Suffering in the name of beauty

Throughout history, billions of women have tried many things for beauty. However, most of these methods were not as safe as today’s techniques. Because science was not developed enough to recognize the dangers, and society had lower awareness, people mostly died without knowing what was killing them or died because of their recklessness. Here are 8 dangerous beauty tips that people used in the past:

The Color Green: Scheele's green, or Schloss green, was first invented in 1775 by Carl Wilhelm Scheele. It was a beautiful tone of green. Many people chose this color for their dresses, wallpapers and even their paints to use in artwork. However, despite its pleasant tone, it contained a very dangerous chemical: Arsenic. When women wore these green dresses in daily life, and especially at the balls that were popular during that time, arsenic entered the bloodstream through dermal absorption via sweat. Consequently, the arsenic killed them slowly but very painfully. Fainting, hair loss, organ failure, and hallucinations were common symptoms. Rumor has it that Napoleon Bonaparte also lived in a room where this green paint was used, and his illness was triggered by it. At the beginning of the 20th century, people became aware of its danger and started using it as an insecticide.

Crinoline: The crinoline, also known as the hoop skirt, was used in the mid-19th century. It was a stiffened or structured undergarment designed to lift and puff out a woman's skirt to create the appearance of wide hips and a slim waist. However, because of its design, it was susceptible to strong winds. Some women fell into the sea and drowned because of these skirts, and some even fell from buildings. At that time, candles and gas lamps were the only ways to light a room. Due to the flammable material of these skirts, women were sometimes burned alive by a single spark.

Corsets: A corset is a device wrapped and tightened around the waist to slim it. Today, it is used to support the waist, alleviate back pain, or for aesthetic reasons. In the Victorian era, however, it was tightened for aesthetics with extreme knots. It was often so tight that it cut off blood and oxygen circulation, causing sudden fainting spells, displacing and damaging organs, and sometimes even breaking ribs or puncturing lungs. All of this was done to meet the beauty standards of that era.

Porcelain Skin: In the past, there were many ways to make skin look like porcelain. This did not just mean light skin; the skin had to look literally like porcelain—pale, almost white, and smooth. This trend became very popular with Elizabeth I, who used a powder named “white lead.” However, none of the products were safe; women used chemicals like arsenic, mercury, and lead. These chemicals made women's faces pale and white but also poisoned them.

Belladonna Eyes: Atropa belladonna, also known as deadly nightshade, was historically used as a cosmetic despite its toxicity. Women applied drops made from this plant into their eyes to dilate their pupils, which was considered a sign of beauty and attractiveness. However, this practice was highly dangerous, often causing blurred vision, sensitivity to light, and even long-term eye damage or blindness.

Foot Binding: In China, "lotus feet" or thin feet were considered elegant and beautiful. Initially, people wrapped their feet tightly. However, this trend became extreme, and mothers started wrapping their daughters' feet from an early age so tightly that the bones broke and fused incorrectly. Because it was orthopedically wrong, they endured lifelong pain. This trend was finally banned in the early 20th century.

Radium Cosmetics: After the discovery of radium by Marie Curie, people were not aware of the dangers of this element. Because of its ability to glow, they thought it would make other things glow too, so people started adding radium to cosmetics such as shampoos, skin creams, soaps, lipsticks, and lotions. However, this element is highly radioactive. Many women died because of radiation poisoning.

Plastic Surgery: Early plastic surgery was far less advanced. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, procedures were often performed with limited technology and knowledge, leading to a high risk of infection, severe scarring, and complications. Despite these dangers, many people still chose to undergo these operations. However, even today’s plastic surgery remains risky and can sometimes decrease people's self-confidence.