The history of cosmetics has more than one thousand years, and all because the desire of women to look beautiful is as old as the world. And if earlier natural coloring, flavored products were used as cosmetics, then modern makeup products differ not only in their huge variety, but also in their composition.
The history of cosmetics is as interesting as its evolution. Therefore, it is worthwhile to "plunge" into this topic in more detail.
The History of Cosmetics: Ancient Egypt
Long before our era, people already used cosmetics with might and main as a means of decorating and improving their own appearance. This is evidenced by numerous finds of archaeologists: ointments and incense, aromatic oils and dyes, means for removing excess vegetation.
Cosmetics were used by both ordinary residents and government officials. Cleopatra was not only a queen, but also a true trendsetter. She wrote a book describing cosmetics, created makeup products, released her ownperfume line.
Used as cosmetics:
- lion's fat in ointments for skin and hair;
- black snake fat that covered gray hair;
- bull blood;
- bird eggs;
- fish oil;
- worn animal hooves;
- eyeliner paint.
The Egyptians had tattoos in high esteem. They were especially valued on the female body. Of course, the first tattoos were ink drawings that did not erase for a long time.
Cosmetics was used by both men and women. Moreover, both those and others applied a considerable amount of such funds to their body and face. Therefore, we can say with confidence that all the beauty of Egyptian beauties, including Cleopatra and Nefertiti, is completely artificial. Although many modern makeup artists can envy the professionalism of applying make-up on the face.
It is also worth mentioning that the cosmetics of Ancient Egypt also had a medical focus. Many products applied to the skin and hair protected the Egyptians from many dermatological and eye diseases, and also prevented the appearance of lice and other parasites.
The history of decorative cosmetics in Egypt is multifaceted. Aesthetics and medicine are far from everything. Drawing patterns on the body, eyeliner was also of a religious nature. The priests painted themselves in order to become closer to the gods, to strengthen their connection with them. Pharaohs used to line their eyes to ward off evil spirits.
Cosmetics of Ancient Greece
Ancient Greece becamethe progenitor of a considerable number of cosmetics that are actively used in the modern world, however, with some changes. Start with skin and hair care products.
Olive oil is not only a he althy food product. This remedy was applied neat to the skin. Maybe because of this, Greek women were famous for their clean, silky skin. But in ancient times, oil was applied abundantly so that the body literally shone in the sun. Creams and nourishing ointments were made from olive oil.
The price included honey and olive ointments. Decorative cosmetics were also made on the basis of an extract from olive fruits. By mixing oil with charcoal, a long-lasting eyeshadow was obtained.
Oil with beeswax and a fraction of dry iron oxide - and now the protective lip gloss is ready. As a coloring lipstick, women used lard with a dye.
By the way, ancient Greece was the birthplace of clay-based anti-aging masks.
Beauty in Ancient Rome
In ancient Rome, only representatives of the nobility could use decorative cosmetics. The history of the development of cosmetics in this state is not much different from the development of cosmetics in Greece and Egypt.
Thus, women used small pieces of beef or venison bacon as red lipstick. A feature of this tool was its durability.
The eyes were given considerable attention. Eyelashes were painted with mascara, which was an ointment of soot mixed with aromatic oils. They kept such ink in claybubbles, protected from light. And instead of the mascara brush familiar to modern girls, they used a thin needle. Therefore, the process of applying mascara to the eyelashes was painstaking and long.
Roman women's nail polish was extremely sophisticated, as they used purple paint, extracted from the shells of the rarest sea mollusks.
At that time, rouge and powder appeared, which were in use not only among women of noble families, but also among courtesans. The latter, due to the ban on the use of cosmetics, used exclusively powder made from eggs and barley flour. Such unnatural pallor served as a kind of "signal" to attract men.
Women of the nobility used powder made from white or chalk, honey and fat cream. Blush was applied over the bleached face, which was used as paint from brown algae or other coloring terrestrial plants.
History of the development of cosmetics in Asia
China, Japan, South Korea - countries where female beauty was a real cult. But, naturalness was not in the price, on the contrary, with the help of decorative means, women and young girls tried to become more attractive to the opposite sex.
Powder, blush, bright lipstick and eyeliner were popular with Asians. The face was whitened to the state of a porcelain doll. And Chinese women liked to paint their cheeks with red blush. Black contours were brought before the eyes, which visually expanded the section of the eyes.
