10,000 BC

We can thank the Ancient Egyptians for perfecting the art of daily cosmetic use. Both women and men of nobility rimmed their eyes with black kohl, bathed in milk and scented oils and wore ceremonial wigs. Women used eye shadows made from either crushed beetle wings (for the irredescene) or natural minerals and applied kohl around the eyes with a sharpened twig. Women even carried around leather pouches to carry cosmetics and, for special events, brought their own “makeup boxes” which were placed under their seats.

750-1515 AD

During the medieval times, women focused less on makeup and instead highlighted the forehead – shaved hairlines under hair adornments were a common look among women of nobility. Women also wore patches made from velvet in shapes such as stars or half-moons to cover any scars or unsightly area of their face and bodies.

1600’s

During the reign of both Louis XIV and Queen Elizabeth I, pale skin was de riguer for women. To achieve the pale look, women used lead dye, but this resulted in disfigurements and even death. Hair was bleached using lye, despite the fact that it made hair fall out. In place of the lost hair, both men and women wore elaborate wigs, which were greased with lard to hold the hairs in place.

1837-1901

During the Victorian times, makeup was considered evil and use drastically diminished. In France, the use of rouge was only associated with “ladies of the night” until around 1863, when Alexandre Napoleon Bourjois developed a rouge for prominent stage actresses. His rouge quickly became popular with non-actresses.

In 1872, Yushin Fukuhara, Japan’s first pharmacist and trained in the United States, created Shiseido and introduced face powder, toothpaste and ice cream to Japan.

1910, 1920’s and 1930’s

Max Factor, originally from Poland, introduced makeup to the masses to the U.S. at the 1910 World’s Fair when he adorned a model with body painting. He became the top makeup artist for movie studios and was the first to use actresses to model his cosmetics.   Women gained the right to vote in 1920 and, for the first time, had disposable income for beauty products. The Flapper look was the rage, with women bobbing their hair, smoking in public and pairing smoky eyes with ruby red lips. In the 1930’s, women emulated their favorite actresses with pencil thin eyebrows, pale skin and dark red lips.

1940’s, 1950’s, 1960’s and 1970’s

Movie stars continued to influence women’s fashion, makeup and hairstyles. Despite WWII, sales for red lipstick continued to flourish. In the 1950’s, red lipstick was still popular and was paired with dark, full eyebrows and lengthy eyelashes. In the late 1950’s and early 1960’s, pink and peach lipstick shades were introduced for young women as an alternative to the dramatic and sophisticated red. In the mid-1960’s, dark, smoky eyes rimmed with extra-length eyelashes were paired with pale or white lips. By the end of the 1960’s, the natural, no-makeup look became dominant, and by the mid-1970’s, women opted for wearing foundation only.

1980’s, 1990’s, 2000 and the Present

With the advancement of technology in the 1980’s, makeup colors became bolder and brighter – yellows, blues, greens and reds were used liberally. Dramatic facial contouring, glossy lips, and over-the-top hairstyles were donned by models and actresses and influenced both young and mature women. The mid-1980’s saw cosmetic companies addressing the increasing warnings from dermatologists about the dangers of the sun and responded by adding sunscreen to foundations and moisturizers. By the end of the 1980’s, several cosmetic companies began expanding their colors to appeal into multi-cultural clients.

The early 1990’s saw less technicolors and more neutral eyes paired with strong red lips. By the mid-1990’s makeup companies such as Stila, Smashbox and Nars were created by makeup artists to appeal to both celebrities and non-celebrities. By the end of the 1990’s, a futuristic look reflected the upcoming millenium: silver eyeshadow, dark, smoky eyeliner and pale, shiny lips paired with iron straight hair.  

Since the year 2000, makeup looks have ranged from dramatic, smoky eyes to soft pink lips and cheeks. Today’s makeup looks are not pinpointed by one particular influence and continue to range from soft to dramatic, punk to demure but with one common goal: create the look of healthy skin.

Related Articles
	The Role of Fragrance Throughout History Perfume and other forms of fragrance have been around since the times of early Mesopotamia and Egypt. Even today the perfume industry continues to make big business selling its exquisite products all over the world. From the pyramids and Roman bathes to the French Revolution, the role of   ...Read more		A Brief History of Beard Shaving Shaving is an art. Men have come a long way when it comes to their ability to effectively and efficiently remove hair from their faces. Shaving has always been a concern for men that cannot be properly appreciated without a short history. For as long as men have been growing hair on their faces ...Read more