Beauty! We all look for beauty in our life, we appreciate it, we admire it and we cannot live without it. We look for beauty in nature, in art, in our home and most importantly in ourselves. People say beauty comes from within, if this is true why do women care so much about wearing makeup? Makeup is the greatest invention of women because it has given them the opportunity to improve their physical appearance and become more beautiful; which is what they aspire to. Women want to be more beautiful for two reasons, first, self-fulfillment, and second, to become more attractive, which lifts their spirits and gives them overwhelming happiness. This is not only true for women today, but has been true for centuries.
The makeup is as old as the Pyramids of Giza, which is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and the only one that remains largely intact. The first evidence of makeup appeared in ancient Egypt 4,000 years ago. The art of makeup may have existed before the Egyptians, but recorded history doesn’t take us that far back in time.
Fashion and personal appearance were a high priority among the ancient Egyptians. Putting on makeup was part of the daily rituals and lifestyle of the Egyptians. Both men and women, young and old, rich and poor, wore makeup. The royalty of the time and the wealthy hired face painters to do their makeup. Those who couldn’t afford face painting applied their own.
If you look at any of the portraits of the ancient Egyptians that are painted on the walls of temples and tombs in Egypt, you will find that they are all consistent in having meticulously and beautifully outlined and ornate eyes. It is practically impossible to find a portrait of an ancient Egyptian whose eyes are not decorated. Throughout all periods and dynasties, eye makeup was a daily prerequisite for both men and women. The men and women of Egypt not only wore makeup, but also the statues of their gods and goddesses were adorned with all these different types of cosmetics.
Eye makeup is undoubtedly the trademark of the ancient Egyptian makeup style, black and green were the main colors used. The eye contour was done with Kohl, to create the almond shape that has become synonymous with the ancient Egyptians. Kohl, which is the black colorant, was obtained from galena, a naturally occurring mineral. They also used the color green for their eyes. The green coloring was achieved with a green pigment called malachite, which is a copper mineral.
To complement their eye makeup, the ancient Egyptians used a type of blush to color their lips and cheeks. The red coloring was obtained from red ochre, a pigment made from naturally dyed clay.
To paint their nails and dye their hair, the ancient Egyptians used henna, a dye obtained from the leaves and buds of the henna bush, a plant native to tropical and subtropical regions of Africa.
The ancient Egyptians used makeup not only for cosmetic reasons, but also for medicinal and spiritual purposes. Physicians in ancient Egypt prescribed the use of kohl to prevent eye diseases. It was used for its disinfectant qualities. Kohl’s also offered an eye shield from the sun and a fly deterrent.
The green eye makeup worn by the ancient Egyptians was believed to induce or evoke the eye of Horus, the god of the sky and the sun, which provided them with protection. It was also believed that green eye makeup also protected them against the evil eye.
Makeup was also important in the afterlife. The Egyptians cared very much about how they would appear before the gods during the Judgment for the Dead. They wanted to make sure that their physical appearance was the best when they faced the gods on this day in order to make a good impression. For this reason, among the first burials of the predynastic period, equipment for eye makeup (palettes, grinders, applicators) have been found and this practice continued in the following dynasties.
We cannot talk about makeup and beauty during the Ancient Egyptian times without mentioning the beautiful Nefertiti (her name means the beautiful has come) who is the royal wife of the Egyptian pharaoh Akhenaten. It is said that even in the ancient world, her beauty was famous. The 3,300-year-old bust statue of her is one of the most famous pieces of Egyptian history. Due to her bust, Nefertiti has become an icon of feminine beauty. The iconic bust of Nefertiti is available at the Berlin Museum as part of the Egyptian collection.
It’s so amazing that some of these things are used today. Kohl is still available and used in many Arab countries. Henna is also still used to dye hair and make temporary tattoos.
Some things just don’t change!
