Makeup is something some people use to cover up acne, make themselves look better, and impress others.
Makeup is something other people use to express them self, create art, and have fun. Makeup is powerful to some and art to others. Makeup has been around for a very long time and like painting and sculpting, its story deserves to be told. This is the history of makeup.
-Makeup Around the World-
EGYPT
In Egypt cosmetics use was popular. The Egyptian's realized scented oils had healing properties. After they realized the power of scented oils cosmetics grew more and more. Cosmetics became a part of there culture.
MIDDLE EAST
In the Middle East cosmetics was also considered medicine. Kohl was used to darken eyes and lipsticks and deodorant were created.
CHINA
In China the people stained there fingernails with many things in 3000 BC. The colors they wore represented what social class they were in. A princess was walking along flowers and one fell and imprinted her forehead and other women followed the then "trend" and used this to enhance there beauty. The trend then grew and so did floral fashion.
MONGOLIA
Women put red dots on specific parts of their face and it is still a mystery why.
JAPAN
This is where women started to "cake" their face. In Japan, geisha would put on bright red lipstick and paint their eyebrows. They put wax on their face as a base. Bird poop was also used to lighten the face.
EUROPE
In Europe it was thought to be wicked to wear makeup by church leaders but women still wore it. White powder was often used to make the face paler. White powders were worn because rich Europeans stayed inside and didn't work keeping there face paler and poor Europeans who's skin was tan from working outside wished to be like them. Pale faces were a trend and people wanted pale faces so bad the would bleed themselves.
AMERICA & AUSTRALIA
They only did there makeup for events and special occasions.
-Nowadays-
1900's
Makeup wasn't popular and nobody would buy it at the drugstore so it was sold in costume stores mostly. DIY makeup hacks were often used. Blotting papers were used to make noses whiter in winter and cheeks brighter in summer. Burnt matches were used to darken eyelashes. Lips were stained with natural items. Vaseline was used often in hair and on lips. Rouge was scandalous to wear.
1910's
Makeup became fashionable by ballet stars. Eyelash curlers, eyeliner, and brow product were created. The first makeup studio was invented.
1920's
Hollywood started to really impact makeup and lead to the creation of Mascara, Nail Polish, and fake tan. Rouge, powder, and lipstick became popular because they were cheap and colorful. Coco Chanel had a big impact in the beauty world as well. Light skin was still popular so African Americans bleached there skin to try to whiten it.
1939-1945
It was the time of WWII and cosmetics were is short supply due to most of the ingredients being in high demand for the war(like petroleum jelly). Cosmetics company's realized the industry would be booming after the war so they began to create and find formulas for some jaw dropping (at the time) products.
1960-1970
Feminism was becoming huge and protests more often happened, so women stopped wearing makeup for the cause. Eye shadow was popular during the time and crazy lipstick colors were being made (like lilac, green, and silver). Women mixed these shades to create there own custom ones.
NOW
Makeup is booming and over half of women wear makeup. It is easy to find in the drugstore, in store, and online. Not only women but men wear makeup popularly and drag is common. The world of makeup has really changed.
Makeup is an art and has progressed a lot and will progress more. So hello future , I can only hope I get to try different things than what they are today.
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xoxo, Maddy 