First Impressions

This century has of course seen an unprecedented rise in all forms of cosmetics, including surgery to remove various blemishes and scars, or purely for vanity. It’s interesting that the use of make-up has to some extent turned full circle; young people today often use make-up for some kind of magical effect, and tattoos too are very popular.

It seems strange to us now but women in the Middle Ages, well at least in Europe, actually tried to make their skin look even whiter. They did this with flour powder, but anyway they can’t have been very dark in the first place; what with their poor diet and the gloomy castle surroundings, they must have ended up looking like an oval, white egg. Later on French women began to paint their faces white, and their lips and cheeks red. 

Originally in the very primitive tribes only men painted themselves. They lived in terror of evil demons which might harm them when they went out to hunt. They painted grotesque designs on their faces as a disguise, so that the evil demons would not recognize them. Women, who stayed inside the protection of the village, needed no paint of course. 

Cleopatra was supposed to have painted her brows and lashes black, top lids deep blue and lower lids bright green; she must have looked quite something. It seems incredible but many cosmetics sold today to restore beauty originated from the Egyptian habit of mummifying the dead.