Simran Joshi
Queen Elizabeth I, one of history’s most iconic monarchs, was renowned for her striking appearance, characterized by stark white makeup and vibrant red wigs.
However, beneath the elaborate facade lay a darker truth: her makeup was not merely a fashion statement but a necessity to conceal the scars left by a near-fatal bout of smallpox early in her reign.
Sadly, she slowly poisoned herself with cosmetics that contained lead and mercury, cosmetics on which she relied to represent her power while actually weakening her health.
The Cosmetic Mask: A Scars Shield and a Power Icon
Queen Elizabeth I concealed scars from a bad attack of smallpox infection, using heavy white makeup. The makeup used included Venetian ceruse, a mixture of lead and vinegar, that are toxic.
She lost her skin due to severe smallpox that almost resulted in her death.
Elizabeth’s metamorphosis into a “mask” represented her control and character as an invincible, unapproachable queen.
Actress Margot Robbie said Elizabeth’s makeup confined her to a constructed image of power. Beauty ideals of the English aristocracy worshiped “skin as white as snow” during Elizabeth’s rule.
Elizabeth said rulers were always under inspection, so she covered up imperfections with layers of heavy makeup.
The Mirror reported that Elizabeth applied her makeup once a week, leading to prolonged lead exposure.
Her makeup removal probably used mercury, which led to severe side effects such as irritability and memory loss.
By the end of her life, her white-painted skin was a full inch thick.
The Price of Beauty: Deadly Consequences of Toxic Makeup
The lead-infused makeup led to extensive deterioration of health, with hair loss, skin corruption, and blood poisoning.
Elizabeth’s long-term application of lead-infused cosmetics likely contributed to her deterioration and death.
Her historians believe that her removal methods, which were filled with mercury, worsened her health, corroding her flesh and causing severe depression.
Sue Prichard said that image cultivation by Elizabeth reflected the fight against anti-Protestant propaganda and aging stigmas.
The toxic combination of lead and mercury in cosmetics exemplified the cost of beauty in history.
Elizabeth’s court mirrored her pale complexion, believing beauty and status outweighed personal health risks entirely.
Makeup artist Shircore emphasized early cosmetics’ dangers, where fashion prioritized beauty over life-threatening health effects.
Elizabeth’s youthful appearance maintenance reflected a ruler’s need to defy aging perceptions of corruption and decay.
Her poisonous beauty practice became a deadly survival tactic in a politically charged and critical society. Despite the toll on her health, Elizabeth’s dedication to beauty defined her legacy as England’s fearsome Virgin Queen.
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