Where Did Makeup Originate? A Glance at the History of Makeup

The origin of make-up dates back to 3100 BC, during the 1st Egyptian Dynasty. Unguent, a substance used to prevent the skin from drying up due to heat and to avoid wrinkles, was extensively used by people of both genders during that era. The women of Egypt were known to apply kohl to their eyes to give them a smoky look. Antimony or soot was usually used to make kohl.

The use of cosmetics and make up was found among Romans also. They grew popular approximately around the middle of 1st century AD. Kohl was now used by Romans too. The cheeks were decorated with rouge. You would be amazed to know that people used to take good care of their teeth along with their skin. For cleaning teeth, Romans used pumice.

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Henna dyes were used by Persian women for darkening their hair. Pale skin became very popular during the European time. A lot of women used harmful substances to achieve a pale look, which in turn spoiled their skin to a large extent. During the Renaissance period of Italy, women started using lead paint in order to lighten their skin, which in fact proved damaging.

Where Did Makeup Originate? A Glance at the History of Makeup

Due to the damaging effect, makeup was criticised during the time of Elizabeth I. Cosmetics came to be seen as a threat and people started avoiding them. Except for prostitutes who donned themselves with heavy makeup, people usually shied away from it.

The French loved to adorn their lips with red lipsticks, and wore rouge on their cheeks. Though earlier it was repulsed by other countries, eventually it trickled down to other parts of the world also.

A lot of people started using herbal products to make cosmetics and makeup. Herbs, flower extracts, vegetable extracts, strawberries, brandy, spring water etc were widely used. Unfortunately pale complexion was still considered royal and so the efforts of most women were directed towards achieving skin lightness. The use of whiteners and blemish removers proved fatal at times. One of the most lethal products was white lead, which not only caused harm to the skin cells but also led to hair loss and stomach problems.

The irony is that, in spite of knowing the harm they are causing to their body, women continued using dangerous cosmetics like white lead for the face, belladonna for the eyes, and even mercury and nitric acid. Shockingly enough, coal tar was used to dye hair.

Even today a lot of people use harmful cosmetics, though thankfully the focus is shifting towards safer products.

Where Did Makeup Originate? A Glance at the History of Makeup

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History of Makeup

People may be surprised to know that makeup, despite all of it's complexities, isn't something that was invented in recent times. In fact there is a long history of makeup that has led it to the point where it is today. Pharaohs and great queens of Egypt wore makeup thousands of years ago and while it wasn't composed of the same materials, they still used it in similar ways as people do today.

Museums will even show how makeup has been around for an incredibly long time. The ancient drawings and statues of Egyptians show just about every person with line around their eyes. That's right; they had eyeliner even back then. The history of makeup is found in the Bible too with famous women from Biblical history applying makeup and performing beauty treatments as part of their daily routine. Actors have been using makeup for a long time as well, especially in the days where women were not a part of the theater and men played both genders.

Makeup

Of course in the past people didn't know about hazardous materials and had a tendency of using anything that would produce a color for makeup. These often led to poisonous makeup and people would become sick and even die from wearing it. As time continued people found better things to make their beauty supplies out of and stopped using things like mercury and lead.

History of Makeup

When the 1800's came around, the history of makeup reached a new era, as it had become something that was associated with negative attributes in society as opposed to its symbol for higher status in the past. In England, many prostitutes were the ones that wore makeup and royalty frowned upon it. Some, like Queen Victoria, even banned its use. Other historical figures also looked down upon makeup, including Adolf Hitler who felt that makeup was beneath women of the Aryan race.

That didn't stop makeup from becoming popular for all women to use. A big turnaround for the history of makeup was the time period where women began to take pride in their sexuality and used makeup as a way to help express themselves. That was the start of makeup's widespread use in the world today.

Makeup still had its negative side effects and continues to even today. Controversy of animal testing rages on as people deem it inappropriate to test products on animals. However, makeup companies use animals because their products had led to serious problems such as blindness and skin deformations. These potential side effects of makeup used with improper materials caused the government to create regulations that makeup-producing companies need to follow. Some of these regulations also help to control the use of animals for product testing although it hasn't been banned yet.

Women and men alike both use makeup now on a regular basis. There are simple creams and powders that are used for hiding blemishes. There are extravagant colors that are used to make a person stand out and feel good about themselves. One thing is for sure; makeup has come a long way.

History of Makeup

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Makeup - Have You Ever Wondered About Its History?

Cosmetics as a whole have been around for thousands of years. In the past some really strange items were used to enhance beauty, even a few have been down right lethal. What do you know about the history of makeup?

