Que Bellissima!

The Renaissance was a boon time for beauty. There was a widespread belief throughout Europe that beautiful people were also the healthiest. Obviously, good health was a valuable attribute for a woman seeking a husband, because it implied that she would be successful at bearing healthy children.

But striving for the appearance of health through beauty was just as popular as trying to attain actual health because, after all, who could really tell the difference? And that’s where the use of artifice and illusion, along with lotions and potions, came in handy to help attain the idealized beauty standard (la bella donna) of the time: golden hair, peaches-and-cream skin, long wavy tresses.

In 15th century France, for example, upper-class women concocted a paste to improve their skin, a kind of face mask made of asparagus root, wild anise, and the bulbs of white lilies steeped in the milk of asses and red goats, aged in warm horse manure and filtered through felt. Also in France, not surprisingly, they washed their faces in old wine.

Catherine de’ Medici applied a mixture of crushed peach blossoms and almond oil, while rosemary boiled in white wine was also a popular skin tonic among Italian women of the time. Women in 17th century England tackled aging head-on by wearing a base of egg white or lead and vinegar—an early version of foundation, perhaps—to tighten the skin, though there was no way that could be comfortable. But makeup is where things really got creative. A trendy look in the late 1500s was known as “transparent skin,” which is not at all similar to the “glass skin” look of today. A bluish tinge to the skin was seen as a sign of an innocent heart and considered beautiful. To attain it, women would use a pencil to accentuate their veins—no kidding! When Queen Elizabeth died in 1603, she was said to have had an inch and a half of makeup on her face. In her day, washing and bathing was frowned upon and both men and women (including the Queen) used makeup to conceal smallpox scars.

Fortunately, makeup textures and palettes have come a long way. Here are a few that take inspiration from the beauties of the Renaissance.

A-England Archangels Collection

Not much is known about the use of nail polish in the Renaissance, but the A-England Archangels collection—as with the company’s past collections inspired by Burne-Jones, Edgar Allen Poe, and Virginia Woolf—certainly captures the feeling of the period. Ethereal shades with names like Gabriel (an iridescent whitish silver), Ariel (a meltingly soft lavender gray), and Raphael (a radiant green gold) evoke an otherworldly beauty. a-england.co.uk/collections

Anastasia Beverly Hills Mini Modern Renaissance Eyeshadow Palette

Everything in one little palette, the Mini Modern Renaissance Eyeshadow Palette offers a lovely selection of matte shades and one shimmer shade, enough to suit your mood, change up your look, and channel your inner Renaissance woman. The Deluxe Mini Brow Wiz will enhance the brows, and a rich and luscious Lip Velvet pencil enhances but never dries the lips. anastasiabeverlyhills.com

Flower Knows Midsummer Fairy Tales Embossed Five-Color Makeup Palette

It looks like a precious jewel box inspired by a Renaissance artist with a penchant for fairies. With four matte and one pearlescent shade, the silky, waterproof eyeshadow applies smoothly and evenly for festive nights or elegant days. And the delicate compact is nothing short of divine. flowerknows.co

Honeybee Gardens Nude Renaissance Eye Shadow Palette

We love indie beauty brand Honeybee Gardens, and this palette is one of our favorites. Eight neutral shades warm up any skin tone. It’s vegan, talc-free, gluten-free, cruelty-free, and parabenfree. The compact is refillable, and the shadow is formulated to be especially gentle on sensitive eyes. Plus, the colors are gorgeous and you will want to wear them all (though not all at the same time, of course!). honeybeegardens.com