The history of makeup

Ebelyn Lopez

As I’ve gotten older my love for makeup has grown fonder, with lots of practice I’ve taught myself via youtube videos how to contour, highlight and overall just how to apply makeup in general.  It's a whole new realm of possibilities when it comes to makeup in today's day and age. One thing I've never considered is how did we get to where we are today?  How did this ritual so-called ritual of “painting our faces” originate? Did the art of painting our faces provide any kind of benefit to our ancestors? Could it have been a symbolic display of wealth or prosperity at any given point? Cosmetics are traced as far back as 10,000  B.C, better known as the time of the Egyptians. During this time cosmetics and interest in appearance were on the rise items such as creams were used to protect the skin from the harsh hot climate and oils were used by women to mask body odor. When you think of Egypt and the Egyptians their most iconic makeup look comes to mind, the tinted lips and the long-winged eyeliner but how were they able to do this? For the eyes, they used kohl which was applied with a stick to the eyelids creating an almond affect the reasoning behind using kohl to line the eyes was to reduce sun glare and it was also believed to have the capability to restore poor eyesight.  A clay named red ochre was used for the cheeks lips and nails. Something that I found interesting whilst reading this article was the fact that Egyptians had these so-called “makeup boxes” which were special containers they carried around that held their makeup and they would take them to parties so they could use them beforehand. During this time both women and men used makeup which I found interesting as well since now it’s predominantly women who I see wearing makeup and it’s looked down upon by some for men to wear makeup.

                                                             (Egyptian era) 

Unibrows seemed a significant trend among ancient Greek women, and while some people couldn’t grow them naturally, they used animal fur to cover the space between their brows. It’s fascinating that unibrows which were once considered beautiful are now considered unattractive. Nevertheless, let’s move to Queen Elizebeth who dominated the Elizabethan Era (c. 1558 - 1603) and set new trends in beauty. Pale skin, rouge lips, shaved hairline to create a big forehead and auburn red hair emerged as traditional styles which were inspired by the Queen. Women who couldn't dye their hair red bought wigs. Japanese Geishas era (c. the mid-1700s) had women painting their faces white with heavy foundation, applying a thick liner over and underneath eyes and wearing a dark red lipstick. Pre-French Revolution period was marked by a shift in beauty standards. Greasy lips, red cheeks with black spots and tall white hair symbolized beautiful women. Furthermore, Victorian Era (c. 1837 - 1901) was famous for natural looking makeup and glow that women used to get by lightly pinching their cheeks and lips. Long hair was considered the most important part of woman’s femininity. Women spent a lot of time trying to create new hairstyles.                                (Victorian Era now and then)

(Elizabethan era)

                                                             (Geisha Era)

Rose and orange colored blush emerged as a new trend in the 1920s, but it was not blended on the cheeks like how it is today. With that and invention of bright foundations which women used to whiten their skin, highlighting the complexion was a regular practice. However, that changed over time with awareness as women started wearing foundations and face powders matching their skin tone. Face powder, dark eyes, red lips, rouge, and mascara emerged as big items in the decade and changed the entire game of makeup. The 1930s was all about new hair trends as while blonde hair color was inspired by Hollywood actresses. Styling lotions and iron curlers made it easy for women to style hair. Women in 1940s and 1950s preferred more sophisticated hairstyles like Chignon and Omelette Fold that were attained by rolling and curling of hair.The makeup industry revolution was immense with new and improved products in the market and kept on getting better. Nude lips and dramatic eyes were popular in the 60s especially with false lashes and cut crease eyeshadow. Film artists, music icons, and tv celebrities continued to set new fashion trends. Makeup was treated more like art. Big hair, full lips, prominent cheekbones and bright eyes were a major part of 80s fashion. However, even more, major changes were seen in the 90s and 2000s when pop stars started using shimmery products on eyes, lips, and cheeks which highlighted their faces. Lash curlers and false lashes became necessities for eyes. As of now, the makeup brands have taken over the world and continue to amaze us with their incredible products. Cosmetic surgeries have become increasingly popular over the years but is still expensive for the majority.

Every era had their distinct ideas of makeup and concepts of beauty which continue to inspire the modern makeup era which is sometimes a polished version of old makeup trends. Makeup has inspired countless people over the globe to experiment with different products and create their looks. Makeup is a beautiful thing it enables people to express themselves and experiment with new and different looks which I absolutely love.

“Beneath the makeup and behind the smile, I am just a girl who wishes for the world.”
― Marilyn Monroe

Works cited

Chaudhri, S. K. and N. K. Jain. "History of Cosmetics." Asian Journal of Pharmaceutics (Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd.), vol. 3, no. 3, July 2009, pp. 164-167. EBSCOhost, doi:10.4103/0973-8398.56292.
Caitlin Cowie, Becky Catherine Harris, Kari Koeppel. "This Is How Dramatically Women's Makeup Has Changed Throughout History." BuzzFeed. Buzzfeed, 11 Apr. 2015. Web. 31 Mar. 2017. Ishita Aggarwal, Student at Pearl Academy Follow. "History of Makeup and Hairstyles of Different Eras." LinkedIn SlideShare. Ishita Aggarwal, 05 Mar. 2016. Web. 31 Mar. 2017.
Campo, Paola. "The Quick History of Makeup (from 1910 to 2000… That’s Why It’s Short!)."The Paola Campo Report. Paola Campo, 30 July 2013. Web. 31 Mar. 2017.
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Mugeek.vidalondon.net. "Egyptian Makeup Look." Mugeek Vidalondon. Mugeek, n.d. Web. 01 Apr. 2017.
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Jennifer. "Geisha Makeup Tutorial and Pictures." Geisha Makeup. Jennifer, 24 Sept. 2014. Web. 01 Apr. 2017.
Glamourdaze. "History of Makeup." Glamourdaze. Glamourdaze, n.d. Web. 01 Apr. 2017