Anne Boleyn 1507-1536

The Tudors research

In the Tudor period poppy seeds were mixed with eggs, alum (along with mineral and borax) to make
the skin white paint for the skin. Lead ore, mercury, egg whites, pestle, motar, cinnabar and vermilion
were also used to make makeup in the for various products.

Talc and fig juice were used by grinding them with a mortar and postal. Bright red cinnabar was used as
blusher. Elizabeth I used these items and the ladies at the court copied her.

Cosmetics were not popular during the early part of the Tudor period however, perfumes and lotions
were. Skin softening products were created using sesame seed oil, beeswax and honey. These
ingredients are still used in products similar today. (DK finds)

Tudor makeup was also a way ladies could show off their wealth, if you had a pale face it would show
you did not need to work in the fields doing hard labour to live. As shown in portraits of wealthy people
of this time such as Henry VIII's wives. In this portrait of Anne Boleyn it shows her face to be very pale
with very little colour besides a small amount of blush. As Anne was wealthy she would not need to work
so she would add white to exaggerate this fact.

(Photo from the BBC)
Portraits are a very good way of finding out what the makeup was really like in the Tudor period.

As photographs hadn't been invented they are a good way to grasp what the makeup was intended to
look like at this time. (BBC)

During the crusades, cosmetic products were brought back to Europe for the wealthy to use. This was when Henry VIII reigned. (The fundamentals of makeup). He also used cosmetic's to make his face pale. This may be another reason why it was popular because royalty at the time were doing it. Face products such as mascara, eyeshadow and eyebrow products can also be seen in the portraits. Face foundation was not popular at the time it was all about the eyes. (The fundamentals of makeup).

Ceruse was the main ingredient in the white face paint. This was a mixture of white lead and vinegar.
This made it very toxic to the body and many people of this time period died young from lead poisoning.
( The fundamentals of makeup).

The fashion at the time for eyebrows was to have them in a natural-looking arch. They would pluck
them to fit in with this trend and they would also use makeup to define the arch shape more.

Anne Boleyn

Anne Boleyn is one of the most divisive figures in British history. Her love-match with Henry VIII and her subsequent execution at the Tower of London after only three years of marriage have inspired dozens of books and films. King Henry VIII broke from the Church to marry Anne. She gave birth to a daughter, but could not conceive a son. On May 19, 1536, Anne Boleyn was executed by beheading on the false charges of incest, witchcraft, adultery and conspiracy against the king. Her daughter soon went on to become one of the greatest queens in England.

Character profile

THE BASICS

Name Anne Boleyn

Age   29 years  (1507–1536)

Place of birth   Blickling Estate, Blickling

Class    High
Quotes?   “I shall be dark and French and fashionable and difficult. And you shall be sweet and open and English and fair.

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PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

• Hairstyle    Traditional middle parting and back behind headdress
• Build   Small and petite 

Makeup plan

1. Firstly, clean the face so there is a fresh clean face to paint on.
2. I will then apply 3rd degree to the neck to create a cut effect. 
3. While waiting for that to dry I shall paint the rest of the chest black so it will blend in with the black background and make the head look like it is floating. 
4. Once the 3rd degree has tried I will apply RCMA powder onto of this to set it.
5. I will then add colour to the cut using Merhon grease paints. then apply thick blood on the cut and down the next to create a dripping effect.
6. Then I will apply nearly white foundation to the skin to make it look lifeless.
7. Next, I will use contour in a gray/purple tone to contour the face to make it look thin and dead looking.
8. I will then use orange grease paint to colour and shape the eyebrows to make them look more like her hair colour. making sure to use portrairts as refference to the shape and colour. 

Review