In the 18th century, artificial beauty marks were used as a secret code for flirting and social status.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, beauty marks known as 'mouches' (French for flies) became a staple of European fashion. While they initially served a practical purpose by concealing scars from smallpox or syphilis, they quickly evolved into a sophisticated tool for non-verbal communication. These patches were typically made from expensive materials like silk, velvet, or thin leather and were often stored in ornate patch boxes. The placement of a mouche was dictated by a complex social etiquette that allowed the wearer to convey their relationship status or mood without speaking. For example, a patch placed near the mouth suggested a flirtatious nature, while one on the forehead indicated a sense of majesty or pride. This practice was particularly popular in the French court of Louis XV and among the British aristocracy, where social maneuvering was a constant necessity. Historians note that the shapes of these patches were not limited to simple dots. They were often cut into intricate designs such as stars, crescents, or even tiny horse-drawn carriages. By the mid-1700s, the trend reached its peak, with both men and women using them to navigate the rigid social hierarchies of the time. The decline of the mouche began in the late 18th century as the French Revolution brought a shift toward more natural aesthetics and the rejection of aristocratic excesses.