Elizabeth I, the last monarch of the Tudor Dynasty, has made history as a queen-non-white, almost marble face. Her corporate makeup became a symbol of her reign, but under a thick layer of cosmetics was a tragic story associated with the effects of smallpox and forced standards of beauty of the time.
In 1562, only four years after climbing the throne, Elizabeth and became ill with a smallpox that almost took her life. The disease left deep scars on the face, which became a serious problem for the queen, because in the Renaissance era beauty was associated with power. To hide the effects of the disease, Elizabeth used white -based white compounds and vinegar. This cosmetics, known as the "Venetian Cerus" or "Saturn Spature", created the effect of porcelain skin, but was deadly. Lead in the composition gradually poisoned the Queen's body, which could be one of the causes of her death.
White makeup was applied in a thick layer - it is said that by the end of life the thickness of the coating reached an inch (2.5 cm). The queen updated the makeup only once a week, leaving it on the face for a long time. This gave poisonous substances more opportunities to absorb the skin. In addition to Beliel, Elizabeth complemented her image with a bright red wig, which became another sign feature of her style.
Elizabeth's makeup was not only a means of hiding scars, but also a tool to support your power. In those days, beauty was a symbol of youth, strength and divine right to rule. According to makeup artist Jenny Shirkor: officially Elizabeth and died on March 24, 1603 at the age of 69. Although the exact cause of her death is unknown, there are assumptions that toxic ingredients of makeup could cause blood contamination or general poisoning of the body.
Despite all the sacrifices she brought to the altar of beauty, Elizabeth left inheritance not only as a strong ruler, but also as an icon of style, which deliberately constructed her image to support her power and popularity.
