Hygiene practices from another era, far from being clean

They used to eat chalk and smear it on their faces to look pale

Victorian women were so keen on having a pale complexion that they’d actually eat chalk. It would whiten their lips and give their faces a ghostly look, which was considered super attractive back then. They’d also use chalk powder to amp up the effect.

What they didn’t realize was that this trend could be toxic and addictive. The pursuit of beauty came at a high cost, with side effects that were anything but glamorous. Thankfully, the chalk craze eventually faded away.