Uploaded July 2021 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
I cannot claim that my cosmetics equate to historical makeup, rather I try to pull from elements in history, therefore I describe my practices as historically-inspired makeup. Most of the week, I prefer to either go bare-faced, with just skincare products, but 2-3 days a week (at the moment) I will perform some variation of this cosmetics routine, to match with my daily historical clothing. Being that my primary areas of knowledge and dress are Georgian and Victorian, my own process is inspired by 18th century makeup and 19th century makeup.
Much as history is rife with historical fashion myths and misconceptions, there are two primary historical makeup myths that I explain in-depth here. The first is that women of the 18th century wore such heavy makeup that it made them look like clowns, and the second is that women of the 19th century (Victorians specifically) did not wear makeup because it was "immodest". Neither of these statements is true, and as you get to sit back and enjoy my historically-inspired makeup routine, I explain some of the realities of historical makeup (based on the research I was able to conduct).
Thank you so much for watching!
🕯 Support my art on Patreon: patreon.com/vbirchwood
✨ Leave a donation: ko-fi.com/vbirchwood
🌙 Books I read, supplies I use, gear I film with (affiliate links): amazon.com/shop/v.birchwood
🪡 Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/vasibirchwood
📖 Business inquiries: sofie@helmtalentgroup.com
Products I Use in This Video (Not Sponsored):
Fleur & Bee - Eyes Eyes Baby Eye Cream
Chiky Botanica - Serene Serum
Willing Beauty - Daydream Illuminating Day Moisturizer
Juice Beauty - Phyto-Pigments Illuminating Primer
All Good - Sport Sunscreen SPF 30
Vapour Organic Beauty - Atmosphere Soft Focus Foundation (in s120)
Mádara Organic Makeup - The Concealer
BASEBLUE - Air Sponge Full Coverage
Bellá Pierre Cosmetics - Kabuki Brush
Get Cheeky with It - Blush Brush
Kinder Beauty - Eyeshadow Blending Brush
Clove + Hallow - Hydratint (in shade Nakey)
Honest Beauty - Invisible Blurring Powder
Velvet Underground - Multi-Use Creme Color
auNaturale - Powder Highlighter (in shade Aura)
Inka Organic - Lip Serum
Lily Lolo - Eyebrow Duo (in Medium)
PHB - Natural & Organic Lip Crayon
Chella - Eyebrow Defining Gel Clear
Benecos - Natural Mascara Vegan Volume (in shade Magic Black)
Further Reading:
-Buc'hoz, Pierre-Joseph. The Toilet of Flora, Or A Collection of the Most Simple and Approved Methods of Preparing Baths, Essences ...: For the Use of the Ladies. United Kingdom, W. Nicoll, 1772. books.google.co.uk/books?id=0jsEnwEACAAJ&pg=PP3#v=onepage&q&f=false
-The Book of Health & Beauty, Or the Toilette of Rank and Fashion. Second Edition, Corrected. United Kingdom, Joseph Thomas, 1837. books.google.co.uk/books?id=CRxdAAAAcAAJ&pg=PR3#v=onepage&q&f=false
-The American Duchess Guide to 18th Century Beauty. Abby Cox and Lauren Stowell.
-Beauty and Cosmetics 1550-1950. Sarah Jane Downing.
Due to word count limitations, all of the sources of the images used can be found here:
vbirchwood.com/sources/my-historically-inspired-makeup-routine
Time Stamps:
0:00 Introduction
1:36 Focusing on Skincare
3:56 Foundation (& Some History)
6:06 Concealer & Rouge Layer One
7:24 Starch-Based Face Powder (& More History)
9:00 Rouge Layer Two (For Cheeks, Lips, & Eyes)
9:44 Clear Gloss, Highlighter, & Defined Brows
11:03 Finishing Touches: Lip Liner, Mascara, and Completing My Hair
12:43 The Completed Look
13:02 Final Thoughts & End Screen
#historicalmakeup #makeuphistory #historybounding
I cannot claim that my cosmetics equate to historical makeup, rather I try to pull from elements in history, therefore I describe my practices as historically-inspired makeup. Most of the week, I prefer to either go bare-faced, with just skincare products, but 2-3 days a week (at the moment) I will perform some variation of this cosmetics routine, to match with my daily historical clothing. Being that my primary areas of knowledge and dress are Georgian and Victorian, my own process is inspired by 18th century makeup and 19th century makeup.
