Throughout the ages, people have gone to extreme lengths to achieve society’s ever-changing beauty standards. From toxic concoctions to bone-crushing accessories, these trends just might make you grateful for today’s beauty industry regulations. Here are 15 of the most dangerous beauty trends in history.
1. Lead-Based Makeup
In the 18th century, pale skin was the ultimate fashion statement. Women slathered on ceruse, a deadly mix of lead and vinegar, to achieve a ghostly complexion. Sure, it gave them the look they wanted, but it also caused hair loss, rotting skin, and, oh yeah, death.
2. Belladonna Eye Drops
Want bigger, doe-like eyes? Renaissance women had the answer: belladonna drops. These toxic drops dilated pupils for that dreamy look but came with the charming side effects of blurred vision, heart problems, and potential blindness.
3. Radium Beauty Products
In the early 20th century, radium was all the rage for its “gorgeous glow.” Beauty creams and powders infused with radioactive material promised luminous skin. They delivered—along with anemia, fractures, and cancer.
4. Mercury in Skincare
Need to banish blemishes? In the 19th century, mercury-laden creams promised smooth, flawless skin. Too bad they also delivered kidney damage, memory loss, and a slow descent into madness.
5. Arsenic Pills
Victorian women believed arsenic could brighten their complexions and make them look delicate. They weren’t wrong about the “delicate” part—arsenic poisoning left users pale, vomiting, and often, six feet under.
6. Foot Binding
For centuries in China, small feet were the epitome of beauty. Girls’ feet were tightly bound to create “lotus feet,” leaving them with severe deformities and lifelong pain. One wonders how they could even walk at all, but at least they didn’t have to run any marathons.
7. Corsets
The 19th century’s hourglass figure required a tightly laced corset, which compressed internal organs and restricted breathing. Women might have looked stunning, but they also fainted regularly, couldn’t eat much, and sometimes ended up with deformed ribs. Beauty is pain, literally.
8. Tapeworm Diets
Early 20th-century weight-loss enthusiasts swallowed tapeworm cysts, hoping the parasites would eat their calories. Instead, they got malnutrition, infections, and sometimes tapeworms that refused to leave. What’s worse than dieting? Hosting a parasite.
9. X-Ray Hair Removal
In the 1920s, women zapped their body hair away with X-rays, a futuristic dream come true! That is, until they started getting radiation burns, cancer, and other “surprise” side effects. But hey, smooth legs for a while, right?
10. Dimple Machines
Dimples were the height of beauty in the 1930s, and special devices promised to create them—with a pinch. The contraptions often caused bruising, nerve damage, and intense pain. No dimples? No problem. Now you’ve got scars.
11. High Foreheads
In the late 14th century, women plucked their hairlines and eyebrows to create a high forehead, the ultimate sign of sophistication. Some even removed their eyelashes for good measure. Nothing says beauty like a face that looks permanently surprised.
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12. Tooth Blackening
In Japan, blackened teeth were a symbol of beauty, maturity, and loyalty for centuries. Women used a mix of iron fillings, vinegar, and tea to achieve the look. Bonus: it may have helped prevent tooth decay—if you didn’t mind the taste.
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13. Goat Hair Unibrows
Ancient Greek women valued unibrows as a mark of intelligence and purity. If nature didn’t provide, they glued goat hair between their brows with tree resin. Nothing screams “smart and beautiful” like fake brows made of farm animal fur.
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14. Vein Painting
In the 17th century, translucent skin was all the rage, so women drew blue veins on their cleavage to look “ethereal.” Nothing says “fancy” like looking like a human roadmap. Apparently, visible blood flow was très chic.
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15. Pigeon Dropping Hair Masks
Ancient Greeks used a delightful mixture of pigeon droppings and other ingredients to treat baldness. Spoiler alert: it didn’t work. But hey, maybe it kept the birds happy.
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