The Evolution of Makeup
Makeup refers to the washable, coloured design of skin and hair using chemical or natural products, usually on the face.
From my guess, the general knowledge about makeup includes: Mascara, eyeliner, lipstick/ lip-gloss, blush, concealer, foundation, highlighter … (the list could go on for ever, but if you already knew this – Not bad!)
However, makeup is not only what we think of it today. In fact, a much more rich and interesting history lies beneath it, that I would like to uncover for you today, even if it is only to some extent.
Makeup, or cosmetic body art, is assumed to be as old as mankind itself. For instance, presumably 50.000 years ago, the Neanderthals in Spain already used seashells as containers for makeup.
Cosmetic body art is also found on cave paintings worldwide, indicating that makeup has found use in the earliest stages of humanity. The reasons are varying, ranging from being part of rituals to being a part of cultural expression, as is the case for different tribes in Africa for example. In fact, cosmetic body art is argued to be one of the earliest forms of a ritual in human culture.
A probably more well-known early use of makeup is that of the ancient Egyptian – Back then, both women and men used makeup to enhance their appearance. The focus lied especially on their eyes, as they were the symbol of the sun god Re, who was one of the most important gods in the ancient Egyptian religion. To achieve that, the ancient Egyptians used Kohl eyeliner and green eyeshadow, as green was also the colour of Re.
Traditional makeup is also found in Asian countries, such as the Huadian in China, or geisha in Japan. In the middle East, people used decorative Henna during wedding celebrations to beautify the bride.
During the Middle Ages and early modern times of Europe, makeup and beauty trends would constantly change. Coloured cheeks, lips and eyes were commonly used by prostitutes and by the lower class, but during the 16th century, Elizabeth I made the use of rouge for the cheeks popular again. Thus, it quickly became a sign of wealth and upper class. Nevertheless, pale skin was a never changing beauty standard (similar to some Asian countries such as Korea or Japan) – Pale skin was a sign of wealth and status, as the less wealthy people commonly worked outside and ultimately obtained a suntan. To get pale and fair skin, women would even go as far as to use toxic lead to lighten their skin or bleed themselves (so much for beauty knows no pain am I right).
During the 19th century, the western cosmetic industry began to grow due to the emergence of new inventions such as mirrors (which became more affordable to the general public), or portrait photography, leading to increasing one’s self-awareness and creating a demand for cosmetics that help improve one’s image. Additionally, the growth of the film industry led to improvements of stage makeup, as the makeup that was developed for the stages did not look as good on camera. Max Factor went on to develop makeup that became popular not only with movie stars, but also with ordinary people. In the 1920s, he began marketing his makeup to the public with the claims that they could look like their favourite movie stars (Fun fact: Mac Factor actually popularized the term “makeup”).
From then on, different makeup looks began trending:
- The Flapper look during the 1920s, known for black smoky eyes and red lipstick
- In contrast to the Flapper look, a more natural look with light eyeshadow during the 1940s (as a result of rationing during the second world war)
- The ‘London Look’ during the 1960s
- The ‘punk’ look and experimental makeup during the 1980s
- Onto the latest trends of the 21st century
Of course, this ‘summary’ mostly pertains to the western world and did not cover every aspect of makeup’s history, as there is much more to cover about the origins of makeup and cosmetics.
Nevertheless, I hope I was able to showcase that makeup, in actuality, is more than just covering your face in layers of paint to look prettier for men, or whatever the general public deems is the point of putting makeup on.
In fact, if you would like to know about how I view (and use) makeup, or if you would like to partake in a discussion that I started about what it means to put on makeup in the current world, check out the following links!
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/xxflxz/what_do_you_think_is_the_use_of_makeup/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3
YouTube: