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Early Cosmetic Practices
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Published: August 17, 2006
Coal eyeliner. Berry-stained lipstick and blush. Cooking oil moisturizer.
These may not be contemporary society's ideal definitions of makeup, but in the early cosmetic practices of the late 1800s everyday products like these were used for more than just their household purposes. Although the various products and uses have changed throughout time, early cosmetic practices and many original concepts are still in use today.
Dating back to the time of the ancient Egyptians, where makeup was used in early cosmetic practices both for beauty enhancement as well as a means for protecting people's eyes and skin from bugs and infection, care for personal appearance has included the use of cosmetics for centuries.
Skin
Face whitening, which began in the 1400s and was popular until the 1800s, is an example of an early cosmetic practice. Used to delineate different social classes, the dark, tanned skin color of lower class society often persuaded members of society's upper echelons to seek lighter skin tones. Avoiding the sun became an obsession for many within the upper-class elite, using window coverings to shield outside light from homes. White powder was used to reduce the appearance of any skin pigmentation. A mixture of carbonate, hydroxide and lead oxide was commonly used during this time to whiten the face.
The chemical properties of face whitening products made the costs of achieving beauty life-threatening. Lead poisoning, muscle paralysis or death were all possible side-effects of this early cosmetic practice, which has since been replaced with a safe and simple zinc oxide combination.
The quest for pale skin virtually ended in the 1920s when Coco Chanel was seen with a tan on the Duke of Westminster's yacht, making tan skin the new rage in beauty. Products were soon developed to enhance darker skin pigments. This practice has continued advancing in technology to this day, with the advent of sunless tanner.
Nails
Nail care practices date back to 3000 B.C. China, where people used a combination of gum arabic, egg whites, gelatin and beeswax either as a varnish or a stain. Historically speaking, nail color often was used as a means to signify one's place within society. The colors gold and silver were associated with royalty, while lower ranks typically wore pale, neutral colors. Modern nail varnishes, or polish, are made with variations of car paint.
While early cosmetic practices have drastically changed since their ancient counterparts, the purpose of cosmetics has essentially remained the same throughout history. As early cosmetic practices grew in population, technological advancements have varied greatly to reflect fashion and beauty trends of the 19th and 20th centuries, and are even alive in makeup styles as we know them today.
These may not be contemporary society's ideal definitions of makeup, but in the early cosmetic practices of the late 1800s everyday products like these were used for more than just their household purposes. Although the various products and uses have changed throughout time, early cosmetic practices and many original concepts are still in use today.
Dating back to the time of the ancient Egyptians, where makeup was used in early cosmetic practices both for beauty enhancement as well as a means for protecting people's eyes and skin from bugs and infection, care for personal appearance has included the use of cosmetics for centuries.
Skin
Face whitening, which began in the 1400s and was popular until the 1800s, is an example of an early cosmetic practice. Used to delineate different social classes, the dark, tanned skin color of lower class society often persuaded members of society's upper echelons to seek lighter skin tones. Avoiding the sun became an obsession for many within the upper-class elite, using window coverings to shield outside light from homes. White powder was used to reduce the appearance of any skin pigmentation. A mixture of carbonate, hydroxide and lead oxide was commonly used during this time to whiten the face.
The chemical properties of face whitening products made the costs of achieving beauty life-threatening. Lead poisoning, muscle paralysis or death were all possible side-effects of this early cosmetic practice, which has since been replaced with a safe and simple zinc oxide combination.
The quest for pale skin virtually ended in the 1920s when Coco Chanel was seen with a tan on the Duke of Westminster's yacht, making tan skin the new rage in beauty. Products were soon developed to enhance darker skin pigments. This practice has continued advancing in technology to this day, with the advent of sunless tanner.
Nails
Nail care practices date back to 3000 B.C. China, where people used a combination of gum arabic, egg whites, gelatin and beeswax either as a varnish or a stain. Historically speaking, nail color often was used as a means to signify one's place within society. The colors gold and silver were associated with royalty, while lower ranks typically wore pale, neutral colors. Modern nail varnishes, or polish, are made with variations of car paint.
While early cosmetic practices have drastically changed since their ancient counterparts, the purpose of cosmetics has essentially remained the same throughout history. As early cosmetic practices grew in population, technological advancements have varied greatly to reflect fashion and beauty trends of the 19th and 20th centuries, and are even alive in makeup styles as we know them today.
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