The History of Makeup… Part 2

Not much else changed with regards to makeup for a long time but in in c. 2500 BC the first tweezers were invented by the Sumerians. They used the tweezers to get rid of unwanted hair and used the flat end to push back cuticles – much like we use them for today 🙂 Other than this the only only makeup activity was in c. 1800 BC when Babylonian men used gold dust to powder their hair.

Once again, proving to be pioneers of makeup history the Egyptians made modifications to their existing concoctions in c. 1500 BC and were using body oils scented with frankincence and myrrh as a way of moisturising their skin to protect from the dry, dusty climate. These body oils and perfumes were valued more highly than cash and in many cases they were used as a form of payment for the Mesopotamian soldiers. By c. 1200 BC the Egyptians were wearing a full fall of cosmetics. They used a copper ore with greenish tones called malachite to create eyeshadows and used a powder made from lead ore as eyeliner.

In c. 600 BC makeup, along with lavish clothing became a symbol of status worn by all Babylonians of rank. At this time a warrior named Parsondes was thought to have gone King Nebuchadnezzar to complain about the governor  having more focus on beauty than on the government. When word got back to Nanarus (the governor) he gave the order that Parsondes shave all his hair and start wearing makeup and perfumed oils.

It was after this that makeup seemed to spread and by 400 BC women from various cultures were wearing it. They would add colour to their skin by using a powder made from crushed minerals (the minerals used included ocher, hematite and white lead).

Roman women then made some advancements with colours and in 100 BC they began using saffron or wood ash as eyeshadow and antimony to darken their eyelids, eye lashes and brows. To create a rouge (blusher) and lip colour they would mix a purple pigment called fucus with saliva. Sheep’s fat was used to buff nails and teeth were whitened using pumice.

INTERESTING FACT: In first century BC veins were seen as a sign of beauty – for this reason, blue paint was used to outline them to make them more obvious (and here we are in this moment in history having cosmetic surgery to remove visible veins, lol)

The History of Makeup… Part 1

Makeup dates back a lot further than most people tend to think, in fact evidence suggests that the earliest form of makeup was used c. 500,000 BC when cave dwellers in Africa and South America would cover their bodies in decorative patterns using mud. Not only did this act as a form of makeup but the mud also served as an insect repellent. Although this is the earliest and most basic form of makeup, it is in fact still makeup and over the years it has been developed and added to, to create the products we know and use today. Over the next few instalments I will be outlining the history of makeup and the various turning points which have lead to makeup products as we know them.

In c. 3000 BC the Egyptians were using over 30 different types of cosmetic balms and ointments, Moisturisers were considered essential and were routinely distributed to farmers and worker and these balms and ointments were made of ingredients such as beeswax, vegetable oil and animal fat. The elaborate makeup you see in a lot of the images is sourced from fascinating and sometimes deadly origins. For example, the paint on their faces was done using a mixture of lead carbonate and water (the earliest written accounts of lead toxicity has been found in the Egyptian papyrus scrolls). Interestingly the colour red was banned to Egyptians as it was considered magical so nails and lip colours were available in several orange based shades through the use of henna. Eyeshadows were created using plant stems and to outline the eyes they would use crushed ants eggs or powdered kohl.

The Egyptians cared greatly about their skin and protecting it so by c. 2000 BC they had  managed to find formulas that could be used to remove wrinkles, pimples, blemishes and age spots (one mixture is said to have included bullocks bile… mmm, yummy, lol). I do not recommend this but if an Egyptian wanted to get rid of wrinkles they were told to apply a mixture to their face which was made up of incense, olive oil, crushed cyperus and wax. This mixture would then be left for 6 days (now that is commitment).

INTERESTING FACT:  While the pyramids where in the process of being built it is said that Overseers stopped all work until makeup supplies such as kohl, green malachite and gelena were delivered as those ingredients helped protect the eyes of the workers from the sun.

Hello world!

Hi, I was planning to put together a couple of video tutorials, however my camera is well and truly busted so I will get the videos sorted as soon as I can.

In the meantime I have been putting together a few basic tutorials. The first one should be online within the next couple of days/weeks.

As a makeup artist I get lots of questions and queries about makeup brushes – which one’s do what and how they are supposed to be used properly so in the first on many tutorials I will be showing you what brushes were designed to be used for what purpose, any variations and how they are used to apply your makeup to give you a great finish.

Please keep an eye out for it and let me know if you have any feedback or would like to request a tutorial 🙂

 

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