Vaseline
What problem does Vaseline not solve?
In 1917, chemist T.L.
“Maybelline” comes from combining “Vaseline” with the name Mabel.
Crushed insects
Yes, you read that correctly.
Throughout the Edwardian era, womenapplied hennato their hair via a toothbrush to achieve various shades of red color.
Margaret Mixterr’s 1910 book,Health and Beauty Hints, included a recipe for homemade rouge.
Deadly nightshade
Belladonna, a plantalso known as deadly nightshade, isn’t always deadly.
Pour into a jar.
Leave until set in a jelly.
Apply this to the outer corners of your eyes morning and night!"
It can cause burning or redness, and even more dramatic reactions, like dizziness and swelling.
In other words, don’t use benzoin without a doctor’s recommendation and supervision.
Women used home remedies, which includeddelightful ingredientssuch as lactic acid, vinegar, sour milk, and horseradish.
Berry’s Freckle Ointment (used byAmelia Earhart).
These creams contained as much as 15 percent mercury.
Radium
Radium is a great idea in some contexts treating cancer, for example.
Bad ideas for radium on the other hand, include putting into everything,including condomsand makeup.
Borax was also shown to cause “reproductive toxicity” in rodents, such as diminished levels of testosterone.
Spermaceti
Spermaceti is a wax-esque material found in the head of the sperm whale.
It is not,as it was once thought to be, whale sperm.
Amassage creamfrom 1910 also includes spermaceti, as well as elderflower oil, witch hazel, and lanolin.
Beet juice was also used tostain lips, and as an ingredient inearly lipsticks.
Are we really better off now?
