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 Natural look is trendy for many seasons and more
designers and models prefer natural cosmetic to decorative. yet, the new tendency is supported with the idea that our ancestors never used makeup and however they had
fresh skin and vigorous look. It is obviously true, though there is a
contradicting nuance.
Our grandparents did use the cosmetics. Moreover, they
used the cosmetics in the abundance that once the German traveler Oleariy
mention in his papers that Russian women are «unskillful» in makeup application
and they looked as if painted with real brushes. That was the fashion and women
had to follow the trends.
The history of cosmetics dates back the same as the history
of the mankind. And human beings always made attempts to look attractive and
beautiful. And this concerns both men and women. We can consider the primitive
tribes that still exist in the middle of nowhere on the planet which still
adhere to the customs and traditions set by their ancestors. In particular,
they paint their body and faces and even teeth in different colors. Any
aboriginal owns a set of creams or ointments and dyes for face and body , a set
of tools to apply the dyes, and honestly, any of them are able to show the
higher class to the reputed stylists of the present time who are acknowledged
to be skilled in makeup application.
Hot counties brought the cosmetic and the art of makeup
application to other civilizations. Cleopatra would write something like a
manual for women on how to apply makeup. That manual contained the tips on what
was good for eyes and for face, whty dyes to be used for body and for hair,
what components of the cream helped to rejuvenate and which cream would bring
the success in love affairs.
Yet, this is not surprising that hot countries were the
first to be in the avant-garde of the planet in such an important sphere of the
society. The tropical climate assumes the sea baths throughout the year and
regular everyday exposure of the skin to the sun and other climatic factors. Too dry or too humid climate with the high
temperature of the ambient air cause early wrinkles (early ageing of the skin),
the favorable heat and warmth is favorable not only for the human beings but
for insects as well. the tanned skin typical for the hot climates is attractive
and looks very well though when you are alike all the other it soon gets too
dull and people seek for something unique and different from what they have and
possess.
Therefore, the cosmetics played the double role. On the one
hand, it absolutely complied the goal set in the name, when the cosmetics mean
decoration or art to decorate. On the other hand, the paint and dye on the
eyelids protected them from inflammation on the open sun and wind, cream and
dye for face and body protected from wrinkles, rejuvenated the skin, protected
from insects. Moreover, during the diggings in the Ancient Egypt the workers
discovered a plenty of cosmetic belongings. Ancient Egyptians would use the powder, dye
for eyelashes and eyebrows and lipsticks. The lipstick of that time was like
the colored ointment. There was a wide range of creams, ointments and lotions
for the face and body needs there. Face whitening was in fashion in Ancient
Egypt and the preparations used for this purpose were of such components hardly
imaginable in our times. For example, Cleopatra used the crocodile excrements
and beryl in the form of powder to whiten her face and make the skin soothe and
silky.
The cosmetic set was a must tool to be put in the grave of
people passed away in Ancient Egypt. The set consisted of seven kinds of
essences and at least two kinds of ointments and the Egyptians believed that
life existed after death and provided the deceased the items of first
necessity, among which was the cosmetic tools.
The Ancient Egypt was like the country to manufacture the
best cosmetic means. The fashionmongers of the Ancient Rome paid the fortune
for the essences with the juice of white Nile lily and lotus (these essences
were designed to nourish the facial skin and believed to give the trendy look),
for the ointments from the roots and leaves of the breadfruit tree (such balms were
thought to be the perfect means for skin lifting, thus for rejuvenation), for
the rouge made from the juice of the Egyptian iris (the juice did not dye the
skin but it caused the allergic reaction as the reddening that was retained for
longer time).
The Roman women were generous to use the cosmetics. They
dyed from the head to the tiptoes. They used ceruse and rouge, the powder light
and colored, aroma essences and eye-shadows, lipsticks and dye for eyelashes
and eyebrows. The qualified professionals like the present stylists practiced
in Ancient Rome. They were the slaves who mastered the art of makeup
application, face and body care techniques. The therms of the Ancient Rome were
the analogs of the current cosmetic centers.
The Ancient China and Japan are also known to abuse
cosmetics from the old times. Moreover, the Japanese and Chinese women were
taught the art of makeup from the early ages. The Chinese children had their
cheeks rouged to tell about their health.
The church in the Middle Ages forbidden use of cosmetics and
it announced the cosmetic manufacturers as witches and magicians. And it is
well understandable when a qualified stylist is able to make an ugly woman into
a charming one and the art of transformation reminds of the magic.
During the times of Louis XVI the people whitened their
faces rather than powdered. The layer of the powder was too thick, the rouge
was too heavy. With the purpose to imitate the trendy sheer skin with vessels
through the skin which was the sign of nobility, the veins were simply drawn
over the powder. The French people suspended using makeup after it was
announced to be illegal, after the Great French Bourgeois Revolution in 1789 when
the cosmetics was acknowledged as the attribute to the royal power, but the
French people returned the right to use the makeup during the times of the
Directory.
The Bill of the British Parliament ceased the development of
the beauty traditions in England for longer time. The British people were
turned off the application of cosmetics after they were introduced to the Bill
that said that a woman would be judged for the witchcraft if she seduced the
homager of His Majesty with the help of perfume, rouge, high heels and clothes.
The cosmetics triumphed the time when the feminism occurred
as the trend in the world. in the early ХХ century new cosmetic means were
invented that appeared to be revolutionary, including the new technique of
makeup application (for example, the rule to match the cosmetics in regards to
the color of skin and hair or the clothes).
And the cosmetics won.
Not totally, though. The pendulum has the reverse motion and
now we meet the trend of natural beauty. And this is after the abundance of
makeup. Natural beauty and well-cared women were always demanded and loved. And
if cosmetic products were required for that, it was only welcomed.
The «natural beauty» will probably make the new twit in the
soonest time and natural components will replace all the synthetic components
of the cosmetic products. Rouge and lipsticks on the base of raspberry and
cherry juice, or that from beetroot will become trendy as the modified and
sophisticated products. Hair dues will be based on the onion peel either
saffron with Camomile. And about Cleopatra’s secret to make the face
whiter& is there a person to dare and try the recipe of the crocodile
excrement and powdered beryl. If you have few beryls on you, you have the
chance to get beautiful as Cleopatra. And good luck in the matter of beauty!
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