Max Factor, founder of the cosmetics giant Max Factor & Company, famously said, “You are not born glamorous, glamour is created.” Their combative relationship spawned some famous cosmetic breakthroughs including waterproof mascara and the iconic red lipstick. Fast forward to the 20 th Century and two of history’s most famous beauty icons and rivals are Helena Rubinstein and Elizabeth Arden. History shows that standards of beauty are constantly changing. They used lipstick made from crushed safflower petals to paint their eyebrows and lips and rice powder for the face. In Japan, it was the striking makeup of the Geishas that turned heads. It was the inspiration for the modern-day cat eye look. It represented wealth and class, shielded the eyes from the sun, and was considered holy because it was a way to ward off the evil eye. Kohl, a lead mineral, was used to draw thick, black lines, giving the eyes an almond shape. The Egyptians also started the eyeliner trend to adorn their eyes. In Egypt, lip color was made with purple and red dyes from seaweed and iodine and has it is even been reported that Cleopatra used lipstick made from ground carmine beetles.
#Beauty through the ages skin#
For the Romans’, pale skin was a sign of the upper class and was the most important feature of Roman beauty. The ancient Greeks and Romans started it all with crushed mulberries and wine mixed with clay, olive oil, or beeswax to create lipstick and cheek stains. Makeup enhances facial features and masks imperfections, creating the illusion of symmetry, proportion, flawless skin, and even youth.
Let’s take a look at the beautiful evolution of beauty. Every culture around the world has established beauty rituals that have heavily influenced what is done today. From the Ancient Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, and Geishas in Japan and to modern times, we have seen it all – bronze skin, pale porcelain skin, tanning oil, sunscreen, thick and bold prominent eyebrows, pencil-thin eyebrows… the list goes on. And, throughout history, the ideal beauty look has changed drastically. Beauty rituals have existed for thousands of years around the world.
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