The History Of Makeup In Ancient Egypt Explained

As CNN outlines, it's amazing how similar Egyptian beauty regimens were to our own, 4,000 years later: exfoliation and washing, perfume and deodorant, creams and powders, eyeshadow and mascara, and finally lipstick. 

Dead Sea salt exfoliation was a common way to soften the skin, or milk-and-honey baths followed by the application of spice-infused oils and creams. Incense pellets could also be rolled under the arms as deodorant. "Kyphi" was a wildly popular perfume made from "frankincense, myrrh, mastic, pine resin, cinnamon, cardamom, saffron, juniper, mint," and more, as World History states. Ingredients were so rare, though, that is was often only used in temples, and folks had to find substitutes. They also waxed, using honey and sugar.

Eye makeup was particularly important. The Egyptian word for "makeup palette" derives from their verb "to protect," which meant both spiritual protection from "the evil eye" and practical protection from the glare of sunlight. Hence the heavy "kohl" eyeliner: twin dark lines above and below the eye. Eyeshadow was made by mixing powdered malachite (a green stone) or azurite (a blue stone) with animal fat or vegetable oils. For lipstick, folks preferred bright red, such as Cleopatra's use of ground beetles to get the shade she wanted. 

Palettes were often shaped like animals. It was believed that grinding materials on such a palette granted the user an animal's power, such as fertility from tilapia, per the Natural History Museum of Utah.

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