Five Bizarre beauty trends that were real

 If you think that weird beauty fads like faux dark circles and squiggly brows are the most bizarre yet, you need to think again. Unrealistic beauty standards have in the past led to individuals doing some extremely strange (and painful) things, such as consuming tapeworms to reduce weight and plucking eyelashes and eyebrows to make the forehead appear larger. Perhaps our tanning beds and false lashes will be viewed as weird in a hundred years. Here are five beauty trends that seem really insane:

• Sperm facial

A semen facial video tutorial posted online by a British beauty blogger received a variety of responses. Some people were eager to attempt this, despite the fact that the majority were positively grossed out. This facial has been said to reduce the effects of rosacea, slow down the ageing process, and give the skin a healthy glow. One of the beauty standards asserts that the antioxidant spermine, which is abundant in semen, reduces wrinkles, smooths the skin, and heals blemishes. The semen facial is an at-home procedure that takes 30 minutes. The face is covered in fresh semen before wiping out.

• Black teeth

“Ohaguro,” or the practise of blackening one’s teeth, was a particularly well-liked custom in Japan from 794 to 1185. It was regarded as a symbol of grace and wisdom. Kanemizu, a concoction of iron filings, vinegar, tea, and rice wine, was used to darken teeth. Even while it didn’t permanently discolour the teeth, it is claimed to have had a foul stench.

• Bloodletting

The Virgin Queen, also known as Queen Elizabeth I, used to paint her face completely white to resemble a ghost. Women in the Renaissance period used to cover their faces with thick white cosmetics to mimic their highnesses’ pale appearance. However, they would engage in bloodletting, where they would either bleed themselves or let leeches suck their blood to attain this “royal look” naturally.

• Eating tapeworms to lose weight

The Victorian tapeworm diet involved taking pills containing tapeworm eggs. Once the eggs hatched, the tapeworms would grow inside the host and consume some of whatever the host ate. Theoretically, this would allow the dieter to lose weight while also allowing them to eat freely.

• The Tuberculosis Look

The Victorian era was known for its bizarre and dangerous beauty standards. Victorian ladies began deliberately developing tuberculosis because they adored the pale skin, crimson lips, and thin waists that the disease brought. They also utilised cosmetics to redden their lips and make their skin appear lighter to mimic the “tuberculosis appearance,” romanticising the illness.