Beauty and Makeup Blog

Humans have always played with their appearance. Throughout history, men and women have drawn attention to certain features, changed the look of some, and played down others for the sake of the current beauty ideal.

Cranial molding was popular among Egyptians in the 14th century BC and Mayans during the 3rd through 1st century BC. Other much-discussed permanent alterations include foot­binding in pre-Communist China, teeth-sculpting in pre-20th­century Bali, the extraction of lower teeth among the early cattle-herding Toposa people in Africa, and the face and body tattoos of Mayans and South Pacific Islanders: Below are some examples of beauty care techniques, trends, and issues found in various cultures throughout history.

1. Mud, ground plants, crushed insects, and animal excrement were used by early humans to safeguard skin from unattractive and unhealthy sunburns, dehydration, and insect bites.
2. In the centuries before Christ, the Egyptians developed elaborate bathing rituals to lighten and soften skin. They used perfumed oils to scent the body and ward off wrinkles; hair extensions for thicker, longer hair; dyes for shinier, more eye­catching locks; and makeup made of kohl and mineral powders to accentuate features and trace blue veins on the skin, in an effort to mimic the translucence of fair skin. Early Greeks, Romans, and Chinese also enjoyed elaborate bathing, practiced skin care, and used skin-whitening makeup.
3. Early Persians, Indians, and Africans favored henna for skin-softenning baths, hair dye, nail color, and facial cosmetics.
4. During Europe’s Middle Ages, women wore decorative fabricpatches shaped as stars, hearts, moons, or crosses on their faces to draw attention to certain features or to hide scars. A patch to the right of the mouth was called a “coquette mark” and indicated that the wearer was a flirt. A mark on the right cheek said a woman was married, while a patch on the left cheek meant that a woman was engaged. A patch at the corner of the eye advertised the wearer’s life-loving nature.
5. During the late 18th century, the English parliament passed a law making it illegal for women to wear cosmetics, citing makeup as a form of trickery and witchcraft. It was during this time that British men stopped using cosmetics and cologne.
6. In America and Europe, World War I is credited with women’s interest in beauty. With men at war, women had the chance to work and play outside the home. Using their newly disposable income, many bought commercially made makeup for the first time. Hollywood screen stars and the creation of five-and-dime stores furthered the mainstream appeal of cosmetics.
7. During the 1920s, tanning became fashionable among the middle and upper classes. Designer Coco Chanel is credited
   with starting the trend.
8. During the 1990s, an increasing number of female celebrities began sporting the telltale, globe-like appendages known as breast implants. Ordinary American women quickly followed suit: According to the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 32,607 women underwent breast augmentation 1992; 39,247 in 1994; 87,704 in 1996; and 132,378 in 1998.
9. By the year 2000, the North American cosmetic and beauty industry totaled more than $20 billion in sales.

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