Empress Elisabeth of Austria, known as Sisi, continues to enchant as a beauty icon through classic films and modern adaptations. Her stunning appearance was the result of strict discipline, including a unique beauty regimen free from commercial cosmetics, a carefully controlled diet, and rigorous exercise. Despite her efforts, Sisi remained self-critical, shunning public appearances after age 35. Today, her legacy lives on, with contemporary skincare trends inspired by her beauty rituals, including a popular strawberry puree mask.
Empress Sisi: The Timeless Beauty Icon
As the festive season approaches, the enchanting story of Empress Elisabeth of Austria, affectionately known as Sisi, captures our imagination once again. Classic films featuring Romy Schneider are making a comeback on television, while streaming platforms like RTL+ and Netflix offer fresh takes on her life. The allure of Sisi, who lived from 1837 to 1898, continues to thrive, thanks to her stunning looks, captivating hair, and impossibly slim waistline.
The Secrets Behind Sisi’s Stunning Appearance
What many perceive as natural beauty was, in fact, the product of rigorous discipline and a commitment to maintaining her appearance. Sisi was dedicated to preserving her striking looks through a holistic approach, which included natural cosmetics, a carefully curated diet, and consistent exercise.
With her delicately sculpted features and fair complexion, Sisi opted to avoid makeup entirely, dismissing the low-quality cosmetic products of her time. Instead, she relied on homemade beauty treatments, often seeking advice from pharmacists or gathering recipes during her travels. One of her beloved concoctions was a facial mask made from pureed strawberries, while she also famously used fresh veal cutlets to combat wrinkles overnight.
For her hair, Sisi employed a skilled hairstylist from the Vienna Burgtheater, who crafted her iconic braided crown hairstyles. Hair styling was a daily ritual that consumed several hours, and her hair was washed bi-weekly with a special treatment made from cognac and egg yolk. To maintain her locks, she used a blend of nettles, lemon water, and apple cider vinegar to address split ends.
Maintaining her slender silhouette was another priority for Sisi. Standing at 1.72 meters tall, she weighed between 48 and 50 kilos throughout her life, with a corseted waist that never exceeded 50 centimeters. Her meals were minimal, featuring unsweetened tea and low-sugar pastries for breakfast, light meat broth or steamed beef for lunch, and a small portion of soup and meat for dinner, accompanied by two glasses of red wine. If her weight fluctuated even slightly, she would immediately resort to a restrictive diet, consuming only six oranges or three cups of broth throughout the day—a clear indicator of her unhealthy eating habits.
Physical fitness was also an essential part of her regimen. An avid equestrian, Sisi had gym facilities constructed in her residences, which included climbing walls and weights. During her travels, she replaced traditional workouts with long, brisk walks that often exhausted her ladies-in-waiting, but Sisi pressed on tirelessly.
Despite her rigorous beauty routines, Sisi remained critical of her appearance. After turning 35, she refused to be photographed and seldom appeared in public without a veil or fan. One can only imagine how she might have felt knowing that more than a century after her passing, her legacy lives on through films and series celebrating her life.
Sisi’s hair care routine, which utilized egg yolk for its protein benefits and cognac for added shine, exemplifies her commitment to beauty. According to beauty expert Merle Rebentisch-Bernin, “Thanks to modern products, no one needs to spend three hours a day on their hair anymore, although some still enjoy a dedicated hair wash day.”
Her approach to fitness and nutrition mirrored that of a competitive athlete. While avoiding sugars and consuming collagen-rich broth was beneficial, Sisi’s extreme dieting led to health deficiencies.
Additionally, her innovative beauty treatment—a strawberry puree mask—remains relevant today. The natural salicylic and fruit acids in strawberries provide a radiant glow, making it timeless in the world of skincare. This trend continues to thrive under the hashtag #strawberryskincare.
Now, viewers can catch the captivating fourth season of ‘Sisi’ on RTL+, where actress Dominique Devenport brings the self-critical Empress to life once more.