Victorian-era cosmetics
Victorian-era cosmetics refers to cosmetic products used during the Victorian age. Victorian cosmetics were often toxic or otherwise damaging. Commonly used products included ingredients like lead, mercury, arsenic, and ammonia.

Many cosmetic products were aimed at achieving as pale a complexion as possible, as this would indicate a woman did not have to work outside, and was thus of high status. The two main styles were "natural," which conveyed that a woman was of good morals, and "painted," which was seen as somewhat provocative.

Skin

The use of excessive makeup in the Victorian age was viewed as promiscuous and would only be seen on performers or prostitutes. A pure, natural face, free from blemishes, freckles, or marks was considered beautiful. However, that didn't mean woman did not secretly concoct their own remedies and cosmetics to enhance features and hide imperfections. Societal women did not want it known that they wore cosmetics so their beauty rituals were not publicized or discussed. One of the most important features to a woman in the Victorian Era was to have the most translucent, pale complexion as possible. A fair and healthy complexion distinguished a woman's social status. A lady of a higher social standing would use accessories like gloves and umbrellas to help protect her from the environment. Cold cream became a staple in the beauty rituals of Victorian women.It consists of water, oil, emulsifier, and thickening agent. It is believed that cold cream is beneficial for cleansing the skin and providing a moisturizing effect. This product was essential to Victorian women who wanted to maintain very soft, delicate skin. It was one of the only products in the Victorian era that was fairly safe to use and not looked down upon. The invention of cold cream goes back to antiquity and has stood the test of time and it still in use today. 

However, women who employed the "painted" look used white paints and enamels on their faces and arms. This would mean avoiding exaggerated facial expressions, because the substances would crack. These substances were also corrosive to the skin because they contained lead, mercury, and arsenic so women would have to keep applying them to cover the damage.

Eyes

Watery eyes were considered attractive because (paired with pale skin) they were associated with tuberculosis. To achieve this, women put drops of perfume, citrus, or belladonna in their eyes, an ingredient which would cause blindness if used for long enough. Mercury was used to make eyebrows and eyelashes less sparse.

Hair

An advertisement for Edwards Harlene hair restorer  displays an image of a young mom combing through her long luscious hair. Her young daughter stares at her with awe wishing for her hair to grow as beautiful as her mothers. High society Victorian woman went for natural beauty in regards to cosmetics to appear pure and youthful however there was a need for hair treatments and products that sustained intricate hairstyles. For many cultures woman’s hair is an expression of their femininity, and Victorian women were of no exception. Several full-length portraits were taken of women in the eighteenth-century exhibit these women with extremely long tresses of hair. The length of the hair, in particular, was a display of a women's health and was well taken care of. Both men and women used products to promote hair growth. One of the more popular products of the late eighteenth century was Edwards Harlene Hair “The Great Hair Producer and Restorer.” Products like these promised to restore the color in your hair as well as help promote gorgeous long locks that grow all the way down to your knees. Since the use of cosmetics on societal women was limited for fear of appearing overly promiscuous, hair was kept well groomed. Victorian women would braid their long hair, use hair wigs and apply heat to make tight curls. Women stylized their hair excessively to the point that the strain caused a lot of hair loss and baldness. The solution was to listen to the advertisements and invest in products like Harlene Hair. The Victorian era was a period in which it was more possible for women to focus on personal hygiene than it was in previous generations.