Elizabethan Beauty

Queen Elizabeth I was not only a great ruler of her time, she was also a fashion icon, and sculpted the true meaning of beauty for the times. Her make up became more elaborate throughout the years, and she inspired the upper class to copy her looks. 

The Tudor Tudor. (2010). Death Of A Queen End Of An Era. Available: http://tudortutor.com/category/elizabeth-i/page/2/. Last accessed 5/12/14.

FACE

A true beauty in Elizabethan times had a snow white complexion to compliment the red lips and cheeks. This was impossible for the working class to acquire as they working outside in the sun leading to them having tanned skin, so the pale face was a sign of nobility and class. To create this pale complexion they used Ceruse, a mixture of white lead and vinegar, which they didn’t realise at the time was extremely poisonous. To make their faces seem whiter, some even drew on false veins or bled their faces with leeches. Some people even say that they used to take arsenic to give their skin a white glow, even though this shortened their life span.

CHEEKS AND LIPS

The face paints used in theses times were usually made from plant roots and leaves. It was generally referred to as Fucus and was used mainly on the cheeks and lips in a variety of red shades. Vermilion was the most popular choice however madder, cochineal and ochre-based compounds all were used to create lip colours and blush. Cochineal was also used to redden the cheeks and lips but this was a lot more expensive. 

EYES AND EYEBROWS

Kohl was the main ingredient used on the eyes and brows. It created the lashes, eyeliner and was used to created a high arch on the brow. Belladonna was often used to enlarge the pupils to make the eye look larger, as this was also a popular trait in these times. 

HAIR

Elizabethan hair was as pail as their faces, many upper class women even would die their hair yellow by mixing saffron, cumin seeds, celandine and oil. Another common attribute was a wig or hair piece to get the desired colour, Queen Elizabeth herself had over 80 wigs. Styles included ruffs, ruffles and frizz as this was what was in high fashion at the time. As for the forehead it was considered a sign of aristocracy if it was far back so women would actually pluck their hairline. 

SKIN CARE

Due to the heavy make up that was often extremely poisonous, the skin suffered serious damage during their lifetime, so many remedies were made for spots, freckles, acne etc. This ranged from a light application or rosewater or lemon juice, or the heavy works of mercury, alum, honey and eggshells. 

Harshleen. (2012). 5 shocking beauty secrets from ancient world history.Available: http://beautytidbits.com/2012/05/5-shocking-beauty-secrets-from-ancient-world-history/. Last accessed 5/12/14.

I think this image fully shows what Elizabethan beauty was, the hair is extravagant and bright, contrasting the pale face. The rouged lips and cheeks are instantly noticeable and her brows are thin and arched. Looking at images like this will help me in my project as Queen Elizabeth was who inspired the times. I love this image as everything within it screams royalty, from the rich colours to the elaborate outfit.