How Cosmetics Changed the World

How Cosmetics Changed the World

Written by: Anna Pafenberg

While wearing makeup isn’t everyone's forte, it has allowed people new opportunities for self expression and ways to enhance their beauty for thousands of years. Cosmetics have been around since Ancient Egypt in about 3000 BC. In this time, men wore makeup alongside women. Their preferred look was black pigment around the eyes in order to distinguish themselves from the lower classes. This eye blend was called ‘kohl’. They would also use oils for pleasant scents like lavender and lily as perfume. The Egyptians also used blue and green eye shadows from ores that were mined in order to make their eyes pop. In ancient China, royals and the upper class would stain their fingernails with pigments and wear fake eyebrows. In China and Japan, they would use rice powder to whiten their faces. The Greek did similar in 1000 BC. 

Centuries later in the Victorian Era, makeup was somewhat deemed as scandalous and frowned upon. Queen Victoria publicly disliked it and it was discouraged. However, women started to care more about their appearance. Instead of changing the colors on their faces with different types of pigments, natural beauty was preferred. Eyebrows were trimmed, lashes were massaged with oil, and sometimes the women even used natural colors from beets to add color to their face. By the early 1900’s, makeup began to gain mass popularity and was soon marketed to the public. 

The 1920s was a new era for women. They could wear more revealing clothes, go out more, and overall have more freedom. Because of this newfound self expression, women wore much more makeup. They would paint their lips in bright colors and cheeks with red blush. Like the Egyptians, their eyes were rimmed with kohl. The first liquid nail polish was introduced in the ‘20s. Because of this new industrial age in the United States, Americans became mass consumers. Makeup was less than a ‘do-it-yourself’ and more so a marketed product. Lipstick, blush, mascara, and eyeshadow all became popular products sold to women. 

By the time the 1950’s rolled around, TV and movies were big. Hollywood began to produce stars that influenced women’s clothes and makeup. Max Factor and Revlon became big brands that helped to popularize cosmetics. Business was booming in this industry with foundation and setting powder being introduced. Modern makeup was brought to popularity in the 1960s, the era that defined the feminist movement. New eyeshadow and lip colors became widespread with icy shades of eye shadow and blue and green shades. Lipsticks had wider ranges now as well. 

Overall, makeup has evolved tremendously throughout the years. Since 10000 BC, people of all genders and cultures have worn makeup as a form of self expression. Lipsticks, eyeshadows, and face melts have revolutionized beauty and creativity forever.