Ancient Egyptian Cosmetics - Used for Aesthetics and Hygiene
Ancient Egyptian cosmetics as part of the history of cosmetics in the land of the Pharaohs first appeared in ancient texts such as the Book of the Dead. The primary use of these antiquated cosmetics was aesthetic, therapeutic, and even ceremonial in nature. Regardless of gender or social status, Egyptian beauticians used ingredients found in their natural habitat to create this antiquated makeup. Often using minerals, white cosmetics were made from chalk; black makeup made with carbon and green makeup from malachite and other copper-based minerals. For that natural blush, red ochre was ground and mixed with water to paint the lips and cheeks and henna was used as a natural dye for fingernails and hair. Probably the most popular in ancient Egyptian makeup was the use of kohl – which is created with a combination of malachite, a gray lead and some oil or fat mixed in. It is then kept in a jar and applied as needed with a stick to the upper and lower eyelids. This could have been the origin of what we now know simply as eyeliner. Ancient Egyptian Cosmetics for Hygienic Use Cosmetic components were also utilized by the Egyptians for cleanliness and hygienic purposes. These two traits were highly regarded and for priests in the service of the gods, sanitation was essential. They not only had to wash their hands several times but they also had to be clean-shaven from head to toe, to keep the parasites from the bodies they were mummifying from assaulting them. One of the most popular cosmetic products of this period was a natural body scrub made from oil and lime, used for exfoliating as well as deodorizing purposes. Written by: Mika Villanueva
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