History of Makeup Cosmetics
Source:NetWork Author:Jafon makeup brushes factory Addtime:2018-10-27 Click:
Cosmetics have been with us for centuries. Both men and women have taken a distinct interest in making themselves stand out for purely visual reasons.From as early as 3500 – 4000 BC, the Egyptians had been using all sorts of ground minerals, insects, lead and carbon to make pigments for their faces and bodies.In the same way, the Japanese and Chinese used a rice paste concoction to stain their faces a very pale colour. This is evident even today where geisha and other ceremonial makeup are still applied in these areas.In Europe, the aristocrats used chalk and lead powders to also make their faces whiter so as to differentiate themselves from the golden brown tans of the working class. Powders were also derived from lead oxide which in turn resulted in lead poisoning. Greek women pounded ochre clay and red iron to create pastes for lipsticks.During the Middle Ages, the trend for makeup continued. Egg white became the whitening agent of choice for the upper classes around 1400. Following this and other cosmetic applicants, great breakthroughs were made in France and Italy as manufacturing facilities for makeup and perfumes were built. The use of natural products like fruits, barks and flowers demanded high quantities of raw materials to create comparatively small amounts of product. As more and more of these facilities grew, so did the popularity of cosmetics; so much so that it was no longer restricted to the upper classes but all except the poorest had access to them.Around 1800, the dangerous lead ingredient was replaced by zinc oxide in the production of makeup. But it is also a point to note that as more advancements were being made in the cosmetic sector, its usage was socially and publicly frowned upon. It was thought that makeup should be used only by prostitutes, and members of the theatre houses, as it was too vulgar for those of the highest classes.Turnaround in the industry came later on in the 20th century and the growing popularity of films and celebrities. With Hollywood’s depiction of desirable women as those wearing makeup, so did the hundreds in the audiences begin to change their opinions about it. And with the advent of makeup artists like Max Factor, who started making cinema grade makeup, the love affair with makeup was only in its beginning stages. By the time television sets became a household staple, advertisements in magazines for makeup products drew the post war women into a need to be more attractive and boost their spirits in a world that was damaged by ugliness.Following the 1970s, the cosmetic industry was much more regulated than in times before and so the level of skin irritants and negative side effects diminished. In a testament to this, the demand for more natural makeup grew; the public wanted cosmetics that were environmentally friendly and not tested on animals.Makeup has had a love hate relationship throughout its history but it has persevered into one of the most profitable industries today. It has made leaps and bounds by detailed research and improved ingredients so much so that almost everyone is privy to it and is enamoured.
