1. Using Lead-Based Makeup
For centuries, women painted their faces with powders and creams laced with lead to achieve that pale, porcelain look. What they didn’t realize was that their daily beauty routine was slowly poisoning them. Lead can cause everything from skin lesions to organ failure, and yet, it was sold as the standard of beauty. Imagine rubbing a toxin into your skin every single day just to keep up with trends.
Dermatologists today would absolutely cringe at the idea of lead near anyone’s pores. Makeup may have looked flawless at first, but the side effects were devastating. Instead of glowing skin, people ended up with scarring and premature aging. Thankfully, we now know better, but it’s wild to think something so dangerous was once considered glamorous.
2. Using Mercury for Skin Lightening
Mercury was once a key ingredient in skin-lightening creams and spot treatments. People used it religiously, hoping to erase freckles or blemishes. What they didn’t know is that mercury doesn’t just sit on the skin—it’s absorbed into the body, where it wreaks havoc on the nervous system.
Imagine applying poison directly to your face in the name of beauty. It caused rashes, tremors, and even neurological damage. Today, dermatologists warn against even trace amounts of mercury, but back then, it was marketed as the secret to perfect skin.
3. Sunbathing with Baby Oil
In the mid-20th century, tanning wasn’t about SPF—it was about how fast you could crisp up. People would slather on baby oil and lie out for hours, essentially frying their skin under the sun. The shine from the oil only intensified the UV damage, giving the illusion of a quick golden glow.
Dermatologists now shudder at the thought, knowing it set people up for premature wrinkles and skin cancer. A tan may have looked glamorous in the moment, but it left a legacy of sun spots and dangerous burns. That “healthy glow” came with a serious cost.
4. Radium Beauty Products
In the early 1900s, some beauty products were infused with radium, the same radioactive element that glows in the dark. It was touted as rejuvenating, as if radioactive chemicals could somehow freshen the skin. People dabbed radium creams on their faces, unaware of the long-term danger.
Radiation exposure from these creams caused burns, ulcers, and cancer. Dermatologists would consider it a nightmare scenario, watching people willingly spread radioactive material across their bodies. It’s a chilling reminder of how little was understood about safety at the time.
5. DIY Chemical Peels with Household Products
Before dermatology was refined, people turned to their kitchens for skin treatments. Lemon juice, vinegar, and even bleach were used as makeshift chemical peels to “brighten” the complexion. The idea was that a little sting meant it was working.
Unfortunately, these DIY concoctions often stripped the skin barrier and left chemical burns. Dermatologists today would be horrified to see bleach used as skincare. What people saw as natural remedies often ended in raw, irritated faces and long-lasting scars.
6. Arsenic Pills for Clear Skin
At one point, women actually ingested arsenic tablets, believing they would keep their skin pale and blemish-free. These tiny doses of poison were sold as beauty enhancers. People trusted the promise of a radiant complexion, ignoring the very real danger.
Arsenic is highly toxic and can cause organ failure and death. Dermatologists today would never dream of prescribing poison for beauty’s sake. It’s shocking that something so lethal was casually marketed as the path to clear skin.
7. Egg White Masks as a Daily Staple
Egg whites were once used as a quick tightening mask, painted directly onto the face. They created the illusion of firmer, smoother skin for a short time. While not inherently deadly, the practice was risky due to bacteria like salmonella.
Dermatologists would caution against smearing raw food directly on sensitive skin. While a temporary fix might have seemed effective, it carried hidden risks. Today’s safe, lab-tested products are a much better option than cracking an egg on your face.
8. Smoking for a Slim Face
Believe it or not, cigarette ads once suggested smoking to keep your face slim and youthful. The logic was that nicotine suppressed appetite, which would help you stay thin, and therefore keep your face “refined.” Women bought into this dangerous beauty myth for decades.
Dermatologists today would shake their heads at the thought, knowing smoking accelerates wrinkles, dulls the skin, and causes cancer. What was once seen as chic and slimming is now a textbook case of a beauty ritual gone horribly wrong.
9. Extreme Corsetry for “Glow”
Corsets weren’t just about shaping the waist—they were also marketed as a way to improve skin. The belief was that cinching tightly improved posture and circulation, which in turn would make the face glow. In reality, corsets often restricted breathing and damaged internal organs.
Dermatologists would balk at the idea of crushing your body for clearer skin. The stress on the body often showed up in fatigue and sallow complexions, not radiant ones. It’s one of those beauty rituals that sounds glamorous on paper but painful in practice.
10. Cold Creams with Mineral Oil
Cold creams were once the go-to for cleansing and moisturizing, but many formulas were loaded with mineral oil and heavy waxes. Women used them religiously, believing greasy skin was the same as hydrated skin. These products often clogged pores, leading to breakouts.
Dermatologists today would explain that suffocating the skin with wax isn’t the same as nourishing it. The heavy creams left many people dealing with acne flare-ups. While some vintage cold creams still exist, most have been reformulated for modern safety standards.
11. Using Urine as a Skin Remedy
Yes, this was a thing. Some old beauty guides suggested applying urine to the skin to fight acne or soften the complexion. The idea was that urea, a compound found in urine, could help with skin renewal.
While dermatologists do recognize urea as useful in skincare today, it’s extracted and refined in labs—not scooped up from the bathroom. The raw version carried bacteria and odor that no dermatologist would ever endorse. It’s safe to say this ritual is one best left in the past.
12. Sleeping in Makeup
In decades past, removing makeup at night wasn’t seen as essential. Many women slept in full foundation and powder, believing it would “set” the makeup for the next day. Instead, it trapped dirt and oil in the skin.
Dermatologists cringe at this outdated habit because it accelerates breakouts, clogs pores, and speeds up aging. What felt like a time-saving beauty hack was really just a recipe for dull, unhealthy skin. Today, cleansing before bed is one of the most basic skincare rules.
13. Using Animal Fats as Moisturizer
Long before modern lotions, people often used lard or tallow as moisturizers. These animal fats were rubbed directly into the skin to combat dryness. While they did provide a protective layer, they weren’t always clean or safe.
Dermatologists would worry about clogged pores and bacterial contamination. The smell alone was enough to make this practice unpleasant. It’s a far cry from the lightweight, dermatologist-approved moisturizers we reach for today.