There are times we just want to know how something started. Who was the first man to do something special? Who was the first person to get to a new place? Or who invented something? When did such and such start? Well, today, we will talk about who invented makeup.
The art and ritual of painting the face are significant far beyond beautifying in some countries. Nowadays, in some Indigenous cultures, face paint is a must for marking social status, marital status, and more.
Makeup for some cultures is a form of language and symbolism.
When you think about the origin of cosmetics as we know them today, most historians argue it was the Egyptians who first invented makeup. But we have to note that the Chinese royalty in the Zhou dynasty used gelatin, beeswax, egg white, and many other forms to paint their nails as early as the first millennium BCE.
So, can you tell who invented makeup? Let’s see!
The Scientific Evidence
Scientists around the world agree on one thing. It is impossible to tell who invented makeup. Yes, we can easily date the oldest available evidence of makeup. And according to archeologists, that evidence is in Egypt.
For example, one such piece of evidence is in the Egyptian tomb in Karnak. Buried with the dead were clay containers containing color palettes of black eye paint, green eye shadow, and more. That eye makeup is more than 3,000 years old. There have also been findings from a Dead Sea spa attributed to Cleopatra.
And let’s not forget, there is evidence in writing history attributing the Egyptian dynasty with the earliest use of makeup. Historians describe their fascination with the Egyptian method for mixing and wearing eye ostentatious makeup.
Why Did People Use Makeup?
Nowadays, we use makeup for beautifying. We want to look different, more beautiful, elegant, to complement our look, and so on.
Historians give other reasons why people started wearing makeup. The range of possibilities goes from spiritual beliefs to improving physical appearance. Here is a quick list of why people used makeup over the centuries:
- Ancient fashion trends
- Shielding the facial skin from sunburns
- Protection from hot sunny conditions
- Makeup separated the classes
- Protect the wearer from the evil eye
- Believing it cured eye diseases
What Did Egyptian Makeup Look Like?
So, we know that most theories suggest Egyptians invented makeup. But what did that old makeup look like?
For the makeup styles of Egypt, we have to look at stone reliefs found in tombs, monuments, and surviving public buildings. Look at any online pictorial or encyclopedia, and you will see Ancient Egyptians.
They mostly used galena, now commonly known as kohl, and malachite powder, which is a green mineral. They used these materials for eye makeup. Galena was black paint, shielding eyes from the sun, while malachite powder made the eyes appear larger. It also protected those who wore it.
Egyptians applied these materials using ivory, wood, or metal sticks.
Civilizations Known For Their Use Of Makeup
Ancient Egypt was not the only place where makeup was important. There were other ancient civilizations where people used makeup. Some of them include Ancient Rome and Ancient Greece. Let’s take a look.
Greece
Ancient Greece was a place where people were enthralled with staying young. They had a love for natural beauty and perpetual youthfulness. These two fascinations fuelled many of their makeup customs.
With that in mind, in Ancient Greece, women who could afford the expensive lead makeup, powdered their face with it. Ancient Greeks also used olive oil treatments to give their skin a dewy look. Women used makeup to darken their eyebrows.
Rome
Rome is considered the center of style and fashion nowadays. It has been like that for centuries. And there is a good reason why Rome remains the center.
Ancient Rome was the center of the world. Women liked to look pale, so they used lead-based white paint to achieve a light look.
They also applied red dye to the lips and cheeks. Women used sooty eye makeup to darken their eyelids, similar to what we do with eye shadow nowadays.
Persia
Persians used kohl, similar to what Egyptians used. After many Persians converted to Islam, there were restrictions on cosmetics because of their religion. They believed substances in cosmetics were harmful to the body.
Some other civilizations and cultures have contributed to makeup history and makeup culture, including Ancient Sumer, Babylon, and more.
Notable Periods in Makeup History
We talked about who invented makeup. We attribute that invention to Ancient Egyptians. But what were some other notable periods and people that influenced makeup history over the years? Let’s take a look at the notable makeup timeline.
Ancient Egypt
We said everything started in the ancient Egyptian culture. Makeup played a huge role in masculinity. As early as 4,000 BCE, men used black pigment to create their cat-eye design.
Dramatic eyeliner was worn to communicate wealth and status.
Ancient Rome
Fast-forward to the first century AD, and Roman men applied red pigment to their cheeks, lighten their skin with powder, and painted their nails. Here is a fun fact: nowadays we use nail polish for our nails. Well, Romans painted their nails using a stomach-turning elixir of pig fat and blood.
Ancient Romans also painted their heads to camouflage bald spots.
Elizabethan England
Now let’s talk about the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. During this period, makeup was wildly popular among men. They valued ghost-white powdered skin.
During this period, face makeup was cakey and made with lead. It often caused serious health problems, including premature death.
18th Century France
King Louis XVI partook in the extravagance of makeup and hair products. It was all about extravagance for the French King.
Here is a fun fact. Because he went bald at the age of 23, he forced the aristocracy of France into an obsession with wigs.
Men and the royal court painted on beauty marks, pairing it nicely with their high heels and fur muffs. Yes, men in France during the period of King Louis XVI were basically women of today with makeup and heels.
Japan’s Geisha Period
In Japan, geisha, kabuki actors, and other performers as early as the Heian period painted their skin as white as possible. They used shironuri makeup with the intent to look beautiful when they performed by candlelight.
Geisha has been a predominantly female occupation since the 1800s. Yet, it rose in popularity during World War II, when most women had to work in factories and other places in Japan. During this period, the term also lost its status due to prostitutes marketing themselves as geisha girls to American military men.
The original role of the geisha was an assistant to the oiran, high class, and very expensive Japanese courtesans.
Post World War I
Following the end of World War I, mirrors became popular around the world. Combine that with the popularity of portraiture, and it became necessary to look the best. Motion pictures made things even more important.
Stage film didn’t transfer well to film because it was too thick, and there was a need for innovations. That is when Max Factor, the London-based cosmetics company, took on the original greasepaint formula.
The company created a semi-liquid version that could be stored in jars. Sales began in 1920. During this period, Maybelline emerged as well, coming up with their mascara made of petroleum jelly and coal dust in 1917. Fun fact: founder Thomas Williams invented it for his sister Maybel.
1930s Hollywood
Nowadays, Hollywood dictates all the fashion trends, makeup trends, and everything about fashion and style. But it wasn’t until the 1930s that Hollywood took the central stage.
With the arrival of modern-movie making in the United States, hair and makeup for men and women reemerged. Here is a fun fact: Clark Gable’s polished look is among the first examples of metrosexual beauty.
The 1970s and 1980s
During the later 20th century, makeup for men was hardly mainstream. It was reserved for the fringe. Think of artists like Boy George, David Bowie, and Prince.
During this period, legendary male makeup artists began working in the field. For example, Scott Barnes has worked with almost every big name in Hollywood.
How Is It Nowadays?
Makeup has evolved through the years and history. Many years ago, it was used for stage and screen. Nowadays, even men are using bronzers and other beauty products to clear up their imperfections.
We can safely say the main purpose of any makeup product nowadays is to clear and hide imperfections. We have found ways to use makeup simply and organically to create everyday looks.
