Poisonous Plants Were Used as Makeup
During the Renaissance, beauty standards were as dangerous as they were demanding. Women would ingest belladonna (a deadly plant) to dilate their pupils for a wide-eyed, mysterious look. It was also used to bring a flush to the cheeks… but at a terrible cost.
Belladonna caused everything from hallucinations to heart failure, and yet it remained fashionable. A chilling reminder of just how far people are willing to risk their lives to look good.
