Makeup has long been an integral part of human culture, from ancient civilizations to contemporary beauty trends. Makeup serves as a form of self-expression, enhances natural beauty, and even signals social status – these roles it fulfills today are no different! Join us as we embark on an incredible journey back through time to explore makeup’s remarkable impact on beauty standards and society through history!
Ancient Civilizations: Beauty Rituals of the Past: Our journey begins in ancient civilizations where makeup carried both symbolic and spiritual meaning. Egyptian women used kohl to line their eyes, symbolically protecting against an evil eye; additionally they would decorate their faces with colorful pigments such as red ochre and malachite for vibrant complexion.
Medieval and Renaissance Periods: Pale Skin and Red Lips:
Moving forward into the medieval and Renaissance periods, makeup trends witnessed an evolution. Pale skin was considered an indicator of elegance and social status. Women used lead-based powders to achieve it while vibrant red lips became highly desired – often through crushed plants, berries or insects!
The Victorian Era: The Rise of Polished Images:
The Victorian era witnessed a notable shift in women’s perceptions of makeup. Women were encouraged to appear virtuous and refined, emphasizing natural beauty rather than artificial enhancement. Cosmetics such as beeswax-based creams, rose-scented lip balms and subtle cheek stains were used subtly to achieve this fresh-faced appearance. Furthermore, this age saw the launch of commercial cosmetic brands to bring makeup closer to wider audiences.
The Roaring Twenties: Jazz Age and Bold Expression:
The 1920s witnessed an extraordinary revolution in makeup styles as women rebelled against societal expectations. The flapper look became iconic – featuring darkened eyes, powdered skin and Cupid’s bow lips; use of kohl and mascara was widespread and more women took an expressive and liberating approach to their makeup routines.
The Hollywood Golden Age: Glamour and Iconic Looks:
Hollywood’s Golden Age during the 1930s and ’40s revolutionized beauty ideals and makeup application techniques. Actresses such as Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn became beauty icons with signature red lips and defined eyebrows, inspiring many women to strive to attain Hollywood glamor through makeup products such as Max Factor and Revlon that provided women with everything they needed for this look.
The Swinging Sixties: Exploration and Color Explosion:
The 1960s brought a vibrant makeup revolution. Influenced by iconic figures like Twiggy and Brigitte Bardot, heavy eyeliner, bold lashes and pastel-hued lips became hallmarks of mod fashion during this decade – leading to heavily lined eyes, bold lashes and pastel lips being trendsetting features of everyday makeup look for both women and men alike. False eyelashes became available as well as novel products like cream-based eyeshadows or psychedelically tinted lipsticks!
Contemporary Beauty: Diversity, Inclusivity and Self-Expression:
Recently, the beauty industry has seen a considerable shift toward inclusivity, diversity and self-expression. Brands have begun offering foundation shades suitable for various skin tones while catering to previously underserved markets. Social media has also played an instrumental role in democratizing beauty by providing individuals an outlet to share their individual styles and inspire others globally.
This post was written by a professional at Michele Renee The Studio. Michele Renee The Studio Specializes in wedding hair and makeup in Clearwater FL. Based in Tampa, FL, we serve a global client base for weddings, boudoir, corporate, film, television, social events, photo shoots, and more! Contact us now to schedule your appointment for your wedding hair and makeup!
