4. The Powder Puff Box
Before compact mirrors and sponge applicators, women kept their face powder in ornate powder puff boxes. These containers held soft puffs made of cotton or feathers. The boxes often featured metal lids, mirrors, and elegant designs. Many sat on bedroom vanities as part of daily beauty routines. Using a powder puff was slower than modern methods, but it added a touch of glamour. Some boxes even became keepsakes passed down through generations. Today, they represent an era when beauty products were as decorative as they were practical.