An elaborate headdress, rogue lips, pronounced eyebrows and extended black eyelids – this is the classic Cleopatra look that is being relived up to now during Halloween parties or period movies. If makeup has not been invented during those days yet, what was used as green or blue eyeshadow, what was applied as lipstick and how did the eyebrow become so defined? Here, we will take a look at how the practice of applying makeup actually started in ancient Egypt, and which materials were used by women back then.
The Materials Used for Ancient Makeup Application
Cosmetics manufacturing was not yet invented back in the days of Cleopatra, so what did she and the women of ancient Egypt use as makeup? Take a look at the following list:
- Henna
Henna is a substance extracted from a tree whose leaves and stems are dried then extracted. The result is a powder with a greenish tint. It is now used to make temporary tattoos and organic dye for the hair but back then, henna was used as a stain for the fingertips and toes. Think of it as the ancient equivalent of black nail polish.
- Kohl
To create that cat-like effect on the eyes, women from ancient Egypt used kohl. It is an ancient eye cosmetic which is made from ground lead sulphide or galena, then mixed with other ingredients. Aside from darkening the eyelids, kohl can also be used as mascara to lengthen the eyelashes.
- Malachite
Malachite is a type of carbonate mineral which has a blackish-green color. When you do a quick search of Cleopatra makeup, you will see how her eyes are almost always green in color. Green eye makeup was highly popular back then, and this is the material used to come up with the color.
- Red Ocher
The ancient equivalent of red lipstick is red ocher, which was used as rouge to color the lips.
These basic ingredients are ground into powder and mixed with animal fact which acts as a carrier agent. The resulting mixture is easy to apply on the skin, and stays there until purposefully removed. To remove ancient makeup, oil and chalk was combined to form a paste-like cream that helped cleanse the skin.
More than Just Vanity: The Significance of Applying Makeup
If you think that vanity is the only reason why people from ancient Egypt used to apply makeup, think again. Both men and women wore makeup during those days and it wasn’t just for vanity purposes.
New moms applied kohl to the eyes of babies in order to strengthen the eyes. Other people believed that having almond eyes keeps the makeup wearer from being cursed by the ‘Evil Eye’.
There were also healers who believed that kohl can prevent eye diseases from occurring. The hot and humid climate in Egypt caused rashes and insect bites to appear on the skin, so the superficial layer of the skin is protected with ancient cosmetics.
For women back then, applying makeup was a tedious, drawn-out process – but the results are well worth it in the end. Thanks to modern cosmetic manufacturers, women only need a few minutes in front of a mirror to let makeup work its magic on their features, which shows how makeup application has really come a long way.
