Facts on Makeup History

• It was common for men and women to use an ointment on their skin to keep it soft. This was the first skin cream.
• "Face painting" was practiced by Jews in some passages of the Bible, although the words makeup and cosmetics had not been invented yet.
•  The word Cosmetics comes from the Latin word 'Cosmetae', which was used to describe slaves during Roman times that bathed rich Romans in perfume.
• During Victorian times, the wealthy women did not wear makeup. Only stage actresses, working class women and prostitutes wore makeup, whereas nowadays rich women usually always wear makeup. 

• Today's cosmetic industry must meet the strict government regulations about what it can and cannot have in its products and it must follow the safe manufacturing guidelines. Today, the most serious injury you're likely to get from your cosmetics is a rash from using a product that's too harsh for your skin. But despite the safety testing used today, there are many myths about the dangers of ingredients used in makeup.
• Makeup can do everything from hide pores, smooth complexions, and turn the pale green of your eyes a shiny green, makeup has been an important part of humankind for thousands of years. Over the centuries, women used burnt matches to darken their eyes and berries to stain their lips. Women throughout history put their health at risk with many of their homemade cosmetics. In some cultures, women used arsenic acid, lead, mercury, and even leeches to give themselves a pale appearance. Thankfully, we've come a long way from the days of using toxic and deadly mixtures to enhance our looks.
• The ancient Romans hated wrinkles, freckles, sunspots, skin flakes and blemishes. To soften wrinkles, they used swans’ fat. Sores and freckles were treated with ashes of snails.
• Nail Polish originated in China in 3000 BC. Egyptians used Henna to stain their nails before nail polish invented, but it was the Chinese who created nail lacquer from egg whites, beeswax, gum and coloured powder.
• In the 1400, the hairless look was in. To the extent that women shaved their foreheads, plucked their eyelashes and brows.
• Ground fish scales has been used for years in the western societies to add shimmer to lipsticks and eye shadows.
• Coco Chanel made tanning fashionable after she tanned herself on a cruise. It was then that fake tan started to flood the market. But in the Asian region, the skin whitening products were more popular since Asians prefer paler skin.
• The founder of Maybelline named the company after his sister Maybel who inspired him to create make up products.
• The Swiss food company Nestle owns 1/4 of the world’s largest cosmetic company – L’Oreal.
• Lakmé was named after a French opera, which means ‘Goddess Laksmi’.
• MAC stands for Make-up Art Cosmetics, was founded by two men, both named Frank, in Canada in 1985.