Makeup is an everyday part of our life and, well, has been for a long time. Be it the glam look for parties or the clean girl look for the office. Let us look at the history of makeup and make sense of the ever-changing trends. Cosmetics have been worn by both males and females for millennia, though there have undoubtedly been some significant changes in fashion. To understand the timeline of makeup, let us start with the history of makeup.

Ancient Makeup by the Egyptians in 10,000 BCE

If we trace back the history of cosmetics, we find that the Egyptians were the first to start using them. Researchers have found makeup kits buried in Egyptian graves. They even found stone jars or unguent jars used by the ancient Egyptians to keep their skin soft and supple.

Their most remarkable use of makeup was their extensive use of Kohl by men and women around their eyes. The makeup was made with metal, soot and burnt almonds for nourishment.

1st Century AD, the Time of the Romans and Greeks

In the history of makeup timeline, the Romans and Greeks were a close second in using makeup products. One could darken their eyebrows and eyelids using Kohl, chalk, and rouge on the cheeks. At that time, depilatories and pumice were both used for tooth cleaning. The materials were made using grinding minerals and stones. The most interesting fact is that they had a goddess of makeup named Hygieia.

In Persia, women were known to use henna as a part of their makeup regime to colour their hair. It was an excellent idea which is still used in Indian households.

Middle Ages

During the middle ages, the trend of pale skin gained popularity. In this period, pale skin represented wealth, and tanned skin represented lower class and hard labour.

Queen Victoria had banned makeup during her period, saying it was improper to relate it to prostitutes. Women stayed away from painting their lips and cheeks and opted for white paint on their faces and neck to look regal.

Since the evolution of makeup, the most unhealthy makeup trends have existed since the middle ages. Women took drastic measures to fit into the then-makeup trend. They used to bleed themselves to achieve a lighter skin tone. Lead was an important ingredient in many of their makeups. The product was called ceruse which was created by mixing lead and vinegar, and it often caused muscle paralysis in women.

18th Century to Late 19th century

The health hazard continued in the form of makeup in the era of Queen Elizabeth as well. Deadly skin whiteners were all the rage in the market. Women were known to cover up as much skin as they could whenever they were out and about.

White lead and mercury thrived in makeup products which caused digestive issues, hair loss and sometimes death. Belladonna, a famous poison, was used by women to make their eyes look luminous.

We all know that glass skin is very popular nowadays, but do you know when was makeup invented to achieve the glazed skin look? The interesting thing is that no makeup was used; ladies used egg whites on their faces to make them look shiny.

During the late 1800’s apothecaries used coal tar as a prominent ingredient in hair dye. Men were thorough users of makeup, too. King George IV had spent enormously on various beauty products.

20th Century: A New Dawn of Makeup

At the start of the 20th century, makeup began to change and lipsticks, mascaras and other products were created commercially. We have come a long way from the origin of makeup.

We may choose from a wide range of makeup items in today’s society, and innovations are being created all the time. With so many people having access to makeup, makeup artists can prosper and experiment.

Many makeup tips and tricks evolved during the late 18th century and prevailed till the start of the 20th century. These include:

• Chickweed juice for freckle reduction
• A few ounces of melted white wax, honey, rose water and juice of lily bulbs promised to keep wrinkles away.
• Oatmeal, honey and egg yolks for homemade face packs
• Nail buffings and eyebrow threadings came into play during this time.

Movie stars from the 1930s through the 1950s served as the inspiration for current makeup trends. The 1970s and 1980s saw a continuation of heavily lined eyes with a variety of eye makeup hues, from graphic eye makeup to smoky eyes. The current fashion seems to have gone back to a more natural appearance while incorporating elements of earlier trends.

The Importance of Makeup

Yes, indeed, we do not need makeup to look beautiful, but it is a personal choice and an art form. Here we have curated a pretty comprehensive list of the importance of makeup:

• Confidence in ourselves
• Therapeutic
• Helps understand ourselves better
• Always picture ready
• Enhances features

Makeup can make you feel good about yourself and do not let anybody tell you that you are wearing too much or too less of it. If you love buying and getting hyped up on new trends, we encourage you to go for it. After all, the inventor of makeup did not do it just for his efforts to go in vain.

Final Thoughts

The history of makeup is instrumental for understanding about the evolution of the discipline. It provides a point of reference to seek inspiration as past trends keep coming back in fashion. If you love all things makeup, then why not learn about it and make a career out of it? JD Institute of Fashion Technology has diploma courses in Makeup and Hairstyle Artistry, which will turn you into a proficient individual. There is a world of opportunities for hair and makeup artists, and they make around INR 45,000 to INR 50,000 per month. The amount doubles during the wedding season.

Have enough makeup information to get started with things? Enrol yourself in a course today!