Lipstick was made in Japan,which was valued not only by locals, but also by women all over the world. It was made from the extract of camellia seeds, camphor, musk, wood wax. This lipstick not only gave a rich shade, but also benefited the skin of the lips. In addition, in Japan, the nobility liked to shave their eyebrows and draw new, thin forms.
The history of Korean cosmetics is relatively young than Chinese or Japanese, but it deserves attention. And all thanks to the fact that Koreans appreciated the naturalness of the components used. Koreans made their care products from snail mucus (which remains relevant in the modern world), frayed shells and shells of rare mollusks, lard and animal fat. And also vegetable oils and extracts, powders from seeds and leaves were used.
The advent of perfume
The history of cosmetics and perfumery dates back to ancient Egypt. During the excavations of the tombs of the pharaohs and Egyptian nobles, vials with the first aromatic oils were found, which were used only by representatives of the nobility.
But during excavations on the Greek island of Crete, the first perfumery laboratory for the production of aroma products on an industrial scale was discovered. It was possible to understand that this was the aroma laboratory by the attributes found: distillation cubes, mortars for grinding components, distillation tubes and glass bottles.
Up until the 17th century, Arab craftsmen were masters in perfumery, who brought out many amazing fragrances that remain relevant to this dayday. But in the 17th century, perfumery skills penetrated the countries of Europe. Western perfumers were the first to make alcohol-based perfumes.
What did beauties in Russia use?
The history of cosmetics in Russia goes back to pagan times. Then naturalness was held in high esteem, but this does not mean that the girls did not make up at all. Mother Nature was the main cosmetologist, she provided the basic set of both skin care and decorative cosmetics.
Flour and chalk served as powder. A piece of beetroot or raspberry juice was rubbed on the cheeks to give a blush. Berry juice was instead of lipstick.
For the eyes and eyebrows used ordinary soot, brown paint.
Medieval and Renaissance
Everyone knows the fact: during the Middle Ages, cleanliness was a rare phenomenon. But, this does not mean that they did not use cosmetics at all. White for hair, blush, gold paint for curls - kings loved to use this simple set. And surprisingly, all cosmetics were not washed off, but only renewed, applied over the old layer. But soap making first appeared in Naples.
The Renaissance gave a new impetus not only to art, but also to the history of cosmetics. Various creams, lipsticks, powders, perfumes appeared on the dressing tables of we althy Italian ladies. The hair was lightened through long exposure to the sun.
XX century - trendsetter in makeup
The history of decorative cosmetics and skin care products continued to develop in the 20th century. It was over the next 100For years, many chemicals have been added to cosmetics. Thanks to them, makeup cosmetics have become much richer and more diverse in colors, durability has become higher, and the shelf life has increased by several months and even years.
In the 20th century, red lipstick, pale powder, eyeliner for drawing arrows gained popularity. At this time, foundation creams began to be produced, which for the most part were dense in consistency and quickly crumbled.
The mascara created in the 20th century by T. L. Williams, the founder of Maybelline, is still extremely popular.
After a while Max Factor releases shadows based on henna. Filmmakers immediately began to use them. Max Factor launched lipsticks and lip glosses.
The first eyelash curler appeared in the 20th century.
Makeup products
So, the history of cosmetics looks like this:
- The first foundation appeared in 1936.
- Lipstick appeared about 5000 years ago in Mesopotamia.
- About 5000 years ago, the first mention of blush appeared in ancient Egypt.
- The first eyeshadows were also known in ancient Egypt. But the first shadows based on henna were invented in the middle of the 20th century.
- Macara has been used since ancient Greece. But the first major production was launched in the 19th century by Eugene Rimmel.
Interesting facts
- The word "lipstick" is of Roman origin andtranslates to "apple". And all because the first lip products were made from apple fruits.
- The word "rimmel" - "mascara" - comes from the name of the first manufacturer of mascara, Eugene Rimmel. It is used in many foreign languages. There is also the English word "mascara" meaning mascara. It comes from the Italian "maschera" - "protective mask".
- In Victorian England, cosmetics were a sign of bad manners and low morality. But the women went for a little trick: they bit their lips and pinched their cheeks to make their color brighter.
- The prototype of a modern cosmetic bag was a toilet bag - a ladies' case. Only we althy ladies had it.
- Although the history of the development of tanning cosmetics and other sunscreens began already in the 20th century, in the Middle Ages, women began to sunbathe in the sun to give their skin a dark shade.
Conclusion
The history of cosmetics, the creation of its prototypes, goes back to the distant past. This suggests that the desire of women to look good has always been. And what tricks did inventive girls go to to emphasize their appearance.
