Crack a Smile

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.'