Lisa Eldridge’s New BBC Two Documentary Lifts The Lid On The History Of Make-up

Find out what eye-popping eyebrow product Lisa cites as the Georgian version of a Sharpie brow

Updated on21st April 2021 at 5.37pm

Lisa Eldridge never stops. Not satisfied with dominating with a beauty arena with a client list that reads like a red carpet who's who (we're talking the likes of Victoria Beckham, Kate Winslet and Dua Lipa in case you were wondering), Lisa is the proud founder of her already iconic and eponymous beauty line, has a YouTube channel that's followed by over 2 million viewers and she's a New York Times bestselling author to boot. Her must-read book, Face Paint: The Story Of Make-Up, chronicled the history of make-up and paved the way for her brand new BBC Two documentary 'Make-up: A Glamorous History'. Lisa presents the show and delves into the beauty habits of bygone eras, from the go-to blusher buys of Georgian times to the emphasis on modesty in the Victorian era and the decadent trends of the roaring 20s and highlights a few of history's very first beauty influencers along the way. Here she talks to Grazia's beauty editor Annie Vischer about her passion for the history of make-up and spotlights some of her standout memories from the series.

On Collecting Vintage Make-Up

Lisa's obsession with the history of make-up began long before she'd even thought about writing a book on the subject. Today she's one of the leading collectors of vintage make-up in the world. 'I started collecting vintage make-up items nearly 30 years ago,' says Lisa, 'I was on Portabello Road in London's Notting Hill looking around the stalls and somebody was selling a box of Biba make-up. The Biba beauty line was discontinued in the early 1980s so it wasn't terribly old but I remember thinking that it was a really important find. I bought the lot for five pounds and that was it. One thing led to another, I collected one piece of vintage make-up after another and before I knew it I was obsessed. I'd register at different auction houses, I'd go to big estate sales in Palm Springs. Over the years I've slowly built up quite a phenomenal collection.'

On Beauty Influencers Throughout History

As BBC Two's 'Make-up: A Glamorous History' documentary proves, beauty influencers are by no means a new phenomenon. Episode 1 (now available to watch on BBC iPlayer) sees Lisa visit Chatsworth House to get to grips with one of Britain's most prominent beauty influencers to date, namely Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire, whose hair and beauty looks were copied by ladies of Britain throughout her lifetime. 'Then there's Queen Victoria,' adds Lisa, 'Victoria was so forceful in her opinions on make-up and of presenting yourself as a wholesome person.' Lisa tackles the Victorian era in Episode 2. 'Then in the 1920s, in Episode 3, beauty trends become all about cinema and the flappers. Josephine Baker wielded a huge influence. She was written about so much, particularly in Europe. She is the most iconic beauty of that era.'

Watch: Lisa Eldridge Introduces Her New BBC Two Documentary 'Make-up: A Glamorous History'

On The Biggest Light-Bulb Moment Of The Series

'Episode 1 looks in detail at the dangers of lead face paint,' says Lisa, 'personally, as a make-up artist, I'd always wanted to know why 18th century women were still using lead make-up even though they knew it could kill you.' In Episode 1 Lisa visits Keele University where the go-to lead face paint of the 18th century was reformulated under the appropriate health and safety conditions. There Lisa compared the paint to the safe version of face paint that was around at the time and available to Georgian women. Next to each other the lead paint is undoubtedly brighter. 'This paint was so dangerous, women died because of make-up. I understood why the Ancient Greeks used it, they didn't know it could kill you, but eighteenth century women knew only too well. I was thrilled to finally be able to look at both formulations and compare the two. Women of the time were intent on looking ghostly and translucent by candlelight.'

On The Georgian Equivalent Of The Sharpie Brow

Yes, you might look back at the overly bold brow looks that dominated past beauty trends in recent years and think we cornered the market in OTT eyebrow crazes, but according the Lisa, the Georgian's got there long before we did. 'There's speculation that stick-on eye-brows made from mouse hair were made available to Georgian women. I'm dubious but it's a product we emulated for the documentary to see what it could have looked like.'

On The History Of Beauty Through A Period Drama Lens

Before this documentary the most many of us knew about the history of beauty came courtesy of period dramas. Are there any that Lisa thinks really got it right? 'I loved Bridgerton. The hair and make-up looks aren't accurate, they're intentionally styled-up, but that show is a really nice way of getting a modern day take on what life as part of the Bon Ton would have been like during the Regency era. It really communicates the stresses and strains of it all,' explains Lisa, 'Then I'm always on the lookout for teams that pull together a really authentic look. I love The Duchess,' the 2006 film centred on Georgian beauty influencer the Duchess of Devonshire, played by Keira Knightley, 'I know the person who was in charge of the hair and make-up on that production and it's spot on. That level of research is quite phenomenal.'