Tudor Cosmetics Research

Tudor Make up and cosmetics:

The rich women of the Tudors, Royalty and the the Nobility, wore make-up as an indication of their status and rank. Make-up also had a practical use to hide the scarring of various diseases in the 16th and 17th century such as smallpox. 

Fashionable make up in the era:

It was fashionable to have a very pale complexion. This demonstrated that a person was rich enough not to have to work outside in the fields. The use of heavy Make-up was not fashionable during the reigns of the early Tudors such as Henry VIII and only became popular during the reign of Elizabeth 1 who was second daughter of Henry VIII. Queen Elizabeth I set the fashions and as she grew older she more wore elaborate make-up which was useful for hiding wrinkles and other signs of ageing. Queen Elizabeth had contracted small pox which had left some slight scarring on her face. As she grew older the heavy white make-up helped to hide this and maintain her illusion of beauty and image as the 'Virgin Queen'.

What was the ideal Tudor women:

Even in Tudor and Elizabethan times there was a strict perception of how the "ideal" beauty was - a concept that sadly has not changed.The Tudor view of pure beauty during the Elizabethan era was a woman with light red hair and a pale white complexion which was complimented with red cheeks and red lips which were achieved from the use of cochineal to stain the cheeks and lips. Eyebrows were barley visible to create a longer forehead which was portrayed as being highly intelligent. A pale complexion could only be achieved by a wealthy woman of the upper class. Poor women would have a hard life and were expected to work outside and were exposed to the sun giving them a darker, tanned complexion. The pale complexion was therefore a sign of wealth and nobility and was desired by Tudor men.

What Products were used to create the Tudor make up:

Queen Elizabeth 1 was lucky to have these desired feature that was portrayed as being the ideal image of beauty. However she still used many products to enhance and exaggerated the image by using white make-up or face paint as they called in the 16th and 17th century. The favoured application of the upper classes was a make-up called ceruse which was a mixture of white lead and vinegar or powdered white chalk, mixed with white of egg and vinegar. This made a smooth shiny finish and people had to be careful not to laugh or the new ‘skin’ would crack. Unfortunately was poisonous and the use of these powders and ointments, especially ones containing lead and mercury, was very bad for the skin, and after a while resulted in scars and blemishes. However being highly toxic many women died rather young from lead-poisoning since the ceruse was added often and rarely washed off.

Information sourced: 

http://www.sixwives.info/tudor-make-up.htm

http://www.rmg.co.uk/queens-house/history/fact-files/beauty-in-the-17th-century

http://www.mylearning.org/the-painted-lady--tudor-portraits-at-the-ferens/p-2281/

http://timesoftudors.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/the-ideal-beauty.html

Photo of Cate Blanchett Portraying Queen Elizabeth 1 in the film 'Elizabeth; The Golden Age' sourced: 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2337774/Is-proof-Virgin-Queen-imposter-drag-Shocking-new-theory-Elizabeth-I-unearthed-historic-manuscripts.html