The beauty industry in the world today is a billion-dollar industry. A huge percentage of women and a small number of men depend on daily makeup. The basic reason for applying makeup is these people want to look good. Subtle shades of colour can hide skin flaws and enhance the natural appearance.
Women and Makeup Today, women across the world spend quality time in front of mirrors as a part of daily ritual Whether they're preparing for a special occasion, an average day at work, or a date, makeup is a must. Let’s now see where and how this beauty fashion popular with women originated. Makeup in Ancient Egypt This tradition goes back to the ancient Egypt where the archaeological evidence of women wearing makeup dated back to 4,000 BC. Ancient Egyptians believed makeup had another purpose than just enhancing their natural looks. They believed their elaborate eye makeup could improve their sight and ward off evil spirits. They were also trying to please the gods through makeups such as face paint as they felt that their appearance was a direct reflection of their spiritual worth. Eye Applications The Egyptian women used to apply eye makeup called mesdement, which is a mixture of copper and lead ore. Black and dark grey colours were applied to the upper eyelids and lashes, while green shades adorned the lower eyelids. They also added to this makeup dark colour almond-shape designs made of oxidized copper, ochre, lead, copper ores, ash, and burnt almonds. Embellishment of Lips Like their eyes, ancient Egyptian embellish their lips. They stained their lips and cheeks with a kind of rouge. They used bromine and iodine to extract purple-red colour and create this stain. Unfortunately, these ingredients led to serious diseases, and hence they came to be known as ‘the kiss of death.’ According to sources, Cleopatra’s lipstick was made of ant’s eggs and carmine beetles. The carmine beetles gave a sparkling red colour while the ant’s eggs provided the base. Makeup in Other Societies In ancient Graeco-Roman society, women were known to have applied white lead and chalk on their faces solely to attract attention from both sexes. During the middle ages, European women had a craze about pale skin since they believed that it was a sign of wealth. Women, therefore, took extreme measures such as bleeding themselves to achieve that look. In the UK, Queen Elizabeth I was a popular user of white lead, and her portraits are known for displaying ageless beauty or what came to be regarded later on as the ‘Mask of Youth.’ Conclusion Women these days no longer need to take such drastic measures to look pleasing. With so many brands floating their makeup products online, there are unlimited choices for beauty care available to them. Skin care, hair care, body care and cosmetic procedures - women couldn’t have lived in a better time than today. What’s more, they get offers of exciting shopping deals during festive seasons such as Christmas, Diwali and New Year.
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