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The History of Bare Essential Mineral Makeup

October 5th, 2009 · No Comments

If you think that the early civilizations were not concerned with their appearance, think again. Despite being a relatively new trend, the use of minerals in cosmetics has been practiced by the people of ancient civilization. Here we will look at history of bare essential mineral makeup over the centuries.
The ancient Egyptians placed huge emphasis on their appearance and hygiene. For them, beauty was synonymous to being closer to the gods. They underlined their eyes with black Kohl and green malachite resulting to the well-renowned almond Egyptian eyes. For cooling down their eyes, they applied green minerals such as jasper or serpentine combined with water.
Most Egyptian makeup was made up of malachite, green ore of copper and Kohl and was placed in little linen or leather bags grounded into fine powder. The makeup was then poured into vases and used a stick for extraction and application. Malachite originated from the Nile Valley while Galena came from Upper Egypt and the coasts of the Red Sea.
In contrast to the Egyptians, the ancient Greeks also placed emphasis on the way they looked but did not believe it would bring them closer to the gods. The women of Ancient Greece remained in their homes and were rarely in the sun. They used light makeup to make them appear they remained in the shade.
The Ancient Greeks used honey for moisturizing their skin and olive oil for protection and giving it shine. They took care of their eyes by mixing olive oil with grounded charcoal. They manufactured lipstick by mixing redding with bees wax.
For the Ancient Romans, the use of makeup was more vanity than spiritual. They manufactured cosmetics using ingredients such as powdered chalk. Iron oxide was a major component of red coloring for the lips and added color to the cheeks.
In the 19th century, tan and white colors were associated with various sector of society. The former was used by the working class while the latter represented high society. Hydroxide, carbonate, and lead oxide were used to make the men and women pale looking. Later on, zinc oxide replaced these elements because they were discovered to be toxic.
Due to the lack of resources, the use of makeup decreased during the Second World War. The post-war years marked the return of people spending their cash on cosmetics. The 80s and 90s marked the production of pure formulas that did not contain fillers and toxic ingredients.
Today, the use of bare essential mineral makeup is becoming popular as people continued to search for healthier formulas. The desire to feel and look good will never end which is why more and more people are now educating themselves about the what the makeup they put contains.

Tags: Bare Essentials Mineral Makeup · Beauty Tips

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