Make Up Lead To Bad Health
Since the twentieth century, a consistent lowering of price has expanded the reach and popularity of cosmetics. Shelves are stacked with make up like [mascara] and concealer. There are aisles and aisle of nail polishes and lip glosses in every colour imaginable. Makeup, however, is not a recent luxury. It is in fact, thousands of years of experimenting using natural ingredients, chemical compounds and even insects! These early day cosmetics were not always safe and our ancestors soon discovered an ugly side to beauty.
During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, a cosmetic known as Spirits of Saturn was used to acquire the much sought-after pallid complexion like the Virgin Queen herself. This white, lead based cosmetic was generously applied to the face. Side effects included mental illnesses and skin ruptures. Even harmful pigments like vermilion were used on Queen Elizabeth I’s lips to create the bright red colour.
Lipstick was worn even further back in time by ancient Egyptians. The most famous Egyptian, Cleopatra, wore lipstick made from ants and crushed beetles. Blood from the beetles added the sought-after red tone. Reddish dye extracted from seaweed, red clay and iodine were amongst other ingredients used to make lipstick. With the generous amounts applied on a daily basis, it isn’t surprising how the skin around the face deteriorated rapidly.
The Romans as narcissistic as the Egyptians. Absorbed by vanity, the Romans ignored cosmetic related health side effects experienced by the Egyptians and adopted their makeup. They really liked eye makeup like kohl and used it as eyeline. Soot and a blue coloured mineral called galena were used to make kohl. A wooden or ivory stick was used to apply the mixture, which was dipped in water before application. This enabled the kohl to stick to the eyes. Fragrances were also created during ancient Rome. Because early day cosmetics carried bad odours, perfume was used mainly to hide them. These fragrances were made from honey, fennel and barley as well as oils and herbs.
After thousands of years of trial and error, cosmetics still remain an essential commodity. As time goes on and with the technological developments of cosmetic surgery, the desire to beautify and vanity are sure to remain beyond centuries to come.
