Tudor Make-up and Cosmetics
Use of cosmetics or make-up was frowned upon at some points in history. Not so the period of the Tudors. The rich women of the Tudors, Royality and the Nobilty, wore make-up as an indication of their status or rank. Make-up also had a practical use to hide the scarring of various diseases such as smallpox.
The Elizabethan era
Queen Elizabeth I set the fashions and as she grew older she more wore elaborate make-up which was usefull for hiding wrinkles and other signs of ageing. Queen Elizabeth had contracted smallpox which had left some slight scarring on her face. As she grew older the heavy white make-up which she favoured helped to hide this and maintain her illusion of beauty and the image of the "Virgin Queen".
The ideal Tudor woman
The Tudor view of pure beauty during the Elizabethan era was a woman with light hair and a snow white complexion which was complimented with red cheeks and red lips. A pale complexion could only be achieved by a weathy woman of the upper class. Poor women were axpected to work outside and therefore acquired a suntan. The pale complexion was therefore a sign of wealth and nobility-an immediate identification for a person from the rich upper classes.
White make-up by Tdor women
Queen Elizabeth had the natural attributes of this ideal image of beauty but she enhanced and exaggerated the image by using white make-up. This expalins the odd white face make-up seen in manu of her portraits. The favoured application of the upper classes was called Ceruse which was a mixture of white lead and vinegar. Unfortunately was poisonous. The acquisition of a pale complexion was so desirable that rich Tudor women were bled to achieve the desired pale look. Face paint made from plant roots and leaves was also applied. The look was completed with an application of an expesive rouge made from cochineal to stain the cheeks and the lips. Madder and vermilion was also used to achieve this reddening effect. Kohl was used to darken the eyelashes, another element of make-up which was emported from the Middle East during the crusades.
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