| You may not believe it but do you know that beauty | | | | any bright colors on their nails. |
| products have been used as early as 4000 BC in | | | | The geishas of Japan spearheaded the use of beauty |
| Ancient Egypt? | | | | products. Lipsticks are used made from crushed |
| Where In The World Did Beauty Products Originate? | | | | safflower petals. The same product is also used to |
| The ancient Greeks and the Romans also left tell tale | | | | paint their eyebrows and the edges of their eyes. It |
| signs of using beauty products. Surprisingly, there are | | | | is known that they used a wax (bintsuke wax) as a |
| evidences that these cultures had even used | | | | base for their makeup and rice powder to color their |
| mercury and white lead in their cosmetics! The Bible | | | | face and back, and rouge for their eyes and nose. |
| also had numerous references to fragrances, like the | | | | The ohaguo - a black paint - is used to color the |
| frankincense and myrrh mentioned at the time of the | | | | teeth for a certain ceremony when the maiko |
| birth of Jesus. | | | | (apprentice geisha) graduate from their training and |
| Beauty products were in use in the Middle East very | | | | become independent geishas. The geishas are also |
| long time ago. Although some branches of Islam that | | | | known to make a lighter color from bird droppings. |
| are fundamentalist in teachings do not allow the use | | | | In the European side of the old world, the people |
| of cosmetics, others do use them. In 936-1013 AD, | | | | who are in the lower classes are known to have a |
| Abu al-Qasim al-Zahrawi (Abulcasis), a known | | | | darker skin as they are more exposed to the sun |
| physician, authoured a huge medical encyclopedia | | | | than their royal and rich counterparts. The lighter |
| titled Al-Tasrif. In his writing, he wrote a chapter | | | | color of the skin is often used as a sign of a higher |
| about cosmetics. He believes that beauty products is | | | | class because it showed one did not have to work |
| to be considered as a branch of medicine - what he | | | | outdoors but had leisure time inside. Therefore, it |
| called "Medicine of Beauty". He wrote about | | | | was A common practice to try to lighten the skin. |
| perfumes, incense, etc. He also wrote about things | | | | Europeans are known to use a variety of beauty |
| that were the precursors to our lipsticks and | | | | products, including white lead paint. |
| deodorants. | | | | During the 20th century, makeup became popular in |
| In India, there are evidences that they have been | | | | the United States of America and Europe as it was |
| using henna since about the 4th or 5th century. They | | | | influenced by the ballet and the theater. The movie |
| are applied as both a hair dye and in their art called | | | | industry also had a great impact. The great and |
| "mehndi". This traditional art is often done before a | | | | known makeup companies of Max Factor, Elizabeth |
| Hindu wedding and complex designs are painted on | | | | Arden, and Helena Rubinstein rose up during this time. |
| the hands and feet. North African cultures are also | | | | The Hair dye was invented in 1907 by the founder of |
| known to use henna but with bolder designs than the | | | | L'Oreal. He also invented sunscreen. In 1888, |
| Indians. | | | | deodorant was invented and it came in roll-on form |
| China is known to practice the art of coloring the | | | | by 1952 and aerosol form in 1965. |
| fingernails around 3000 BC The color of the fingernails | | | | During the 1920s, makeup style was greatly |
| is known to determine the social class of the person. | | | | influenced by the flapper era, with its red lipstick and |
| Gold and silver colors are reserved to the early | | | | red nail polish. Coco Chanel was able to convince |
| royalties. Later on, the royals wore red and black. | | | | women they needed a suntan, resulting in fake |
| Lower social class people were not allowed to wear | | | | tanning products being marketed. |