Although not a lot has been written about health and beauty in ancient times, much information has been obtained from portraits and paintings through the ages.  However, where beauty was particularly appreciated, such as in ancient Egypt and various other Mediterranean countries such as Greece and Italy, formulations have been both written and passed down, and many of the ancient Egyptian cosmetic preparations are used to this day.

In fact the Egyptians had much to give us, and it is we who would benefit from an interchange of knowledge, if that was possible, and not they.  Make-up was largely kohl and lead and antimony sulphides, and make up of the eyes predominated over any other area of the face.  Eye make-up was regarded as protection against the evil eye, and it also kept the flies away!  It was worn by both men and women, and the dark colours likely also served as a sun-block in the hot climate.

They also used anti-wrinkle creams, body oils, toothpaste made of natron (a mixture of sodium carbonate and bicarbonate) and perfumes to dispel body odour.  Lipstick was made from the crushed bodies of cochineal beetles and ants eggs used as a base.  The ancient Greeks used pastes of crushed berries and a white powder made of lead.  This would eventually make them ill and sometimes kill them!

During the Renaissance period paleness persisted, and many women would bleed themselves for an even paler look, while others continued to use lead-based white make-up. Some removed facial hair with depilatory creams made from arsenic and quicklime, which created massive sores that were tolerated in the name of beauty.  Thankfully this is one practice that has not persisted to this day, although it was the husbands that suffered most, many dying after kissing their wives!  The sacrifices that women make in the name of beauty!

This paleness carried on into the Tudor and Elizabethan eras, and much of this had to do with the practice of using perfumed white powders in place of washing. Lead was still being used as a white face cosmetic, and it became the fashion of the day to copy the red hair and white complexion of Elizabeth.  Men also used cosmetics, mainly around the lips and eyes.

This fad for white faces continued through the Restoration period, which was quite a dark period in the history of health and beauty.  Personal hygiene was very poor and smallpox was rife:  the scars caused by the pox were hidden with coloured patches of cloth or by a thick white paste, again lead based, which did little to help.  Due to the terrible problem of body odour in the Stuart period, pomades, scented waters and nosegays (hence the name) were used to cover the smell.

White teeth were prized, so they used a toothpaste made from gunpowder and acid, and coral as a toothbrush/stick – when their teeth eventually eroded and fell out they would either use false teeth of wood or ivory, or simply stuffed their cheeks with cork to prevent their cheeks from collapsing. Oh, those wonderful bygone days we all hanker for!

The Victorian era was staid, with no rouge and very few cosmetics, but it did give rise to the skin care industry.  Oils and creams made from wax, almond oil and various perfumes were used.  A porcelain complexion was the ideal, and some women went as far as to paint fine blue lines on their white skin to mimic veins.  Skin care was necessary due to the inactive lifestyles Victorian women led, and a very skin-unfriendly diet of red meat and starchy carbohydrates.

The modern era of beauty started in the 1920s.  Cotton buds were born as ‘Baby Gays’ later to be named Q-tips, and the flappers exhibited an independence that led to them applying their make-up in public.  This led to the fashion of small make-up mirrors and compacts in attractive designs; it was the beginnings of the cosmetics industry as we know it today.

The 20s also brought in the first real emphasis on health as well as beauty.  The Pilates method was developed by German athlete Joseph H. Pilates.  Through the rest of the 20th century, famous training techniques were developed, such as the Charles Atlas ‘dynamic tension’ system where one muscle is pitted against the another, and various dietary methods such as the famous high carbohydrate Atkins diet came into vogue.  As the 21st century dawned, the look was the “little child” look of the supermodel, but as with everything, each successive health and beauty fad is replaced with another which is a revival of something from a previous era.

The history of health and beauty is a long one, but when all is considered little has changed except the safety of the materials being used.  Today, we are doing nothing that our grandparents haven’t tried.

Health and Beauty Buying Tips.

When buying health and beauty products online it is useful to have an understanding of the type of product you are seeking, but also to enter a product comparison site with an open mind.  There are countless shops in the UK that offer branded and unbranded beauty products, and the benefit of an online comparison site is that you are able to compare a wide range of similar products for suitability for your needs and price.

You needn’t buy cheap if you don’t want to, and if you believe that a branded product is better than a corresponding unbranded equivalent, and then you can make that choice. However, there are some things to look out for and these hints and tips should help you.