People Were Unaware Of Lead Poisoning
Many females at the time would leave a combination like this on their faces for several days before washing it off completely. Even Elizabeth herself was smothered in an inch-thick layer of cosmetics when she passed through the room. While we today have a greater grasp of the repercussions of lead poisoning, the majority of people in the 16th century did not have this insight.
It Ruins Your True Beauty In The End
Even worse than that, as if dying for elegance wasn’t bad enough, becoming a victim of Venetian ceruse made you appear less attractive in the long term. The chemical not only coated the skin in toxic lead, but it also lined and darkened the complexion of those who wore it as well. Lastly, Elizabeth is likely to have taken the same technique as many other females of her time in order to get rid of the combo. That required the use of a mercury-containing combination, which was extremely concerning.