Elizabethan England Practice Test

Which material was used as a thick white face paint in Elizabethan fashion?

Ruff Lead makeup Doublet Farthingale

Correct Answer:

Lead makeup

Explanation:

In Elizabethan fashion, pale skin was highly prized and used as a sign of wealth and status, so people wore heavy makeup to whiten their complexions. The material that achieved the thick, opaque white look most effectively was a lead-based cosmetic, historically known as white lead or ceruse. It was mixed into a paste and applied in generous layers across the face, producing that stark, chalky whiteness that was fashionable at the time. While it created the desired effect, it was also extremely toxic and could cause serious skin damage and health problems. The other items listed are garments, not cosmetics: a ruff is the large, starched collar; a doublet is a fitted jacket; a farthingale is the hoop-skirt designed to widen the hips.

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