Portrait of a Woman (130 C.E. - 161 C.E.)The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Beauty secrets from Ancient Egypt: the world’s oldest civilization found ingenious ways to improve their looks
The ancient Egyptians were well-regarded for their technological prowess, most notably those world-famous limestone pyramids that continue to stand today.
But did you know they had mastered the art of cosmetics as well? Hardly surprising considering the upper echelons of their society placed a huge amount of importance on looks.
Join us on a tour of old-world cosmetic techniques to discover the beauty secrets of ancient Egypt.
Protecting Their Eyes (For the Time Being)
Eyeliner is a staple of any modern-day makeup repertoire, and we have the ancient Egyptians to thank. As far back as 3,000 BCE, the Egyptians were decorating their eyes with Kohl, a mixture of galena combined with solubles such as oil, animal fat, or water.
But the practice didn’t become mainstream until 1912 when an archeologist by the name of Ludwig Borchardt unearthed the bust of Queen Nefertiti. The statue’s elegant black eyeliner enchanted the world and saw the rise of this timeless cosmetic technique.
Remarkably, the original Kohl contained small quantities of a synthesized lead salt which historians believed had antimicrobial properties. Long-term use, however, likely resulted in cataracts.
Portrait of a Woman, 130 C.E. - 161 C.E.(From the collection of The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art)
Wearing Perfume on Their Heads
Where do you prefer to apply your perfume? On your wrists or around your neck? What about plonking a bunch directly on top of your head?
It may sound a little silly by modern standards but resting a perfume cone on your head was the height of fashion during ancient Egyptian celebrations and feasts. The substance - which likely comprised of pomade, essential oils, wax, and flower petals - would slowly melt to emit a prolonged sweet and seductive fragrance as it trickled down the torso.
The smell must have been luxurious indeed, considering there wouldn’t have been many opportunities to bathe at the time.
Wall Painting: Woman Holding a Sistrum (ca. 1250-1200 BC (New Kingdom)) by EgyptianThe Walters Art Museum
Woman Holding a Sistrum, Egyptianca. 1250-1200 BC (New Kingdom) (From the Walters Art Museum)
Darkening Their Eyebrows
To complement all that exotic black eyeliner, the Egyptians needed to have extra thick eyebrows. They managed to complete their look by utilizing the most unlikely of resources.
In lieu of the modern brow pencil, they would darken and fill out their eyebrows by painting on a thin paste of burnt almond.
When properly applied, the technique is thought to have resulted in an attractive pair of bushy arched and elongated eyebrows. Cleopatra is believed to have been particularly fond of the technique.
Mummy portrait of a young woman (Anfang 2. Jh.n.Chr.) by UnknownAltes Museum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
Mummy portrait of a young woman, Unknown Anfang 2. Jh.n.Chr. (From the collection of Altes Museum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin)
Strange Hair Growth Techniques
Pattern baldness has been a concern among men since the dawn of civilization. Literally! The ancient Egyptians would attempt to alleviate this common ailment by applying a range of weird and wacky solutions. From hippopotamus, snake, and crocodile fat to porcupine hairs, greyhound legs, and sautéed donkey hoofs, they would try pretty much anything to get their hair to regrow.
For many, a simple solution of olive oil was thought to work best. Except of course for the ruling classes who would simply wear a wig.
Relief with armed soldiers (18th Dynasty, c. 1470 BCE) by Artist unknownNeues Museum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
Relief with armed soldiers, Artist unknown 18th Dynasty, c. 1470 BCE (From the collection of Neues Museum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin)
Nail Polish as a Status Symbol
Even the manicure can be traced back to the era of the pharaohs.
Egyptian aristocrats used henna, which was abundant at the time, to tint their finger nails various shades of yellow and orange.
But monarchs reserved the most vibrant colors to portray their royal standing. Queen Nefertiti, for example, opted for a bright ruby red, which some scholars believe she enhanced with the blood of her slaves.
Cleopatra later adopted the trend, forbidding all under her rule from painting their nails red to ensure she would stand out from the crowd.
Mummy Portrait of a Bearded Man (A.D. 220–250) by Brooklyn PainterThe J. Paul Getty Museum
Mummy Portrait of a Bearded Man, Attributed to the Brooklyn Painter, 220 - 250 (From the collection of The J. Paul Getty Museum)
Ogling Themselves in Lavish Mirrors
With all these antiquated cosmetics to apply, it’s no surprise the ancient Egyptians had a high regard for mirrors. The world’s earliest man-made mirror may have been Egyptian, a slab of selenite with a wooden frame which dates back to 4,500 BC.
Later, as technology progressed, the Egyptian mirror became increasingly more complex. Elaborate and engraved gold frames were often embellished with precious stones and pearls.
In fact, the most elegant jewel encrusted mirrors would have been worth the equivalent of an entire dowry and were buried in the tombs of the Pharaohs.
Bronze mirror decorated with two falconsBritish Museum
Bronze mirror decorated with two falcons (From the collection of British Museum)
Mirror (ca. 1478-1390 B.C.E.) by UnknownBrooklyn Museum
Mirror, Unknown ca. 1478-1390 B.C.E. (From the collection of Brooklyn Museum)
Bathing in Milk
Legend dictates Cleopatra was the most beautiful woman in the world, so it stands to reason she would have a rather intensive skincare regime.
One of her favorite remedies was bathing in donkey milk, typically infused with honey and lavender plus a smattering of red rose petals for good measure.
It may sound like a reckless self-indulgence, but the practice does have some scientific merit behind it. Milk is high in lactic alpha hydroxy acid, a common ingredient in moisturizer because it cleanses dead cells and rejuvenates the skin.
Cleopatra Queen Of Egypt (1901)LIFE Photo Collection
Cleopatra Queen of Egypt (From the collection of LIFE Photo Collection)
The ancient Egyptians were undeniably resourceful, coming up with all sorts of clever cosmetic inventions and techniques. Even today, eyeliner continues to be a staple, while red nail polish remains a classic look.
As for balancing perfume on your head or bathing in donkey milk, however… Well, we’d probably best leave those to the pharaohs of yesteryear.
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