Following the Rococo era of dramatic makeup with extremely white faces—the result of lead-based white face paint!—red lips and heavily rouged cheeks, the Regency period featured a more “natural” look, with an emphasis on appearing “healthy.” Instead of the heavy lead-based paint used to create a stark white visage, more modern foundations came to the forefront during the Regency period. Rice, pearl, or talc powder was used sparingly on the face over tinted foundations. Rouge was still en vogue, though applied with a lighter hand than before. Pear's Liquid Blooms of Roses was a popular blush product in came in various shades of pink and red. Women of Jane Austen’s era would sometimes mute the color of the rouge with a touch of talc powder. Unlike in the early 1700s, where mouse fur was used to create faux eyebrows that adhered to the face, the ladies of the Regency era were enamored with Egyptian and Turkish beauty practices, and utilizedkohl brought about by the Egyptian trade. If kohl was unavailable, enterprising women mixed together black soot (or sometimes burnt cork) with a little oil to create a paste to apply to their eyebrows and eyelashes. But a light hand and judicious application was still key, as the “fresh” and “natural” look was still considered most desirable. Because of the sudden emphasis on health and Turkish practices, spas and baths gained a surge in popularity. It became the thing to do to have a season at Bath, Brighton, or Cheltenham to dip in the sea or healing springs. Some people even drank the water, believing it would improve their health. Copper bowls filled with scented oils floated in many of the baths to purify the air, which was important because not much was known about how disease spread at that point in time. These spas were supposed to help a person get healthier—but it was just as likely that they could end up contracting a communicable disease instead. However, a lot of the activity at these resorts and spas centered aroundsocial gatherings and events and less around health. Ostensibly, people were going to Bath for their health, but really were indulging in the latest fashions, gossip and parties. The women of Jane Austen’s era wore less makeup than the era before, but they did not eschew it entirely. And the spa “treatments” that they sought out were less about health and more about socializing. While the Regency era focused on natural looks and health, there was still a hefty dose of artifice in their beauty and spa regimen. Marcela De Vivo is a freelance writer in Southern California. She loves researching different periods in history, and this topic is no different. She specializes in beauty and health topics and often contributes to the Bellezza Spa blog. Follow her on Twitter today!
Following the Rococo era of dramatic makeup with extremely white faces—the result of lead-based white face paint!—red lips and heavily rouged cheeks, the Regency period featured a more “natural” look, with an emphasis on appearing “healthy.” Instead of the heavy lead-based paint used to create a stark white visage, more modern foundations came to the forefront during the Regency period. Rice, pearl, or talc powder was used sparingly on the face over tinted foundations. Rouge was still en vogue, though applied with a lighter hand than before. Pear's Liquid Blooms of Roses was a popular blush product in came in various shades of pink and red. Women of Jane Austen’s era would sometimes mute the color of the rouge with a touch of talc powder. Unlike in the early 1700s, where mouse fur was used to create faux eyebrows that adhered to the face, the ladies of the Regency era were enamored with Egyptian and Turkish beauty practices, and utilizedkohl brought about by the Egyptian trade. If kohl was unavailable, enterprising women mixed together black soot (or sometimes burnt cork) with a little oil to create a paste to apply to their eyebrows and eyelashes. But a light hand and judicious application was still key, as the “fresh” and “natural” look was still considered most desirable. Because of the sudden emphasis on health and Turkish practices, spas and baths gained a surge in popularity. It became the thing to do to have a season at Bath, Brighton, or Cheltenham to dip in the sea or healing springs. Some people even drank the water, believing it would improve their health. Copper bowls filled with scented oils floated in many of the baths to purify the air, which was important because not much was known about how disease spread at that point in time. These spas were supposed to help a person get healthier—but it was just as likely that they could end up contracting a communicable disease instead. However, a lot of the activity at these resorts and spas centered aroundsocial gatherings and events and less around health. Ostensibly, people were going to Bath for their health, but really were indulging in the latest fashions, gossip and parties. The women of Jane Austen’s era wore less makeup than the era before, but they did not eschew it entirely. And the spa “treatments” that they sought out were less about health and more about socializing. While the Regency era focused on natural looks and health, there was still a hefty dose of artifice in their beauty and spa regimen. Marcela De Vivo is a freelance writer in Southern California. She loves researching different periods in history, and this topic is no different. She specializes in beauty and health topics and often contributes to the Bellezza Spa blog. Follow her on Twitter today!