Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder. Beauty and the beholder have changed over many generations. What was considered beautiful 6000 years ago is different from what's emphasized today. Understandably, there's also been an evolution of make up methods over the ages. Embellishment in ages past was a dangerous and desperate affair. In Ancient Egypt, as far back as 3000 BC, the in-thing was to be fair skinned. To achieve that, they would apply lead (sometimes mercury) on the skin! For eye liners, if lead sulfide (a dangerous substance) wasn't readily available, soot was used! . . In the 16th century, Belladona was often used by European ladies to dilate the eyes (the black part of the eyeball became fat), making it "dreamy" (and beautiful). ("Belladona" is Italian for "Beautiful Lady") Belladona is actually Atropine belladona, a substance that causes blurry vision and made many women fall off the stage in those days. Today, Atropine is used by eye doctors to treat some conditions. Thankfully, today's make up is a whole lot safer, with emphasis on safety with style. . In different generations, different perceptions of beauty have been seen, but God has always stayed the same. Modes and methods of accentuating and accesorizing have changed but God hasn't changed. God's desire for us is beauty and His beauty doesn't expire. Make up brings temporary change; God's beauty brings real change. The word for "beauty" in today's Scripture means embellishment and is used only twice in the Bible, both times in Isaiah, the other time being in reference to the joy of marriage and the beauty of the (bride and) groom. Grace has given us beauty for ashes. . #blessedup #grace #graced #gracedandfavored #gracedup #beautified #adored #friday #motivated #motivatedtofinish (at Developers Platform)