Cosmetics

Lockyer's Sulphur Hair Restorer

(Image: Brunette Combing her Hair. James Carroll Beckwith, 1851) We continue the hair theme today with the pungent-sounding Lockyer’s Sulphur Hair Restorer. This preparation was scrutinised in 1912 by the  British Medical Association in More Secret Remedies: What they cost and what they contain. Analysis showed that it comprised: Precipitated Sulphur…..1.3 parts Lead acetate……………..1.6 parts Lead […]

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Edwards' Instantaneous American Harlene

 (Image: Tempus Edax Rerum, by John Leech. Punch, 1852. Courtesy of the John Leech Sketch Archive.)  The advert below has a wonderfully tabloid feel to it, reflecting the sensationalist publication that carried it. The Illustrated Police News featured shocking accounts of true crime stories, and its advertising tended to be towards the seedier end of the spectrum. While the […]

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