Vintage Hygiene Practices That Are the Very Opposite of Clean

 
Chalk Was Eaten and Used as Face Powder to Appear Pale

Back in the Victorian days, women would consume actual chalk. Not because it was tasty but because it was known to turn your lips white, which apparently was a beauty trend then. The women would even smear the chalk powder on their faces; the paler they appeared, the better. However, these Victorian women didn't know that their beauty products were highly addictive and even poisonous. Beauty really was a pain for them.

Thankfully this trend eventually died out, when side effects were brought to people's attention. But it wouldn't be long before the next gross or poisonous thing came along.