Venetian ceruse

  Venetian ceruse, also known as "spirits of Saturn", was a skin whitening cosmetic used in the 16th century with a base of white lead. It was highly prized and widely used (by Queen Elizabeth I of England, among others),^[1] even though it was known that extensive use would cause lead poisoning, leading to severe sickness or even death.^[2]

References

See also

• Cerussite