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.
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