There are many advantages to being a girl, if you ask me, and one of them is make-up. Natural beauty is all very admirable, as far as I’m concerned, even Mother Nature needs a helping hand now and again, and besides, it’s fun! Let’s get one thing quite clear, I don’t know too many girls who’d go on a date without at least a lick of mascara.
I’ve been intrigued by the emergence of men’s cosmetics on the market, and the reaction it’s caused. The El Corte Ingles department store in Barcelona, where I’m based has extended its range of male personal care items to include concealers, powders, and even eyeliner for gents.
I asked my male friends what they thought of man-kup and I can’t say the response was exactly… enthusiastic. However, there was a time back in the days of Ancient Egypt when make-up was unisex.
Making Up in Ancient Egypt
The Ancient Egyptians were an industrious lot. Not surprisingly, toiling in the sun all-day could wreak havoc on the skin, so men would apply oils and animal fats as UV protection. Employers would even include them in their workers’ pay packets!
These oils and fats were pretty versatile and were used as massage oils to sooth aching muscles after a hard day, and sometimes scented and moulded into tic lotions, to become moisturizers. Surprisingly enough, skin hydration became a widely accepted part of many Egyptian men’s daily health and beauty regime.
Pass the Kohl Darling?
It wasn’t uncommon for ancient Egyptian men to use eye make-up in King Tut’s times. An affluent Egyptian man would often apply kohl eyeliner before heading out to work or to a banquet or celebration.
Black became the new green in the New Kingdom after 2134 BC. Prior to that, Old Kingdom fashion statements involved emerald eye shadow for men and women, which was made of ground malachite.
Ancient Egyptian eye shadow was applied with a flattened and smoothed piece of wood or bone to sweep the powered mineral from the brow line to the base of the nose.
Keeping it Clean
Historians insist that Ancient Egyptians’ love of cosmetics wasn’t purely based on vanity. Men, women and children all adhered to strict personal hygiene regimes dictated by the climate, religion and social hierarchy.
Call me selfish, but times have changed and I don’t know if I’m ready to share my lipstick with a loved one!