Early Use of Makeup by Egyptians

The topic of make-up and the early use by Egyptians is truly an interesting one to ponder. This is because besides using it for aesthetic purposes; they also approached make-up in an almost ritualistic kind of way. It was ornamental, magical, medicinal and spiritual. Back in ancient Egypt, it was not uncommon to find both men and women wearing make-up. In fact, the art of using make-up was a highly valued skill and was practiced throughout the land. The most common colors for the eyes were green and black which signified rebirth and fertility in the next life. As for their lips, it was usually painted blue black or red.

For Egyptians, their eye make-up served more than the purpose of beautifying them. In fact, it also served as psychic protection. They believed that unadorned eyes were unprotected and as such, considered to be vulnerable to the Evil Eye. This made outlining the eyes an everyday ritual and served the purpose of being a protective amulet that’s drawn right on the skin.

Where did they get their colors from? Well, the ancient Egyptians are very resourceful people and they were able to derive make-up from various minerals. The downside to this, however, was the fact that they used minerals that caused more harm than good. This includes both copper and lead which often gave people rashes, skin infections and in worst case scenarios, even death.

Eye colors serve spiritual purposes for these people. The two different types of eye make-up were referred to as Mesdemet and Udju. Medesment is dark grey in color and was typically made out of lead. Udju is of a greenish hue and was derived from copper. Udju worked as a sort of anti-depressant which was capable of imbuing a person with positive energy, happiness and love.

So there you have it, a brief history on how the early Egyptians made use of make-up and what purpose it served in their everyday lives.