Cosmetics are witchcraft I tell ya! Or so says 18th Century English law makers

The English Parliament passed an act in 1770 decreeing that any woman who sought to betray one of His Majesty’s subjects into marriage by “scents, paints, cosmetic washes, artificial teeth, false hair, Spanish wool (rouge), iron stays, high-heeled shoes, bolstered hips and like misdemeanors shall incur the penalty of the law in force against witchcraft and that marriage shall stand null and void.”

I’ve heard that there is no real proof that this law was on the books, but it makes for a good story doesn’t it? The reality is that it was a popular argument against makeup that it was a lie and was tricking men into thinking a woman was prettier than she was, but there isn’t any proof that laws were passed. But I wouldn’t be surprised if someone tried to get a law passed.