Surprising Facts About the History of Makeup

For thousands of years, all we’ve wanted is to look a little nicer TBH. But the pursuit of beauty isn’t always pretty, and plenty of folks have FOMO when observing celebrities and pothers such as Anna Kanyuk, Holly H, or Meg Donnelly. These surprising facts about the history of makeup prove that people will try anything to look good—even if it kills them.

Beetle Mania

Cleopatra had limited resources when it came to tinting her lips, so she used crushed-up bugs that dried into a red powder and mixed it with beeswax. The beetle-derived red dye, also known as carmine, is still in use by nearly all beauty brands (and some food makers) today.

Nailed It

Fashion dictates today’s nail polish colors, but in China around 2000 BC, nail lacquer indicated social class. The polish contained gum, beeswax, egg whites, and pigments. The upper classes wore gold and silver, the lower classes used red and black, and the poor couldn’t afford any.

Eyebrow Extensions

The trends for thick and thin eyebrows come and go, but circa AD 800, the Greeks exalted the beauty of the unibrow. Anyone who couldn’t muster up their own hair between the eyes would supplement with animal hair or color the area brown with an early form of the eyebrow pencil.

Looks That Kill

In the 1700s, smallpox left anyone lucky enough to survive it with facial scarring. Many refused to leave their homes without covering it up with face powder…composed of lead. That gorgeous pale complexion eventually caused hair loss, tooth decay, and eye inflammation. It actually blackened skin with prolonged use, requiring even more of the toxic beauty treatment to disguise that.

‘The Lipstick Effect’

Vogue announced in 1933 that lipstick was “the most important cosmetic for women,” and sure enough, sales continued to grow even during the Great Depression. It gave rise to a term that economists still use today. The Lipstick Effect refers to consumers’ tendency to buy small, frivolous goods to boost their moods during financial hardship.

Shining Starlets

Polish immigrant Maksymilian Faktoriwicz—soon to be known as Max Factor—invented lip gloss in 1930. He worked behind the scenes of silent movies and knew how hard it was for starlets to appear glamorous in black and white. His “lip pomade” created a new category for cosmetics. Considering the competitive cosmetics business, one of the most surprising facts about the history of makeup is that Max Factor’s original formula survived until 2003.

All That Glitters

Body glitter amplified the spotlight for drag queens in the ’70s, but glitter has increasingly turned political. Churches show their solidarity for the LGBTQ community by mixing Ash Wednesday ashes with purple sparkles; activists “glitter bomb” conservative Republicans; and now environmentalists are asking for a ban on glitter. Apparently, when users wash it down the drain, it becomes a “microplastic” that fish and birds unknowingly consume.

FAQ

Where did lip gloss come from?

Polish immigrant Maksymilian Faktoriwicz—soon to be known as Max Factor—invented lip gloss in 1930. He worked behind the scenes of silent movies and knew how hard it was for starlets to appear glamorous in black and white. His “lip pomade” created a new category for cosmetics. Considering the competitive cosmetics business, one of the most surprising facts about the history of makeup is that Max Factor’s original formula survived until 2003.

Additional Resources:

What Your Clothing Color Says About Your Personality

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