Personal cosmetics use has been around for centuries used by women and men alike. In ancient Egypt, cosmetics were used as a symbol of wealth believed to appeal to the Gods.
The use of eyeliner was used by Egyptian men and women as early as 10,000 BC. Men in Rome were known to use cosmetics but were frowned upon by Roman society.
The Chinese stained their fingernails with gum Arabic, gelatin, beeswax, and egg. Colors represented the social class in 3000 BCE China with the Chou Dynasty colors worn were gold and silver while other royals wore black or red. The lower classes of the dynasty were forbidden to wear bright colors on their nails.
In 1500 BCE the Chinese and Japanese citizens commonly used rice powder to make their faces white. Their eyebrows would be shaved off and their teeth were painted gold or black and henna dyes were used to stain hair and faces.
During 1000 BCE Grecian’s use to whiten their complexion with chalk or lead face powder, and would fashion crude lipstick out of ochre clay’s laced with red iron.
The use of harmful ingredients in cosmetics was prevalent in cosmetic formulas for centuries until the realization of their harmful effects on the human body. Today we are still faced with harmful ingredients in cosmetics such as Lead, Arsenic, Cadmium, Mercury, Antimony, and other harmful metals.
Here’s what you need to know…
