More than a Pretty Face
Do you ever wonder how anything came to be?
Why are old lipstick cases and jars so appealing to us?
They're not cheap and throwaway, or even frivolous—they're artifacts, a piece of history and a greater tale about cultural approaches to beauty.
When it comes to the origins of cosmetics as we know them now, many say that the Egyptians devised makeup first
However, Chinese aristocracy in the Zhou period used gelatin, beeswax, egg white, and gum arabic to paint their nails gold and silver as early as the first millennium BCE.
How was makeup invented
In Chinese culture, there is also a narrative about a princess named Shouyang that impacted makeup traditions.
According to legend, she fell asleep under a plum tree and a blossom dropped, leaving petal stains on her forehead, enhancing her beauty
She was worshiped as the deity of the plum blossom after her death.
This is one of the fabled origins of meihua zhuang, or plum blossom makeup, which became fashionable among courtly women during the Southern Dynasty, which lasted from 420 to 589 CE
Women would use sorghum powder, gold powder, and jade to decorate their brows with blossoms or paint florals.
Why was makeup invented?
Makeup enthusiasts and historians provide numerous explanations on why individuals began wearing makeup.
Our best hypotheses reveal that there were numerous possibilities ranging from spiritual beliefs to physical beauty improvement
This is a collection of the most common myths regarding ancient Egyptian cosmetics:
- Ancient fashion trends;
- Makeup separated the classes;
- Protection for eyes from hot sunny conditions;
- To protect the wearer from the evil eye;
- Shielded the facial skin from sun burns;
- Believed it cured eye diseases;
Pale complexion was considered a sign of affluence during the European Middle Ages. Sixth-century women used severe lengths to acquire the look, including bleeding themselves, whilst Spanish prostitutes wore pink cosmetics.
Affluent women in the thirteenth century wore pink lipstick as proof that they could purchase synthetic makeup
During the Italian Renaissance, lead powder was employed to brighten the face, but it was extremely harmful to the wearer.
Inventor of Makeup
Aqua Toffana was a well-known face powder that was named after its creator, Signora Toffana.
Signora Toffana, who used arsenic in her makeup, advised her wealthy clients to use it only while their spouses were present
It's worth noting that Tofana was executed six hundred dead husbands later.
Cosmetics were viewed as a health risk in Elizabethan England, despite the fact that ladies applied egg whites over their faces for a glazed appearance.
During the reign of Charles II, thick makeup became popular as a way to counteract the pallor caused by sickness outbreaks
During the 18th century French Restoration, scarlet rouge and lipstick were utilized to give the image of a healthy, fun-loving spirit.
People in other countries eventually were repelled by extensive makeup and assumed that the "painted" French had something to hide.
The most essential thing throughout the Regency era was rouge, which was used by almost everyone
Eyebrows were darkened and hair was coloured at the period.
White lead and mercury were the most deadly beauty aids at the time.
They not only destroyed the skin over time, but also caused hair loss, stomach issues, the shaking, and even death
Despite the fact that these dangers were made public by the death of courtesan Kitty Fisher, the majority of women continued to use these lethal whiteners.
Women used belladonna to make their eyes appear more dazzling in the 1800s, although knowing it was dangerous.
Local pharmacists, known as herbalists in England, manufactured several cosmetics, and frequent ingredients included mercury and nitric acid.
Hair color was manufactured from coal tar, which is currently prohibited in the United States
It may surprise you to learn that males wore cosmetics until the 1850s.
Cold cream, powders, pastes, and fragrances cost a fortune to George IV
Many people considered a man with rouged cheeks to be a dandy, thus not all men used makeup.
When was makeup invented
During this decade, the first pressed powders with a mirror and puff for touch-ups were introduced.
Soon after, I applied pressed powder blush.
Maurice Levy's lipstick metal case gained popularity
During this time, George Burchett, commonly known as the "Beauty Doctor," tattooed lipstick onto the lips.
This strategy did not always work, and you can guess the disastrous results
At the time, the oldest type of an acid peel was used, which was a combination of acid and electric currents applied to the skin.
A needle would also be used to insert paraffin into the eye area and cheeks, albeit this was also unsuccessful
When Nivea cream first appeared in Germany, firms began developing creams based of Vaseline mixed with fragrance in order to compete.
Women could buy and wear a strange-looking apparatus with chin straps to deal with sagging jowls and double chins, which obviously did not work.
However, the Victorian appearance remained popular until mass cosmetics marketing became popular in the 1920s.
Why Did We Start Wearing Makeup?
America's newly emancipated lady began to demonstrate her independence by freely applying red lipstick, which was frequently perfumed with cherry.
Visible makeup was regarded a must by rural women by the late 1920s, but it was still frowned upon by country girls.
Max Factor created lip gloss throughout this decade.
New red lipstick hues were created, but they were soap-based and extremely drying
Kurlash, the first eyelash curler, appeared on the scene.
Even though it was pricey and complicated to use, its popularity did not suffer.
Mascara in the form of cake and cream was quite popular
From the 1930s until the 1950s, many movie stars served as models for current cosmetics trends.
Remember Audrey Hepburn's cat eyes, which were sharply defined?
From white lips and Egyptian-lined eyes to painted images on faces, the '60s and hippies brought a more emancipated cosmetics aesthetic
Heavily lined eyes were popular in the 1970s and 1980s, with a variety of eye shadow hues.
Today's fashion appears to have reverted to a more natural aesthetic, with a fusion of designs from the past.
Why does makeup exist and is so popular today?
According to research, there are two main reasons why women wear makeup:
Camouflage - Women who are worried and insecure seek to hide themselves with makeup
Seduction - Women who wish to appear more beautiful apply makeup to look more comfortable, communicative, and powerful.
BeautyKiss Opinion
In today's society, a woman can choose from literally hundreds of cosmetics in a wide range of hues and applications.
Options for a younger appearance range from simple skin hydrators and rejuvenators to chemical skin peels, the now-popular Botox, collagen injections, and the more dramatic surgical facelift.
It is critical to recognize one's inner beauty as a lady's true beauty
No matter how drastic the steps taken, outer attractiveness will not last forever.
"The eyes are the windows to the soul," as the phrase goes.
Evaluate your own self, assess the lady inside, and be happy with who you are
This will reflect on your attitude toward life, which will send a message to others and be reflected back to you through their reactions to the lovely you.