السبت، 21 أكتوبر 2017

A Condensed Background Of Mineral Eyeshadow

By Haywood Hunter


Women and men have used mineral eyeshadow and other forms of makeup to enhance their features, the eyes in particular, and to augment their appearance for millennia. The Book of Ezekiel mentions face painting in the Old Testament and there is evidence from Egyptian burials dating back as early as 10,000 years BC. Used on the upper lid, makeup provides both color and depth.

The Egyptians, as do women all over the world today, employed a black powdery substance known then, as now, as kohl. It was used to define the shape of the eyes, fend off infections of the eye, improve vision and dampen glare from the bright sunlight on the sands. Then, kohl was made from antimony, copper, malachite, ochre, ash and burnt almonds.

Between 800 and 700 years BC, the Greeks had a substance called 'fucus', which they made from lapis luzuli and malachite, crushed and powdered to produce vivid blue and green eye shadows. This and other cosmetics at the time formed a significant part of the Greek economy.

As the Roman Empire grew, the Romans became acquainted with the Iranians. The Iranians made the same use as the Egyptians of kohl to ward off the evil eye. The wicked Romans took the oils that the Egyptians used for sacred purposes and used them instead in sexual practices. They learned of medicinal uses for the oils and also employed them to ward off evil spirits.

In Bronze Age India, kohl was used by everyone, including infants, to repel glare, bacterial infection as well as the evil eye. Then, kohl was made of lead and antimony. The use of this substance spread to Morocco and other African countries. Safer starting materials are used in modern kohl.

Today, mineral eyeshadow comes in a dazzling array of colors to complement hair color, wardrobe and mood. Nothing is impossible in the world of cosmetics, and every shade imaginable has been powdered, pressed and marketed. Powder may be used dry but it can also be moistened for more impact.




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