The Industrial Revolution brought new chemicals and mass production, expanding cosmetic availability but also introducing novel hazards.

• Arsenic Pills and Waters: In the 18th and 19th centuries, arsenic was sometimes ingested in "beauty pills" to improve complexion and complexion. This practice caused widespread poisoning and deaths.
   

• Vermilion and Mercury in Paints: Vermilion (mercury sulfide) was a common red pigment for lipsticks and blushes. Mercury toxicity continued to affect users.
   

• Lead-Based Products: Despite known dangers, lead was present in powders, paints, and hair dyes.
   

• Kohl: Popular in the Middle East and South Asia, kohl often contained lead sulfide. Applied around the eyes, it could cause lead poisoning, especially in children.
   

During the Victorian era, beauty ideals emphasized a delicate, pale appearance, leading to continued use of harmful products. Advertisements for cosmetics rarely warned about toxicity; consumer protection laws were minimal.

Early 20th Century: Awakening and Regulation

By the early 1900s, medical science and toxicology advanced, revealing many of the hazards associated with popular cosmetics. Public health movements and consumer advocacy began pushing for regulation:

• The Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 in the United States was a landmark law requiring ingredient disclosure and banning harmful substances in cosmetics.

• The 1910s and 1920s saw the rise of safer formulations and the decline of lead and mercury-based cosmetics.

• Nevertheless, dangerous products lingered in the market, and many consumers remained unaware of the risks. shutdown123