Hygiene In The Nineteenth Century

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The Victorian standard of hygiene was much different from our own today, and is a signature example of the contrast between the Nineteenth Century and modern times. Hygiene is a very basic human need, and with different levels of resources and technology throughout history, varies the methods and mannerisms surrounding it. This, as well as the recourses and wealth of the individual affect how much of a priority cleanliness was. Victorian people had hygienic practices very different from that of today, clearly defining how technology influences self-care. Bathing was a quite a complex and cumbersome process during the Nineteenth Century. Due to a lack of indoor plumbing for most of the era, water had to be gathered and heated in buckets, then brought to the tub (History Undressed), yet the …show more content…
Many clergy members spoke out against those with “painted faces”, and were determined to bring modesty to all women in Britain. Queen Victoria was outspoken against makeup during her mourning period. Only prostitutes or actresses applied such gaudy makeup, and it was of no use to gentlewomen. During the 1850’s, however, women began to apply makeup very subtly, using only white cream bases to hide blemishes. An example is “Crème Céleste”, made of white wax, spermaceti, sweet almond oil, and rosewater. Another way women kept up their appearance was tending to their facial hair. Body hair was rarely removed, and hair on the head was kept very long, but ladies sometimes trimmed their eyelashes or plucked their eyebrows and hairline. Waxy balm was applied to the lips with a very subtle colour from beet juice or carmine, made from beetles. A poisonous flower called belladonna was liquefied and applied to the eyes to dilate the pupils, but made vision weaker. To clean the eyes, a drop of orange or lemon juice did the job, but probably hurt very badly. The Victorian Era had a view of cosmetics very different from our own

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