Poisonous Plants Were Used as Makeup
During the Renaissance, beauty ideals were as dangerous as they were aspirational. Women consumed deadly nightshade (Belladonna), a highly poisonous plant, to dilate their pupils and give themselves an alluring, wide-eyed look. The plant also caused their cheeks to flush – but at a steep cost.
Deadly nightshade caused hallucinations, heart failure, and more – yet it remained a trend. A chilling testament to the lengths people will go to for beauty – and the risks they’ll take to achieve it.
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