A Full Face Of Makeup

The first known use of cosmetic makeup was found in 4000 B.C. with Ancient Egyptians. Both men and women were found with almond-shaped eyeliner, used skincare oils and perfumes to protect their skin and prevent offensive body odour. Cosmetics were apart of everyday routine.

Hieroglyphics and sarcophagus depict them with large almond-shaped eyes, surrounded by a lot of eyeliner. They would wear said eyeliner every day as they believed it allowed gods such as Horus and Ra to keep them from sickness. Scientists were surprised to hear that they didn't fall ill to lead poisoning as the eyeliner back then was made from lead salts. It did quite the opposite, actually, as the salts produced nitric oxide which boosted their immune systems. To make black eyeliner, they would use a lead-based mineral called Galena and soot to then store in carved stone pots. For green eyeliner, that they also used, they would take a crushed malachite stone powder and add in water or animal fat to create a paste. It would later be applied with a bone, ivory or wood stick. The substance was known to repel flies and protect eyes from the harsh sun.

To create their idea of blush and lipstick, they would take red ochre from tinted clay, wash it to get rid of sand and then dry it out in the sun. To get a darker colour, it would be burned. Sometimes, oils or fats were added to make it a smooth paste. It would be applied to the cheeks and lips with a blush. Nowadays, lipstick is made with various waxes, oils and pigments and blush is made with powders often coloured with mica pigments. 

Ancient Egyptians would use crush up henna leaves to create a paste that they then