How Old Is Make-Up?





                    

http://toxipedia.org/display/toxipedia/Cleopatra

Make-up has been around for thousands of years but the Egyptians were the first to record the use and the importance of cosmetics in their culture. I think its safe to say that    we all recognise Cleopatra and her famous ornate eyes (more about that later). 

In the 1st century the Romans also documented their use of make-up and were renowned for their use of kohl for the eyes along with chalk and rouge for the face. 

In the Middle Ages pale skin was all the rage as it was a sign of wealth and society. In order to achieve this sought after look some women resorted to bleeding themselves! Only the rich could afford face make-up and in the late 13th century adding a subtle pink blush distinguised the rich and the important even more.

During the Italian Renaissance pale skin was still focused on as a sign of high society and wealth, this was attained through deadly substances auch as lead and arsenic! Dangerous much-no?! However in the Elizabethan era heavy make-up was seen as a tool to mask ill health and disease, and was associated with poor health-and I'm not talking about spots!

It was the French who brought a bit of life back to cosmetics in the 18th century with the addition of "rouge" to the face. Marie Antoinette anyone? Suddenly red cheeks and red lips = FUN 

http://zeinerova.blogspot.com/2011/07/marie-antoinette-film-by-sophia-coppola.html

Such a shame that the Victorians associated make-up with ladies of the night and actresses:P This led to a slight decline in cosmetics and the Victorians therefore resorted to parasols to keep the sun off their faces so as to maintain their milky white skin. 


During the early 1900's it was popular to have a "sickly look", fortunately this style did not last very long. Phew! Its hard to imagine the cosmetics of the early 20th century as modern, but this was the basic foundation for the make-up industry that we know today. In the 1930's make-up giants such as Max Factor, Revlon and Lancome flourished producing make-up for the mass markets, allowing everybody to access some sort and shade of cosmetics catering for their own tastes.


These days the high demand for beneficial, eco-friendly, and good quality make-up has resulted in top quality brands such as Christian Dior and many more. Today their are numerous different types of mineral, earthy make-up brands and formulas for every skin type and tone!  


I just want to say I got a lot of this info from 
http://www.makeup-artist-world.com/historyofmakeup.htm
so if you want to know more about the history of make up go check it out!