Today things look a little different than before. When you hear the word make-up, you probably think that it is a make-up that will hide the signs of aging, that will look clean and fresh and at the same time it will look as if we didn’t put in any effort at all, but most importantly, that the make-up should be healthy.
The word “anti-aging” has become an integral part of the vocabulary of the world of cosmetics and make-up.
What I was interested in, is how exactly did we start reinventing all the benefits of these natural ingredients? Have we been storing these secrets for years throughout the entire development and history of makeup? To answer these questions we need to take a tour through history.
How did makeup even begin?
We know that for centuries, men and women alike have enjoyed the indulgence of makeup. But the history of makeup goes back thousands of years to the time of the Egyptians. This does not mean that the Egyptians were the first to use makeup, but they were among the first to document the importance of facial makeup, as an important part of the culture as mirrors of the discovery of ancient Egyptian tomb paintings. The Egyptians used natural ingredients such as ointment, moisturizer, and kohl, soot, to beautify the skin and appearance. The Egyptians were well aware of the beauty of the skin and the care of the lips.
In the first century AD the Romans also showed the use of kohl for eye makeup. The Romans also used chalk to whiten the skin and blush the cheeks. Continuing the Persian influence, added the use of henna dyes to stain the face and hair.
The field of makeup continued to develop. In Eastern European cultures, pale skin became popular as a sign of wealth and a status symbol for social class. Women have made efforts to achieve white skin by bleaching the skin. Adding the color pink as seen in the 13th century added another sign of wealth and social importance. Only the rich could afford pink face makeup.
The focus on white skin as a sign of wealth continued into the Italian Renaissance. Again, the women took extreme measures to gain status using deadly substances like lead and arsenic. But at some point face makeup began to be associated with poor health. Instead of light and whitening make-up, heavy make-up to hide the disease entered consciousness and fashion.
And thanks to French culture, health awareness entered the 19th century to add life and vitality and bring color back to the face by bringing in the color red. Red lips and red cheeks have become a symbol of health and fun.
Cosmetics instead of makeup!
During the Victorian era, face makeup became associated with prostitutes and actresses. Beautiful women did not allow a change in skin color or even a change in the natural tone of their skin. The visible skin was covered, in protection from the sun and as part of the prevention of skin damage caused by uncontrolled exposure to it.
Natural ingredients such as oatmeal honey, egg yolks and rose water have become very famous cosmetic and pharmacy products. For ragged and sparse eyebrows, use rice powder as a substance used to encourage eyebrow growth. Women tried to add color secretly by coloring their cheeks or using beet juice and lemon juice.
Until 1900 it was so. The subject of heavy make-up was not in fashion but the healthy, graceful and natural look. A face covered in paint was a sight that indicates weakness, poverty and prostitution…but not for long…
Modern makeup
It is hard to imagine but after the 19th century, signs of modernization began to show, indeed it is the beginning of the cosmetics industry as we see it today. With the rise of mass media, television, pictures, cinema, transportation, the makeup industry grew by leaps and bounds.
At the beginning of the 19th century, pale skin was still associated with the status of wealth and leisure, and tan skin was still a symbol of the working class.
Thanks to the makeup artist, “Max Factor”, a makeup line was developed that was produced for the general public. This is how the dark color entered the consciousness of the upper class as well.
Following him, large make-up companies began to grow, with big successful women behind them. Those women became a symbol and a role model to this day. Among them we will find Greta Garbo, and Marlene Dietrich. Huge cosmetics companies such as Max Factor, Elizabeth Arden, Revlon, Lancome, Farho. Make-up became sensual and polished. Suddenly women got a lot of options containing a lot of shades to use. All that was needed was to choose!
And so the door opened for her…
The variety of these companies opened the door for the twenty-first century!
Today the demand is for environmentally friendly formulas that are beneficial and healthy for the skin. The quality brought with it a new team of make-up companies. Among them we find Christian Dior, Clink, who provided women with make-up with classic formulas for a wide variety of different skin types.
We have come full circle
And so we closed a circle. Today, we find makeup that is mostly based on minerals, different formulas are being developed that are also environmentally friendly and dominate the makeup industry.
Today the world of makeup continues to develop and surprise every time anew both with unique styles and spectacular colors. Just try and enjoy!
