SOCIALITE BODY ESSENTIALS SKIN

The use of face powder also appears in the work of ancient Greek writers. White lead was found in the mines as a by-product of the silver, from which ancient Greeks produced face powder. The city of Athens was nearby the Laurion mines, from which the Greeks extracted vast amounts of silver and obtained a great deal of their wealth through trade. Traces of the skin-lightening face powder made from white lead have been uncovered from the graves of wealthy ancient Greek women.

SOCIALITE BODY ESSENTIALS SKIN

A sign of belonging to the upper class was white, unblemished skin free from sun-exposure, as it was the life of wealthy women that involved staying indoors. While the desire for a white complexion represented social ideas about race superiority, skin tone also enforced gender as in ancient times, women were paler than men, due to having less haemoglobin. Using similar ingredients, ancient Greeks used cinnabar as a powdered rouge for the face as well as brightening their complexion with white lead. Greece Īncient Egyptian beauty trends travelled across the Mediterranean and influenced cosmetic practices in Greece. Face powder was also considered to have medicinal purposes to protect people from illness. Greek queen Cleopatra heavily influenced the ancient Egyptian beauty standard with a distinctive make-up style, inspiring the ancient Egyptians to paint their eyes with green and blue powders. Men and women used an early form of rouge powdered blush for their cheeks which was made from red ochre. Kohl jars used to store eyeliner as well as stone containers holding face powder were discovered in graves as this promised the ancient Egyptians eternal beauty in the afterlife. Ī stone cosmetics jar retrieved from ancient Egyptian remainsĪrchaeological remains and chemical analyses indicate the use of face powder dating back from between 20 BC, and include lead fibres, a common cosmetic ingredient used in ancient Egypt. During this time, women used harmful ingredients as face powder including bleaches, lead and lye. The prevalence of this trend was carried throughout the Crusades and Medieval era. In ancient Europe and Asia, a whitened face with a smooth complexion signalled a woman of high status. The use of face powder has contributed to beauty standards throughout history. The other is compressed powder which conceals blemishes and maximises coverage. One of which is loose powder, which is used to assist with oily skin in absorbing excess moisture and mattifying the face to reduce shininess. Face powders generally come in two main types. Originating from ancient Egypt, face powder has had different social uses across cultures and in modern times, it is typically used to set makeup, brighten the skin and contour the face. Loose face powder in three different shadesįace powder is a cosmetic product applied to the face to serve different functions, typically to beautify the face.

Socialite body essentials