Toilet Mask or Face Glove was a genuine Victorian solution for obtaining a perfect complexion.
Victorian beauty aid
Courtesy of Olddesignshop.com
One of the fun things about writing historical fiction is the research, copious amounts of research and fact checking. The Blue Pendant is fiction from my overzealous imagination but historical facts, dates and places must be accurate, that part is easy. Understanding the daily living regime of an era is a little more difficult. But, I have to say, it is a lot of fun researching and uncovering all kinds of trivia, and then determining what is appropriate and what is not for the characters and story. I doubt that my protagonist Anna Neale would have used such a device as the toilet mask but it is an interesting discovery even if it was before Anna’s time. Can you imagine sleeping in this toilet mask/face glove three times a week. I wonder what kind of reaction you met get from your spouse. I don’t know if Anna tried anything like this but young women try lots of things. Could it be any worse than sleeping in rollers, which I did most nights during my youth.
Victorian fashion prescribed that ladies should have pure white skin; not only did they cover themselves with big hats and parasols but they used creams to make their skin white, some with poisonous ingredients like mercury and arsenic.Perhaps the toilet mask or face glove was a safer solution. And, of course today we expose our skin to harmful sun rays for what the 21st century considers a healthy glow. Vanity knows no boundaries of time or place.
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Beauty masks, historical fiction, Victorian era
When I first saw “toilet mask” in your post, I did a double-take!
Ah, vanity… There is much to be said about maintaing an ivory-pure or peaches and cream complexion. Who wants to have a leathery face by the time she’s 50?
You may enjoy this TVO source of Victorian and Royalty history tidbits with Lucy Worsley http://tvo.org/search/apachesolr_search/worsley She makes learning history an entertaining experience.
Thanks,
T
When I saw the name Toilet mask I did the same as you and much prefer the term Face Glove. Thanks for the tip, I will look that up.
When I first saw “toilet mask” in your post, I did a double-take!
Ah, vanity… There is much to be said about maintaing an ivory-pure or peaches and cream complexion. Who wants to have a leathery face by the time she’s 50?
You may enjoy this TVO source of Victorian and Royalty history tidbits with Lucy Worsley http://tvo.org/search/apachesolr_search/worsley She makes learning history an entertaining experience.
Thanks,
T
When I saw the name Toilet mask I did the same as you and much prefer the term Face Glove. Thanks for the tip, I will look that up.
We still use unusual devices to acquire and maintain youth & beauty. How many of us remember “Frownies” and the nighttime “Chin Stap”. 🙂
I chuckled remembering the chin strap. Vanity sure makes us do strange things.
We still use unusual devices to acquire and maintain youth & beauty. How many of us remember “Frownies” and the nighttime “Chin Stap”. 🙂
I chuckled remembering the chin strap. Vanity sure makes us do strange things.
Always an entertaining education…love reading your work! Keep it up!
Always an entertaining education…love reading your work! Keep it up!
Reblogged this on Not My Straitjacket and commented:
This lady knows her history and her storytelling skills are reader worthy.
Thank you, Kelly
Reblogged this on Not My Straitjacket and commented:
This lady knows her history and her storytelling skills are reader worthy.
Thank you, Kelly