We have the evidence of use of makeup is early civilizations like Rome, Egypt and Greece. The tradition of early civilizations has continued to this day of advanced technology inputs and diversification of product range
Grave of the first Egyptian dynasties (about 3000 BC) revealed the material makeup jars ointments and perfume containers. Ointment was widely those days as a moisturizer to keep skin healthy and soft. Kohl has been a subject of makeup popular among Egyptian women. They used to make Kohl of antimony. The culture of Egypt makeup spread to other parts of the world. Jews probably learned the art of make-up of the Egyptians, as can be inferred from the face of the New Testament where we find references to painting.
Plautus, a Roman playwright, spoke of his preference for “painted women”. In the first century AD Kohl, chalk and red had been widely used in makeup. Women in the Greco-Roman culture favored white chalk and lead to add fair shade to their complexion. Pumic was popular as the teeth cleaner and rouge was used to give the rosy cheeks. The use of henna probably originated in Persia. Henna as a dye was popular among women.
Pale skin gained popularity as a status symbol in Europe during the middle ages, even as pink was popularly identified as a color worn by Spanish prostitutes. Synthetic pink lipstick, difficult to afford by ordinary women, was usually worn by affluent women to flaunt wealth.
Signora Toffna prepared face powder known as Aqua Toffna. Due to the presence of arsenic, this powder was quite dangerous to use, and consequently resulted in a large number of deaths. Signora Toffna was executed later. Elizabethan England refrained from the use of cosmetics because of their hazardous consequences, even as egg-white was popularly used to glaze to face.
At one time, especially during the Regency era, rouge was the most popular item used by almost every woman. Rouge and lipstick were also popular makeup items during the 18th century France that indicated free, healthy and warm spirit.
Even as excessive make began to be despised, color consciousness was widespread, as a result women used whiteners and stain removers to impart an impression of pale skin; and carried parasols to avoid sun-tan.
While synthetic makeup was quite popular during 1800s, women in the country side made luxurious use of flowers, herbs, spring water, henna, crushed berries and vegetables as well as fat, honey and wine as recipes to prepare cosmetics. During those days, the dangers inherent in chemicals like white lead and mercury was not quite known, even as these chemicals were widely used in beauty products. Even when the inherent dangers in cosmetic items were known, women continued to use belladonna, for instance, to impart beauty to their eyes.
The made rage for makeup was universal throughout the history, except Victorian England, where makeup was looked down upon as fit only for prostitutes, while natural ingredients eggs, fruits and flowers were used in makeup.
Today makeup industry is a multibillion industry with a truly diverse range of uncountable products. The industry has the advantages of modern science, state of art medicine and surgery to backup the claims of safety, over and above film-stars & models to promote these products.
