Working Over Time

"That Unhealthy Glow" - The Business of Killer Cosmetics in the 1920's

Episode Summary

Welcome to the emergent beauty industry of the early 20th century: a veritable Wild West that played fast and loose with the latest scientific darling, a new element called radium, which (spoiler alert) exposed users to concerning levels of radiation. Historian Lucy Jane Santos is with us today, to dish on how radium became the secret sauce in a dizzying range of beauty and personal care products, and remained so even after the health hazards were well-understood. So - Without further ado, let’s learn all about the killer cosmetics of the early 20th century beauty industry. Music by Max Richter

Episode Notes

Welcome to the emergent beauty industry of the early 20th century: a veritable Wild West that played fast and loose with the latest scientific darling,  a new element called radium,  which (spoiler alert) exposed users to concerning levels of radiation. Historian Lucy Jane Santos is with us today, to dish on how radium became the secret sauce in a dizzying range of beauty and personal care products, and remained so even after the health hazards were well-understood. So - Without further ado, let’s learn all about the killer cosmetics of the early 20th century beauty industry. 

Music by Max Richter