When you think of the history of makeup, what kinds of images come to mind? Maybe the grungy eye makeup of the 1990s, or the big lash look à la Twiggy of the 1960s. While those are iconic looks of the past, the truth is that makeup has been used for thousands of years in nearly every society on the planet. Some argue that the use of cosmetics dates as far back as 100,000 years ago from the African Middle Stone Age, evident by the utilization of red mineral pigments (red ochre) for body art in rituals associated with the emergence of Homo sapiens in Africa.
Despite its long history, makeup usage fluctuated as some societies and cultures prohibited it, while others allowed (or even encouraged) it. Wearing makeup was widely discouraged in America until the 1910s-1920s when the industry boomed in response to the rise and idolization of Hollywood starlets such as Theda Bara. All of the cosmetics produced at this time were made for women with fair skin, leaving little to no options for women of color until the 1970s. In the mean time, several companies produced and sold skin-bleaching creams for women of color to lighten their complexion so they could buy makeup that would match their skin color. These skin bleaches contained corrosive chemicals such as hydroquinone, which suppressed the production of melanin in the skin, and could cause severe dermatitis and even death in large amounts.
I think it’s also important to note how the advertisements all imply that lighter skin makes you more beautiful, desirable, and socially accepted. Though not as popular in America today, similar products are still widely used around the world.
To end this post, I thought it would be fun to include videos that provide a look at American beauty trends in the past hundred years:
Can’t get enough makeup history? Check out celebrity makeup artist Lisa Eldridge’s playlist of YouTube videos discussing the topic and showing in-depth demonstrations! You can also buy her incredibly fascinating book, Face Paint, which is all about the history of makeup.
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