First Research Blog

Olivia Brand

Ms. Anderson

Senior Seminar

3/16/18

#1 Research Blog: History of Cosmetics

Someone struggling with acne would find it really difficult to find affordable products that are healthy and effective for ravaged skin. This got me thinking and brought me to my research question: How can I create affordable skin care with quality ingredients that young girls and boys my age can afford? Makeup and skincare have really negative connotations in society today - many people believe that makeup is superficial and a way to hide who you really are, but many believe the opposite and this research project in focusing on the side of makeup being used as a tool of empowerment. Makeup and skincare have allowed a plethora of people to feel confident, empowered and when they’re not self-conscious about their skin they can think about other things they might need to think about as a young person. Although not talked about a lot, this issue affects so many young people who have a hard time feeling confident in their own skin, and it’s important to change the way they feel, and hopefully this project will challenge the way we/society think about beauty.

Skin "decor" has a really interesting past, in fact, "using facial decoration to gain attention or intimidate enemies in battle are cultural constants throughout history", so using face products were not created as a mask to hide under - they were originally created to enhance and use as a tool in battle which is unexpected and unknown by the general population and beauty community. The first evidence seen of cosmetics was in Egyptian culture, used for mummification/burial ritual, and also in their daily cultural life. The uses of these cosmetics included protecting themselves from the harmful elements they were exposed to, warding off the sun's rays, and used as a repellent for insects. For makeup, wearing it meant honoring their goddesses and gods.

What materials/ingredients did they use? For eyeshadow, they ground up copper, metal ore or other precious stones and added either oil, water or fats from animals to use as an adhesive to allow the product to stick. Kohl (dark eyeliner) was made from lead, copper, burned almonds, and soot along with some other ingredients. Red ochre (a clay) mixed with water was used for rouge and lip color. All of these cosmetic products were stored in jars to stay fresh. Women would take the jars to parties with them and keep them hidden under their chairs - they believed the makeup warded off bad spirits so everyone (even the poor) wore some sort of makeup.  The wealthy took milk baths to soften their skin. It seems like they even took it more seriously than many people do today!

Before mass marketing, women often made their own concoctions and recipes that would be passed down from generation to generation and then eventually posted in women's magazines. Cosmetics switched from being marketed as beauty items to medicinal products because skin conditions like eczema and acne needed to be treated. Healthy, youthful, clear and radiant was what everyone desired so that is was products were then marketed for! My project will be all about bringing it back to the basics: create skincare and beauty products that come from natural ingredients from the Earth like the Egyptians originally did.