The lead-based white face powder used in Elizabethan times was called ceruse.
Ceruse was a white cosmetic made primarily from lead compounds, often mixed with vinegar or water into a paste. A particularly prestigious version was known as Venetian ceruse, associated with high-quality white lead imported through Venice. Its opaque finish created the pale, even complexion valued in Elizabethan beauty culture.
The cosmetic was used to disguise freckles, scars and other blemishes, but prolonged exposure could damage the skin and cause serious lead poisoning. Skin could become irritated, mottled or prematurely aged, encouraging users to apply still more product. Lead toxicity could also affect the nervous system, kidneys and other organs.
A common mix-up is assuming arsenic was the name of the powder. Arsenic appeared in some historical beauty preparations, but it was not the standard name for this lead-based face cosmetic. Another nuance is that historians debate how frequently Elizabeth I personally used Venetian ceruse, even though later popular accounts strongly associate her with it.