Archaeological sites in Egypt indicate the presence of cosmetics dating back 6,000 years. Wealthy Egyptian women often applied light green copper powder to their faces to accentuate their features. They used fragrant essential oils and painted their eyebrows with a cream made from sheep fat, lead, and soot.
In the East, Chinese and Japanese courtesans utilized rice powder to achieve a smooth, white complexion. They shaved their eyebrows and dyed their teeth black or yellow using herbal leaves.
In Greece, around 1000 B.C., porcelain-like white skin was also favored. Greeks applied white powder or lead to their faces. Women used lip color made from yellow-brown clay mixed with red iron powder.
In Rome, 100 years A.D., philosopher Platus wrote, “Women who do not adorn themselves are like food without salt.” Women commonly applied masks made from a mixture of wheat flour and butter, and painted their nails with a blend of fat and blood.
As time passed, various primitive forms of cosmetics were invented and widely used across Europe and the East, two major civilizations of mankind. In the 14th century, during the Elizabethan era in England, red hair dye became a fashion trend. Women continued to favor snow-white skin, applying egg whites to their faces. To prevent wrinkles, they used fresh beef slices as face masks before sleeping.
During the 15th and 16th centuries in Europe, cosmetics were mainly used by the aristocracy. Italy and France emerged as the two largest centers for cosmetic production. The French made significant breakthroughs in the creation of cosmetics and perfumes by blending various ingredients. However, cosmetics also posed hidden dangers, as lead and arsenic in their components led to many cases of poisoning.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, cosmetics became widely used, except by the poorest social classes. Red lipstick became popular as it symbolized health, happiness, and wealth.
In the 19th century, the French once again led a beauty revolution. They invented numerous chemical substances to replace natural fragrances. Zinc oxide became widely used in face powders, replacing the previously toxic lead and copper. However, many harmful ingredients continued to be present in cosmetics, such as lead, antimony sulfide in eye shadow, and mercury sulfide in lipsticks… The price of beauty was indeed high.
In 1920, the United States rapidly advanced in cosmetic production and consumption. Women discarded the pale Victorian style for more vibrant fashion and makeup, as “beauty is money.” In 1927, hair dye was invented for the first time, giving women the dream of wavy hair.
By 1930, movie stars Mary Pickford, Theda Bara, and Jean Harlow ushered in a new makeup style. The porcelain white skin was dethroned by the trendy sun-kissed complexion of Hollywood.
 |
Products from Max Factor |
In 1935, Max Factor launched convenient, portable cake cosmetics. Never before had makeup been so convenient for women.
The 1950s and 60s witnessed remarkable growth in the cosmetics industry. With the end of World War II, social stability led to an increased demand for beauty among ladies, creating fertile grounds for cosmetic companies like Helena Rubinstein, Estée Lauder, and Revlon… The cosmetics market thrived with tanning oils, perfumes, false eyelashes, and liquid eyeliners. Television and newspapers were flooded with advertisements for beauty products.
By the 1980s, the cosmetics industry reached a staggering annual revenue of $20 billion. Since then, cosmetics have consistently been one of the most profitable investment sectors. A plethora of both large and small brands emerged from Europe to Asia. Cosmetics became readily available: in exclusive shops, supermarkets, shopping centers, and online… Stepping out into the street, one could easily encounter women with striking blue eyes and red lips. It can be confidently stated that modern women cannot live without cosmetics, yet knowing how to use them to enhance one’s beauty is not an easy task.
