Makeup From the Scratch!

We bring you some interesting facts about some makeup items, you must have been using for many years without ever knowing how they were originated or used in the first place. Time to get to the roots of makeup!

• The lipstick you apply everyday was first invented in 1884 AD. What’s interesting is that the first case of lipstick was invented later in 1915 which was called bullet case by Maurice Levy. Until then women used to apply lipstick from the pot by a brush.
• The lipstick cases went for another transformation during the Second World War in 1940’s. Due to the lack of metal material, during the time of war, lipsticks cover were started being prepared from rubber and plastics.
• A blush came around 1500 BC and was first used by Egyptians, although it became popular only when the first ad came on television in 1964.
• Women in order to stop wearing stockings came up with the idea of applying foundation on their legs. And that gave birth to the formation of liquid foundation around 1930.
• Having a white skin was considered important since ancient times, which became a common affair but in year 1800 production of foundation became toxic by the use of zinc oxide which damaged the skin and gave major skin problems.
• Another Egyptian invention was kajal or kohl. Although the word kajal is derived from an Arabic word ‘Kuhl’ but it was first used by Egyptians to protect their eyes from any ailment in 3100 BC.
• Archaeologist found that the first perfumery was made in Indus valley civilisation. This was found out in year 2004 that island of Cyprus was used to make perfumery in between 3300 BC and 1300 BC.

From the January 2021 issue of FHM India.