I had never heard it used in the discribed cosmetic way. It was very common during the periods you mentioned. The countryside was full of small farms and every one of them pickled and canned. Durring family reunions many of the people brought pickled items. I can’t buy my favorite type of pickle, which is a sweet chunk type. I found somebody the had a recipie, but it wa usless. It assumed to much knowledge on how the pickles were made. They had to sit in brine for weeks befor pickling, which many recipies had to, and it’s stuff like that which discourages people when they can just buy some.