Much as history is rife with historical fashion myths and misconceptions, there are two primary historical makeup myths that I explain in-depth here. The first is that women of the 18th century wore such heavy makeup that it made them look like clowns, and the second is that women of the 19th century (Victorians specifically) did not wear makeup because it was "immodest". Neither of these statements is true, and as you get to sit back and enjoy my historically-inspired makeup routine, I explain some of the realities of historical makeup (based on the research I was able to conduct).
Thank you so much for watching!
🕯 Support my art on Patreon: patreon.com/vbirchwood
✨ Leave a donation: ko-fi.com/vbirchwood
🌙 Books I read, supplies I use, gear I film with (affiliate links): amazon.com/shop/v.birchwood
🪡 Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/vasibirchwood
📖 Business inquiries: sofie@helmtalentgroup.com
Products I Use in This Video (Not Sponsored):
Fleur & Bee - Eyes Eyes Baby Eye Cream
Chiky Botanica - Serene Serum
Willing Beauty - Daydream Illuminating Day Moisturizer
Juice Beauty - Phyto-Pigments Illuminating Primer
All Good - Sport Sunscreen SPF 30
Vapour Organic Beauty - Atmosphere Soft Focus Foundation (in s120)
Mádara Organic Makeup - The Concealer
BASEBLUE - Air Sponge Full Coverage
Bellá Pierre Cosmetics - Kabuki Brush
Get Cheeky with It - Blush Brush
Kinder Beauty - Eyeshadow Blending Brush
Clove + Hallow - Hydratint (in shade Nakey)
Honest Beauty - Invisible Blurring Powder
Velvet Underground - Multi-Use Creme Color
auNaturale - Powder Highlighter (in shade Aura)
Inka Organic - Lip Serum
Lily Lolo - Eyebrow Duo (in Medium)
PHB - Natural & Organic Lip Crayon
Chella - Eyebrow Defining Gel Clear
Benecos - Natural Mascara Vegan Volume (in shade Magic Black)
Further Reading:
-Buc'hoz, Pierre-Joseph. The Toilet of Flora, Or A Collection of the Most Simple and Approved Methods of Preparing Baths, Essences ...: For the Use of the Ladies. United Kingdom, W. Nicoll, 1772. books.google.co.uk/books?id=0jsEnwEACAAJ&pg=PP3#v=onepage&q&f=false
-The Book of Health & Beauty, Or the Toilette of Rank and Fashion. Second Edition, Corrected. United Kingdom, Joseph Thomas, 1837. books.google.co.uk/books?id=CRxdAAAAcAAJ&pg=PR3#v=onepage&q&f=false
-The American Duchess Guide to 18th Century Beauty. Abby Cox and Lauren Stowell.
-Beauty and Cosmetics 1550-1950. Sarah Jane Downing.
Due to word count limitations, all of the sources of the images used can be found here:
vbirchwood.com/sources/my-historically-inspired-makeup-routine
Time Stamps:
0:00 Introduction
1:36 Focusing on Skincare
3:56 Foundation (& Some History)
6:06 Concealer & Rouge Layer One
7:24 Starch-Based Face Powder (& More History)
9:00 Rouge Layer Two (For Cheeks, Lips, & Eyes)
9:44 Clear Gloss, Highlighter, & Defined Brows
11:03 Finishing Touches: Lip Liner, Mascara, and Completing My Hair
12:43 The Completed Look
13:02 Final Thoughts & End Screen
#historicalmakeup #makeuphistory #historybounding
