A cosmetic paste or wash used historically to clean and whiten the skin, particularly the face.
Named after Mrs. Gowland, a 18th-century cosmetic maker who developed the formula; the product became so popular that her name became the common term for this type of cosmetic preparation.
Before modern skincare, people used 'gowland' as a status symbol—having a pale, whitened complexion showed you didn't have to work outdoors in the sun, so cosmetics literally displayed your wealth and class.
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