Origins of makeup

Makeup

The use of natural materials, such as minerals and vegetable dyes pre-dates civilization as we know it. Such items where used in rituals and as adornments.

Makeup - Have You Ever Wondered About Its History?

It was in Ancient Egypt that manufacturing cosmetics and scents on a large scale was first perfected. They say the greatest Egyptian Queen Cleopatra is credited to compiling what has to be the earliest books of beauty hints.

Many of their preparations were used for religious and symbolic reasons. The Egyptians love for their paints can be seen today in the exquisite work of the jars found in the tombs, many with their contents still intact. Beauty was important to both men and women. A high-born lady of the time most important feature were her eyes. With the use of Kohl to emphasize the eyebrows and it was used to give their eyes their distinctive winged look. Not unlike the cat's eye look of today which is now created with the use of liquid eyeliner.

Moving on in our makeup history lesson.

Next we have the aristocratic women of ancient Greece who apart from enhancing the color of their lips with vegetable dyes, used very few cosmetics. The real users of cosmetics such as white face powder and Kohl was restricted to the courtesans, as a sign of their profession.

Roman women on the other hand couldn't use enough makeup. Some were known to be so enthusiastic about hair dyes and bleaches that partial or even total baldness often happened. The wearing of exotic wigs and using smelly conditioners to save the hair was often used to try to hide the facts of going bald.

After the fall of the Roman Empire makeup fell out of favor until around the 11th century when the Knights returned from the Crusades. The Knights reintroduced makeup, fashion and other toilet preparations that the women they left behind in the Palestine were using.

You know there had to be resistance but it didn't come from the women of that time period, no it came from the all mightily Church itself. Then around the 15th century and the time of the Renaissance that our natural love for all things of beauty were allowed a free reign.

Renaissance Makeup or lack of.

In the Renaissance time, makeup was an almost ghostly white complexion that was ideal for both men and women. It was thought of as a way to distinguish the upper class from the peasants and laborers in the fields. One of the biggest examples from the time period was Queen Elizabeth I of England. It was her use of cosmetics that popularize facial cosmetics among the women. The queen had a naturally fair complexion that was reinforced the fashion of whiter than white skin. With the use of egg whites, ground alabaster and clay, masks and that now infamous white lead, all these were used to aid in the illusion of super white skin.

In the 17th century makeup really had a major influence from the fact that theater became popular. That parts once played by young boys could now be played by young ladies. Young ladies playing the part of young ladies, who would of thought?

Moving on down in makeup's history time.

It was the 18th century that beauty and pain started walking hand in hand. All types of beauty aids of exceptional discomfort and as well as absurdity came about. Rouge was still popular as ever for men and women. This was the time that lipstick in pencil form was introduced and hair? Well hair took off in all types of strangeness. Hair styles were so complex and it took days sometimes even weeks to create. It was set and left as long as they could before redoing it. There was also time of bugs in hair, even mice were reported.

It was towards the end of the century public opinion turn against excesses of the earlier decades.

The Regency period of England saw a return to the more natural look were herbal preparations, many home-made came into favor. Face powder and rouge was still popular but the women of this time had to be more discreet about using it. Powdered wigs and complex hair styles also fell out of favor. The desirability for cleanliness as a health and beauty need was now widely recognized. Respectable Victorian ladies were even more demure with their uses of cosmetics. Barest a trace of rouge of the lips and cheeks was considered OK but they usually had to apply it in secret. Maybe this was the time it because fashionable for ladies to visit restrooms in groups like we do today.

Home-made skincare preparations and beauty hints with recipes were found in the women's magazines and journals of the day. Rich society women would visit Salons under disguises in fear of being found out that they were enhancing their looks.

Thank goodness for the popular actresses of the day because towards the end of the century, they helped pave the way towards a more liberal attitude using of cosmetics as beauty aids.

This takes us up to modern times before World War One.

Now you may have a better understanding of were our love for beauty, cosmetics, hair care, skincare comes from. Thanks to earliest man for trying to please their gods, to the ancient Egyptians, Romans, and good old Queen Elizabeth the First. All who have taught us what not to use and what to use for beauty. Kohl was made popular by ancient Egyptians and is still as big today. Some of your home-made recipes may of come from the turn of the century. Beauty and the use of cosmetics will always be a sign of our times.

Beauty will always be a part of what is going on in the world as a whole and what we see on the movie screen. Hope you enjoy your little lesson is the history of makeup.

Makeup - Have You Ever Wondered About Its History?

Copyright 2008 Kim Snyder, owner Overall Beauty Great lover of all natural beauty care and products. Offering quality beauty products at prices you can afford!

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