Whether you are a pro or just starting out, a good set of skin care products can make all the difference in how your complexion looks. That’s why Ancient Cosmetics has been on the forefront of this trend for years.
In ancient Egypt, women used a bright green paste of copper minerals (galena mesdemet) for eyeliner and eye shadow. They also painted their eyes with kohl, which was made of different colored copper ores, burnt almonds, ash and lead.
Origins
Cosmetics and perfumes have always been a major part of human life, as they allow us to improve our appearance. They also have a very long history of use, and many ancient cultures have written and pictorial records that describe the various substances used in cosmetics and perfumes.
The earliest known use of cosmetics comes from Egypt, where red ochre and other materials were used for beauty purposes in the early stone age. However, the origins of cosmetics are not only found in Egypt, and other parts of the world have also developed their own practices for the improvement of one’s appearance.
Besides the obvious purpose of improving one’s appearance, ancient people often hoped that cosmetics would also have healing properties. They believed that these products would help to ward off disease and cure other common problems that can affect the complexion such as baldness and grey hairs.
In the ancient Egyptian culture, for example, women wore lipstick and colored their nails with various pigments. Among them was the popular kohl, which was derived from a mixture of lead sulfide and ash.
It is not clear when kohl became widely used in Egypt, but it was a very effective way of making the eyes look more attractive. As a result, it was frequently used by both men and women.
However, it is important to remember that kohl was made from lead and, therefore, its frequent use can cause significant eye health issues. Moreover, it is said that lead poisoning can lead to other serious health issues such as blindness and tooth decay.
Another common use of cosmetics in the ancient world was to paint the face white, a practice that is also seen in China and ancient Greece. It was also a way of dividing social classes. The upper classes were painted with rice powder while lower classes were painted with a mixture of egg white and rice.
Cosmetics were also commonly used in religious rituals. For instance, the ancient Egyptians adorned statues of gods with make-up and perfume as a way of showing their devotion to them. Similarly, the Greeks were also known to keep their best perfumes and cosmetics in the tombs of their dead to accompany them on their journey into the next world.
Materials
From the earliest times, ancient cultures around the world had a desire to enhance their beauty and make themselves appear more beautiful. This was especially true for women, who wore makeup daily and were very conscious of their appearance.
Cosmetics were not only used for beautification but also for healing skin and hair problems like blemishes and wrinkles. Some ancient cultures incorporated natural ingredients to their cosmetics, such as olive oil and honey.
Many cultures used henna, a plant dye that has been around for thousands of years. Henna was considered a natural form of body art and has been used for decoration, temporary tattoos, and in celebrations.
The ancient Greeks also embraced natural and organic cosmetics. They primarily used plants and herbs as their main ingredients. They would crush them and create a paste that they used to paint their face and body with.
They also used crushed leaves and flowers to adorn their faces. In fact, this type of adornment was so important that they would use it to decorate their tombs after death.
One of the most famous ancient Egyptian makeup products is kohl, which was made of a mixture of burnt almonds, different colored copper ores, lead and ash. It was applied to the upper and lower eyelids for a very elegant effect.
A red ochre mix was also commonly used to rouge the cheeks. This could be done by simply applying a few drops of the paste onto the cheeks, or it could be rubbed into the cheeks before a ceremony or party.
Another popular makeup was whitener, which was used to make the skin pale and soft. It was mixed with olive oil and it also helped to lighten the eyebrows and eyes.
The Romans also favored cosmetics and perfumes. They used them as a way of enhancing their own personal appearance and as a form of social status.
They were also very concerned about the health of their bodies. They believed that by keeping their skin healthy, they would be able to live longer and healthier lives.
Functions
Cosmetics were a vital part of ancient culture, and they played a key role in helping people to meet their cultural standards of beauty. They were also used to cure baldness, grey hair and wrinkles, as well as to protect one’s skin.
The Egyptians were especially keen on using natural ingredients to achieve a healthier, more radiant complexion. They used henna to dye hair, crushed plants to make a paste for facial masks, and created perfumes.
They had many other beauty rituals as well, including exfoliating their skin with Dead Sea salts and luxuriating in a milk bath. They also invented a natural method of waxing with a mixture of honey and sugar.
Aside from the obvious purpose of cosmetics, their use was also a form of self-expression in ancient Egypt. As an Artsy article notes, stylized tools for applying cosmetics showed class and status in the culture.
For instance, while a woman sat in her toilette before a polished bronze “mirror,” her servant would apply a thick line of black kohl around her eyes. They could also mix powdered malachite with animal fat or vegetable oils to create a rich green eyeshadow.
As an ancient Egyptian scholar noted, these products were designed to improve the appearance of the user and preserve their health and skin tone. As such, they were essential for the ancient Egyptians, who lived in harsh environments where disease was a constant threat.
In recent years, researchers have discovered that lead salts used in ancient cosmetics were effective in fighting infection and reducing the risk of bacterial eye infections. They also show that keratinocytes, the cells that produce and maintain the skin’s protective barrier, release nitric oxide when exposed to galena. This nitric oxide acts as an immunomodulator, summoning macrophages to the site of the infection and engulfing pathogens.
Conclusions
Across the ancient world, cosmetics were viewed as an essential part of being beautiful. They were used for beautification, as well as to help combat illnesses and aging. They included everything from creams that were made from oils, butters and fats to lotions infused with natron and ash, as well as lead-based eye paint that was used to relieve eye complaints.
The history of cosmetics in Egypt is a fascinating one, and it has been the subject of many studies over the years. The Egyptians lived in a harsh environment, and they needed to have ways of improving their looks as well as their health.
To meet this need, they developed a specialized cosmetic industry that was widespread throughout the country. It was a highly profitable business and reflected the culture’s values of beauty (Schafer 1956; Blanco-Davila 2000).
A key to the emergence of the cosmetic industry was the introduction of a variety of chemicals and ingredients that could be mixed together with water in small containers made from faience, alabaster, stone, and metal. These materials were manipulated with a variety of tools, including reed tubes and spatulas.
There were also a number of containers that were specially designed to facilitate the mixing process. They were often carved with stylized animals that were thought to bestow strength on the user.
In ancient China, the earliest cosmetics may have been manufactured in the pre-Qin period (221 bce) (Schafer 1956). However, it has only recently been possible to determine the origins of this industry by directly analyzing the residues left behind after these products were produced.
We present the first radiocarbon dating of a Chinese cosmetic residue from the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 bce). This residue was discovered during excavations at the Liujiawa site in northern China, and it is the oldest known sample of its kind. It was likely produced by Taoist School Cave Cultus activities aimed at the Rui state during this period.