What were cosmetics like during the Victorian period?

I know that for the most part, Victorian women wore little or no makeup. However, I've heard that Queen Alexandra of Britain was able to maintain her youthful appearance by using heavy makeup. What was Victorian makeup like and what did it consist of?What were cosmetics like during the Victorian period?
All right, let's see...








Women still used lye to dye their hair like they've been doing since Roman times, and it was widely done until the late 19th century. They did begin, however, in Victorian times to use zinc oxide to powder their faces rather than lead oxide because it was slightly less poisonous, though it was actually still (unbeknownst to them) just as dangerous.





They used lead and antimony sulfide as eyeshadow, a form of mercury, I think mercuric sulfide, to make their lips red, and would orally take supplements of belladonna or even nightshade to make their eyes appear sparkly. All of those things are harmful to ones health, even in moderation, but they for some reason failed to make the connection. Either that, or they just didn't care.





It was also popular to put egg whites on your faces and allow it to dry, creating what I would think to be a porcelain-like appearance.





The early Victorian period was pretty much the last period in history that make-up was heavily worn in Europe until later in the 20th century, because in conservative Victorian England, make-up was seen as devilry and unnatural, and therefore a sin.What were cosmetics like during the Victorian period?
Very white and lead based, this is why most people didn't have eyebrows and wore wigs.


:)





If you were planning on doing your face like this, cover your entire face white, preferably using theater makeup. Make sure you cover your lips as well.





Use a very red makeup for the rough and lips. Draw in the lips very tiny using a lip pencil. Your lips should only be half as wide as your regular lips, like this.


^^


\/


Fill in with bright red.





For the cheek bones, make them very high and a bit round with bright rose colored.





For the eyebrows, cover them in a thin layer of wax (from a costume store). Wait 5-10 minutes. Cover in powder. Then apply the same white makeup. IF you draw in eyebrows, make them very thin and high.





Use a makup sponge and blot when applying





Good luck.


:)
Ugly and toxic.
Poisonous, including white lead and cyanide-based. Whale oil for the basis of things like perfume.
Sure cheaper than today.