The Ancient Romans loved cosmetics and those that could afford it often kept beauty boxes full of make-up and cosmetic tools and ingredients.
Ancient roman beauty box
Face
Like many before Ancient Roman women desired pale skin and would use dangerous ingredients such as chalk to achieve the illusion of a fair complexion through face makeup.
A red rouge was made from powdered red ochre which would sometimes be mixed with fat to create a paste that could be applied easily to the cheeks.
Eyes.
Before Rome conquered Egypt and started to gain knowledge and inspiration from Ancient Egyptian women ( in particular Cleopatra) greens and blue eyeshadow was not yet used. Women used ground saffron to apply to the eyelids which was orangey in colour.
Soot was popular and was used as eyeliner and to lengthen the lashes. Long eyelashes were important to the Ancient Roman’s as it represented a woman’s virtue as lashes were said to fall out from too much sex.
Thick eyebrows were popular as they were in Ancient Greece and soot would again be used to emphasise the brow.
Soot was often obtained using an oil lamp, which was an essential tool when it came to creating makeup.
Lips
Lips were adorned red and again Red Ochre was used.
Berries or wine could also be used as a substitute.
lovely look! xx
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Thanks 🙂 x
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Amazing!! 🙂
https://alifyalifestyle.com/
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What an interesting post!I really like the point that “lashes were said to fall out from too much sex” (I always wondered why I had short eyelashes -blush) 😉
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Haha could you imagine the debauchery if they had access to false lashes :p x
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I think your make-up skills are amazing. I nominated your blog for The Black Cat, Blue Sea Award.
https://akinderway.com/2016/05/11/lots-of-award-love/
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Thank you so much 🙂 x
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You’re welcome!
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What a lovely idea for a post and very well researched!
It’s so interesting to find out what women would do to enhance their looks. Even if it meant harming themselves in the process.
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Thank you :). It always makes me think when I read what harmful substances they used, in hundreds of years are they going to find out some of the ingredients we use today were very harmful to us x
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I have no doubt they will!
We’re already finding out lately about all the toxic ingredients companies put in our makeup.
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This was another very informative look at historical makeup! I love reading these.
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Thank you. Any particular period of makeup history you’d like to see? x
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I don’t know what there is! Is there any evidence for early medieval/Saxon women wearing makeup? I’m always intrigued!
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Makeup was pretty much frowned upon by medieval i think but they usually found ways to wear it discreetly, i do think they had a lot of skincare and beauty treatments though x
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Wow, this is rad!
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Thank you 🙂 x
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Nature offers best makeup 🙂 i am sure those women must have been looking amazing in their very own way!
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I think so, i always imagine ancient greek and roman women would have been very beautiful x
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You look so pretty! I love your hair style 🙂
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Thank you so much 🙂 x
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