Skincare has probably been around about as long as there have been humans. But as far as pinpointing the first applications of skin care, Egypt has the first known recorded cases about 6,000 years ago, with makeup canisters and kits being found in Egyptian tombs.
Ancient Egyptians took skincare and cosmetics seriously! Wealthy Egyptians could spend hours to look their best. Makeup was used not only to bring out their features, but to protect their skin from the harsh sun, extreme heat and insects, and was also used to honor their gods and goddesses.
Some of the cosmetics included unusual ingredients such as a mix of almonds, lead, animal fat, soot, and copper for eyeliner (not exactly what you’d want in your skincare products these days due to toxicity!), and eyeshadows made of ground up metals or semi-precious stones that would catch the light to portray a glittering, luminous appearance.
Cleopatra’s lipstick was made with ground carmine beetles for redness, and other women applied a water and clay mixture to color their lips.
To preserve their youth, they used sesame, moringa and castor oils to combat wrinkles, and a soap paste they made from olive oil and clay to cleanse their skin. The Egyptian women took milk baths and exfoliated with Dead Sea salts to heal and revitalize their skin. Honey and milk masks were part of their beauty routines to moisturize their skin.
And that’s just the beginning of the fascinating history of skincare through time!
