Women have been concerned about their looks throughout history. Before the advent of commercially made beauty products, women had to make do with natural materials that could be easily located in their geographic area. By 100 years ago, few beauty products were typically made from foods and minerals. By this time, make-up made from synthetic materials was just coming into fashion.
Cherry Lips and Nails
Approximately 100 years ago, women began wearing darker shades of lipstick. Women were advised to apply the lipstick very thickly. One newspaper claimed kissing was no longer popular because of the rising cost of lipstick. While lips were getting progressively darker with red shades of lipstick, fingernails were following suit. Scarlet was a preferred color, and the women who wanted to be in style grew their fingernails very long. Toenails were usually painted a pale pink to contrast with the deep red nails.
Meat Facials
At one point about 100 years ago, meat facials were all the rage in Paris. When a woman retired for the evening, she would tie strips of raw meat to her face. These strips could be beef or veal. The meat would be held against the face with binding. It was believed that the meat components would soften the woman’s skin.
Lemon Lips
Lemons were often used to bring out the redness of a lady’s lips. The lemon would be cut open and the pieces rubbed across the woman’s lips. The acid in the lemons would cause the lips to turn red and tingle, which simulates today’s lipsticks.
Eyebrows and Lashes
Ultra thin eyebrows were all the rage 100 years ago. Women would pluck them so thinly that they would look like they were drawn on with eyebrow pencils. Some women had such a strong desire to have thin eyebrows that they shaved their natural eyebrows off and penciled them in.
Tanning Was Popular
Until about 100 years ago, women were encouraged to maintain alabaster white skin as a beauty statement. In the early 1900s, Hollywood began to change that look. Actresses were told to start getting tans on their skin. Women who wanted to be in fashion copied that look; tanning became vogue.
Odor Be Gone
Another beauty tip that appeared about 100 years ago was to use recently invented antiperspirants. Women who were able to use antiperspirant to control perspiration and body odor could feel confident in their daily social encounters.
Photo Credit
- lemons image by Maria Brzostowska from Fotolia.com
