Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
THE TON — Television series that take place in 18th century England are en vogue these days, with shows like Netflix's "Bridgerton" seeming to renew interest in the period drama genre for a new generation.
Many of the recent period-piece series offer modern takes on the fashions, makeup and hairstyles of the eras during which they take place. Rather than presenting a historically accurate picture of what people looked like in those days, they depict more of a fairy tale version of history.
And lest anyone find themselves wishing they could travel back in time and waltz around a ballroom looking like the people on those TV shows, this video from BBC's "Horrible Histories" might make them think again.
"For some splendid beauty tips, pay attention, listen to me," it begins.
The Georgian era beauty "influencer" goes on to suggest ladies paint their face white with paint of lead — "never mind that lead has made the men who mixed it ill or dead" — and take some silk of red or black and stick it to your face to cover smallpox scars with a "circle or crescent shape."
"Shave your eyebrows clean away; take a trap and catch some mice. Make false eyebrows with the mouse skin. Stick them on — you'll look so nice," the lady advises.
Those are just a few suggestions to help any woman become a historically accurate Georgian era beauty, or so she says.
Have You Seen This?
