This was sent to Maggie Ohio list and I had to share it here. Cosmetics were commonly worn and a white skin tone was very desirable in the 1700s by women of fashion. Flour, white lead, orrisroot and cornstarch were common bases to produce the esthetic of a pure white face. The best cosmetics were in a fairly greasy base and stayed in place. Over this base a true red rouge was used to highlight cheekbones. Lip color and rouge were made from crushed cochineal beetles. Cochineal was an expensive imported commodity, country men substituted berry stains. Lampblack was used to highlight eyebrows and eye lashes, which were then groomed by fine combs. Beauty patches were small black patches often shipped like the suites of cards or fleur-de-lys. They were used on the face or on the body, originally to hide the scars or sores of various diseases, but later were simply fashionable. These interesting historical tidbits are from the new History Magazine