Personal hygiene left much room for improvement.. As a result, many

women and men had developed acne scars by adulthood. The women would

spread bee's wax over their facial skin to smooth out their

complexions.  When they were speaking to each other, if a woman

began to stare at another woman's face she was told, 'mind your own

bee's wax.'  Should the woman smile, the wax would crack, hence the

term 'crack a smile'.  In addition, when they sat too close to the

fire, the wax would melt . .. . Therefore, the expression 'losing

face.'