Sentence:  Formerly, if not exactly to the same extent at the present day, mineral substances were only made use of to <WSD>adonise</WSD> the complexion ; indeed, every composition is qualified with this name, whether it be white or red, which women, and even men (coxcombs), with a clear skin, subserve to embellish their faces, with a view to imitate the colours of youth, or artificially to repair the absence of them. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  To embellish or adorn, especially in order to improve the appearance of.