions with face masks. Sisi – Empress Elisabeth of Austria (1837-1898) had a favorite face mask that consisted of 2 ounces of rose water, 1 ounce of milk, ½ ounce of grape juice, 5 drops of frankincense essential oil and 2 whipped egg whites. All ingredients, except the egg whites, were combined. When everything was well mixed, the egg whites were folded in and the paste was immediately applied to the face. Ladies slept with the paste on their faces and rinsed it off in the morning.
Exfoliation - To keep their complexions soft, our Victorian ladies massaged their cheeks with pure honey and crushed berries. The effects of the fruit acids cleansed, exfoliated and brightened their skin.
Sources:
Montez, Lola. The Arts of Beauty: or Secrets of a Lady’s Toilet (1858)
The Beauty Gypsy
Encyclopaedia of Astounding Facts and Useful Information (1889)