History Extra podcast

False rumps & rotten teeth: 400 years of bizarre beauty practices

Aug 27, 2024
Join Margarette Lincoln, an author who explores women's historical beauty quests, and Ellie Cawthorne as they discuss 400 years of bizarre British beauty practices. Delve into the shocking use of toxic substances like lead and arsenic, and discover how societal pressures shaped women's extreme measures, including corsetry and insect-laden wigs. They also uncover the evolution of beauty standards from the Victorian era to today, revealing the relentless pursuit of youth and the significant impact on women's health and self-image.
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