Woman reveals how people cared for their skin in the 1800s before modern cosmetics

Have you ever wondered what a skincare routine in the early 1800s looked like, long before modern cosmetics, serums and influencers took the space? A YouTube video shared by Early American has taken the internet by storm, where a woman gives people a glimpse into how people in the 19th century took care of their skin. Run by a couple from Missouri, Justine Teresa Rayfield and Ron Rayfield, this educational YouTube channel has over one million subscribers. Through their videos, the couple shows how people lived, cooked and dressed in the 19th century. Ron is a photographer, while his partner, Justine, is a high school history teacher, reports The Independent.

In the viral video that has garnered over one million views, we can see how Justine prepares skincare products from scratch. Justine is seen making an oatmeal skin softener using a toner recipe from 1832. She starts by boiling water over the hearth and then pouring it on oats. Then, she uses a muslin cloth to filter the oats out of the water when it becomes milky. She then prepares a complexion pomade using a different 1832 formula. In an earthen pot, she combines beeswax, almond oil and jojoba oil. She stirs constantly, gradually adding a small amount of water. She uses the combination as a body cream or lotion until it ultimately takes on a creamy texture.

Then, rather than showering with soap and body wash as we do now, the creator prepares an almond paste. She creates a dough-like structure by combining water and freshly ground almonds, then sets it aside. She uses a recipe from 1813 for a face wash, making a paste out of powdered cucumber and melon seeds, milk and cream. When she's done with all of this, her husband fills a tiny bathtub next to the fire with hot water. After that, she uses a muslin bag to hold the almond paste body wash while sitting in the tub. She hydrates her skin further by putting on lotion and oatmeal water.

At the end of the video, she shared the pages of the books from where she took the reference for the skincare rituals. She wrote in the caption, "Almonds, oatmeal and cream sound like a good breakfast, but this time, we're putting it on our skin! I picked out some recipes (or receipts as they used to be called) from the two books 'The Toilette of Health, Beauty, and Fashion' (1832) and 'The Mirror of the Graces' (1813). Let's see what they look like as they are recreated 200 years later." People in the comments loved her simplistic approach.

"Oatmeal for the skin is still used today. When my son was little, the only thing that gave him relief from his eczema was Aveeno oatmeal baths and lotions. Beautiful video as always!" said @jenniferdemassimo3012. "This was a cool video. I love to learn about how people lived in the past, especially their everyday lives. Thank you for educating me!" shared @chrismcelligott5462. "Watching this episode made me realize how really lovely your skin is! I am very interested in the oatmeal water and believe I will be trying that," added @dallisnicole7101.

You can follow Justine Teresa and Ron Rayfield on Instagram or YouTube for more 19th-century lifestyle content.