A Makeup Memoir

Today, makeup is used for many purposes and there are many different kinds of looks. Where did it all begin? Take a look at Lisa Eldridge’s video “Best and Worst Makeup Moments in History” to learn more about makeup’s development throughout time.

Makeup has been used for centuries, as far back as Egyptian times. The article “Why Did Cleopatra Wear Makeup?” written by Amy Breau offers some very interesting insight as to why Egypt’s most famous queen decided to wear makeup. Cleopatra, who was the Queen of Egypt during the first century BC, not only wore makeup for aesthetic reasons, but for purposeful reasons as well. The first eye product developed was a paste made of malachite, which is a vibrant green mineral that contains copper hydroxyl carbonate. It was applied to Cleopatra’s under-eyes. She applied a brilliant blue eyeshadow that included specks of fool’s gold to her upper eyelids which was made from lapis lazuli stone. Kohl, which was a combination of powdered lead sulfide and animal fat, and other times “a mixture of metal, lead, copper, ash and burnt almonds, all around their eyes,” according to Evan Andrews’ writing “11 Things You May not Know about Ancient Egypt,” was used to fill in her eyebrows and accentuate her eyelashes. A red colored clay was used as a product for her lips and cheeks.

Makeup was made from materials in the surrounding environment, such as “rocks, minerals, and plants.” These eye products created a barrier between people’s skin and the searing sunlight that reflected off of the sand dunes. Evan Andrews’ article brings up how men AND women both wore large amounts of makeup because they thought that it defended them against the gods Horus and Ra.

The first kind of makeup brushes were made out of “wood, bone and ivory.” Men and women both wore “perfumes made from oil, myrrh and cinnamon.” The Egyptians also thought that their makeup had the power to heal, and it turns out that held some kind of truth, because researchers have found that lead-based makeup found in ancient Egypt did contribute to reducing eye infections.

Ancient Greeks and Romans created powders made of “minerals and stones,” although their looks were not as vibrant as the Egyptians. Molly Edmonds’ article “How Makeup Works” goes into detail about makeup’s history throughout the years. Pale skin was the popular look during the Middle Ages all the way up to the nineteenth century. Colorful makeup was considered to be something only used by prostitutes and the lower class. Queen Victoria proclaimed that makeup was unrefined and inappropriate to use because of its correlation with prostitutes, so there was a lot of discouragement against being flashy.

Unlike the Egyptians, makeup was used more by women in European countries. Women coated their upper bodies with a “lead and vinegar mixture known as ceruse.” Elizabeth I of England was characterized as having a “white face and large forehead” which portrayed the iconic look effectively. Are you wondering why the lead in their makeup didn’t make them sick or or worse? Oh, it did. Those who used lead-based ceruse resulted in having “muscle paralysis” or ended up “in their graves.” The lead also caused substantial hair loss (maybe that’s why wigs were so popular back then).

The twentieth century was a turning point. Makeup innovation was plentiful and it marked the “birth of the modern-day makeup industry.” Molly Edmonds also wrote about how makeup played in an important role in people’s lives. When portrait photography became popular in the late 1800s, it was people’s one chance to document what they looked like, so they wanted to look like the best version of themselves. Putting on makeup before a person’s portrait was taken became customary. At the same time, mirrors became less expensive, so people began placing them in their homes, and therefore began seeing their reflections more often. The motion pictures industry was rising and contributed the most to the use of makeup.

Actors on stage applied large amounts of makeup so that those sitting in the very back of the audience would be able to see their looks from a great distance. This concept was brought over to the screen, but it did not read very well. Movie stars used a “greasepaint foundation” that was developed by Max Factor, who was a popular source for wigs in Hollywood in 1914. It did not crack or cake. He also created a “lip gloss and an eyebrow pencil,” and was the person responsible for making the word “makeup” popular. He sold the concept of makeup to the public by saying that they could look like their most-liked celebrities.

Maybelline was started in 1915 when T.L. Williams’ sister, Mabel, combined “petroleum jelly and coal dust” in a way that he thought was marketable after he turned the mixture into more of a powdered substance. It was a hit among the public. There were “lipstick wars” between chemist Hazel Bishop’s company and Revlon in the 1950s. She created a long-lasting lipstick formula that was highly competitive in the makeup industry. Charles Revson, who co-founded Revlon, and other competitors turned out to be more superior than Bishop’s efforts. Estée Lauder enticed customers with “free samples and gifts of the skin cream she developed with her uncle.” She created a successful branch that included “Clinique and Origins, among other companies.”

Since the marketing of makeup successfully reached target audiences and the components of makeup itself were getting better, women responded very positively to the new and improved cosmetics industry and products. Makeup’s popularity has skyrocketed in today’s society due to the past’s influence and today’s ability to view and have access to products. Technology has improved the quality and safety of makeup so people don’t have to worry about the harmful side effects of the past, can enjoy makeup in the present, and look forward to the future of what makeup will have to offer. Next week, I’ll define makeup terminology. Stay tuned!