Current:Home > FinanceHow Marie Antoinette Shows the Royal's Makeup Practices: From Lead Poisoning to a Pigeon Face Wash -MacroWatch
How Marie Antoinette Shows the Royal's Makeup Practices: From Lead Poisoning to a Pigeon Face Wash
View
Date:2025-04-15 04:59:13
A show about the last queen of France is guaranteed to bring the high tea.
Marie Antoinette, a new series airing on PBS on March 19, explores Maria Antonia's betrothal to Louis-Auguste—the soon-to-be crowned king of France—and the glitzy, glamorous and grandiose life they lived before they were guillotined during the French Revolution.
But ahead of Marie taking her final breath, she was viewed as, er, drop dead gorgeous. After all, she earned the title of the queen of style. So, how was the late royal's je ne sais quoi encapsulated on the show? Head makeup artist Mathilde Humeau turned to the history books, using them as a palette to transform actress Emilia Schüle into the enchanting queen.
"The period called for makeup," Mathilde exclusively told E! News. "It was a luxury for the upper class. The more makeup you wore, the more affluent you were. I believe for this reason she would have chosen to use makeup to amplify her beauty. This alone would have been an advantage within the gossipy court of Louis XV."
And the style of makeup you wore mattered. Mathilde pointed out that the beauty standards of 18th-century France valued "the whiteness of the face," as it "was a symbol of distinction."
Cosmetics would've served another purpose as well, according to the makeup artist, who said it helped "mask the conditions."
At the time, cosmetics were formulated with lead—a toxic metal known to cause high blood pressure, kidney damage and other health issues, per the World Health Organization. In particular, the most popular skin whitener used among royals and other aristocrats was called Venetian ceruse or Spirits of Saturn. The lead-based product would've left the wearer with scars, spots and disfigurements, which is why they'd apply more layers of it onto their face to cover up their imperfections. Thus, creating a vicious cycle.
Marie's devotion to beauty went beyond painting her face though.
In her research, Mathilde discovered that the empress concocted her own elixirs, creating the famous face wash Eau Cosmetique de Pigeon—"which, yes, was crafted using the bird itself," the makeup artist shared. "According to the Toilette of Health, Beauty, and Fashion, the recipe included the juice of water lilies, melons, cucumbers and lemons, as well as the crumbs of French rolls, white wine and stewed pigeons."
Marie would then tone her skin with Eau des Charmes, an astringent made of drops exuded by grapevines in May.
"Her signature face mask, which is still popular in France today," Mathidle noted, "was made from two teaspoons of circulation-stimulating cognac, 1/3 cup of dry milk powder, brightening lemon juice and one egg white."
The makeup artist also revealed that the most challenging scene was when Marie "gets her makeup done by the Countess du Barry (played by Gaia Weiss)." Mathilde had to balance creating a look that captured a significant moment, but it couldn't come across that a professional did it.
"It was necessary to design makeup that could be made by the character," she explained. "But follow the description of the script."
Whether or not you're a fan of France's last monarch, it's clear that there's power in beauty.
"Makeup can bring out the confidence within and be empowering," Mathilde said. "Just as you'd wear a sharp suit to an interview or your fave glam getup to a party, the makeup you wear helps you to feel put together and prepared. Everyone is their most confident and beautiful when they're doing what feels right for them."
Sign up for E! Insider! Unlock exclusive content, custom alerts & more!veryGood! (534)
Related
- Selena Gomez engaged to Benny Blanco after 1 year together: 'Forever begins now'
- As 'magic mushrooms' got more attention, drug busts of the psychedelic drug went up
- Fake robocalls. Doctored videos. Why Facebook is being urged to fix its election problem.
- Brawl between migrants and police in New York’s Times Square touches off backlash
- Federal court filings allege official committed perjury in lawsuit tied to Louisiana grain terminal
- Roger Goodell pushes back on claims NFL scripted Super Bowl 58 for Taylor Swift sideshow
- Appeals court weighs whether to let stand Biden’s approval of Willow oil project in Alaska
- Why Michael Douglas is playing Ben Franklin: ‘I wanted to see how I looked in tights’
- DoorDash steps up driver ID checks after traffic safety complaints
- Messi says he “feels much better” and hopeful of playing in Tokyo after PR disaster in Hong Kong
Ranking
- Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
- 'Abbott Elementary' Season 3: Cast, release date, where to watch the 'supersized' premiere
- Prince William likely to step up amid King Charles III's cancer diagnosis, experts say
- Democrats are defending their majority in the Pennsylvania House for 4th time in a year
- Can Bill Belichick turn North Carolina into a winner? At 72, he's chasing one last high
- One state has a shortage of marijuana. Its neighbor had too much. What to do?
- First Russians are fined or jailed over rainbow-colored items after LGBTQ+ ‘movement’ is outlawed
- Patrick Mahomes at Super Bowl Opening Night: I'd play basketball just like Steph Curry
Recommendation
Gen. Mark Milley's security detail and security clearance revoked, Pentagon says
Toby Keith dies at 62 from stomach cancer: Bobby Bones, Stephen Baldwin, more pay tribute
Gypsy Rose Blanchard to Explore Life After Prison Release in New Docuseries
Lionel Messi speaks in Tokyo: Inter Miami star explains injury, failed Hong Kong match
Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie return for an 'Encore,' reminisce about 'The Simple Life'
Why Zendaya, Timothée Chalamet and Austin Butler Say Filming Dune 2 Felt Like First Day of School
The head of FAA pledges to hold Boeing accountable for any violations of safety rules
AMC Theatres offer $5 tickets to fan favorites to celebrate Black History Month