Musings on 18th century beauty

[isiswardrobe]

I’m sure you have noticed by now that I have a special interest for 18th century beauty and I’m more and more seriously contemplating on trying more beauty recipes from the time. I was quite delighted recently when I found that Ageless Artifice has several new and interesting items like Spanish white for face makeup and more rouges. Unfortunately I

Comments

[joysdaughter]

Did you ever check out the "Artifice of Beauty"? She has many recipes that you would find interesting, and which are safe variations of the dangerous stuff that was in use in the 18th cnetury. I fancy making one of her perfumes, and the lip salve sounds simple enough even for me!!

[isiswardrobe]

No, not yet, but I'm trying to find a copy. :)

[isiswardrobe]

I finally got a copy last week! I've read the 18thc entury section through and though and is now working my way through the whole book. It's very interesting!

[joysdaughter]

Glad to hear it - hope you find it useful!

[virginiadear]

"I have also found an intriguing recipe for a face pomade that you colour with zinc, chalk and- saffron! That one can’t possibly be stark white, can it?"

It might look very, very white to the unaided eye. Whether one would perceive it as stark white...?
I'm assuming the saffron is there to "warm" the white a little bit, but also that as Spanish saffron is very expensive only a small quantity is used (or wanted.)
I'm also guessing that the zinc used is zinc oxide, which is white: it's still used in painters' oil paints, I believe, and it used to be used in an ointment (zinc oxide in a white petrolatum base) to prevent sunburn, usually on the nose; this ointment used to be see on the noses of lifeguards at beaches all over this country. If I'm recalling correctly, it disappeared for a while, but is back again for use as a sun block, a sunscreen, as a diaper rash cream or ointment, and the zinc oxide itself shows up in quite a lot of products including some modern cosmetics.

[isiswardrobe]

Indeed Zinc white is also very similar to tin white that was used in the 18th century , and Titan oxide to lead white, and both Zinc and Titan oxide are used in makeup now. The saffron is interesting just because other recipes I have seen are just stark white with nothing to soften the colour. I very much would like to do them and see how they behave on the skin. I have only tested Titan oxide which makes for an extremely white and opaque makeup- as I understand it this is the white pigment in clown makeup and chalc, which only makes you a bit pale. Zinc is supposedly somewhere in between.

[virginiadear]

"Titan white?" Is this titanium white?
That would certainly be safer---much safer!---than either lead or tin.

Titanium dioxide is known for its brilliant white opacity. :^)

I shall be very interested to read what you learn from your 18th century cosmetic trials!

[isiswardrobe]

That would be it. :)