If Looks could Kill

From July-August issue of Mental_Floss Magazine

BEAUTY IS SKIN DEEP, but poisonous substances go all the way to the blood stream. From face whitener made from white lead to mercury-based lipstick,  pre-20th century cosmetics were not always safe.  But Renaissance-era Aqua Toffana face power takes the (face) cake for lethal beauty treatments.  Created by 17th century entrepreneur Signora Giulia Toffana, the powder was designed especially for women from wealthy Italian families.  Buyers were instructed to never ingest the make-up, but to apply it to their cheeks whenever a hubby was lurking.  Unfortunately for the spouses, Toffana's powder contained arsenic.  Some 600 dead husbands later, Toffana was arrested and executed.