Let’s speak in regards to the magnificence secrets and techniques of the Historical Romans…
Do you know that the Historical Romans began utilizing cosmetics for ritual functions solely? However as time went on, make-up and skincare grew to become a pure a part of ladies’s on a regular basis lives.
Rich individuals purchased imported make-up from China and Germany, whereas the poor may solely afford cheaper knock-offs of such “high-end” cosmetics.
Because of the climate situations and the poor high quality of their cosmetics, ladies wanted to reapply their make-up a number of instances a day (speak about dedication!). And truthfully? Utilizing these poisonous components in all probability didn’t assist their pores and skin a lot.
By the best way, wealthy ladies didn’t apply their make-up themselves. That they had feminine slaves known as Cosmetae for them. Cosmetae additionally mades lotions, lotions and cosmetics. However how? Let’s delve deeper into their fascinating magnificence rituals and components.
Face
Like a number of historic cultures, the Romans thought truthful, white pores and skin was the final word aim. A typical case of “I would like what I can’t have.” Their complexion was naturally darker, in order that they used chalk powder, white marl, and white lead (sure, a poison!) to lighten it. White lead wasn’t simply harmful. It was a complete catastrophe for his or her well being, inflicting all types of points like lead poisoning. Yikes!
Honest pores and skin wasn’t nearly wanting good; it was a standing image. Pale pores and skin confirmed that you simply didn’t need to work exterior within the solar. This “lighter is healthier” mindset caught round for hundreds of years and pops up in magnificence tendencies even now.
Eye Make-up
The Historical Romans have been all about large eyes with lengthy lashes and thick, dramatic brows that just about met within the center. To get this look, they used antimony or soot to darken their brows and generally faked a unibrow by extending them inward. Yep, unibrows have been a factor – an enormous factor! They have been thought of an indication of intelligence and sweetness. Some ladies even used dyed goat hair to make pretend brows. Discuss dedication.
To make their eyes stand out, they used kohl created from saffron, ashes, soot, or antimony. And kohl wasn’t nearly wanting good. It helped shield their eyes from infections, due to its antibacterial properties. Fairly good, proper? Properly, aside from the kohl with lead in it. That wasn’t nice.
They utilized kohl utilizing sticks created from glass, ivory, wooden, or bone, which they dipped in water or oil first. For a special strategy to darken their eyes, they’d burn date stones or char rose petals. And let’s not neglect their colourful eyeshadows! Inexperienced got here from malachite, and blue from azurite. These colours didn’t simply make them look fancy; they screamed wealth as a result of these pigments have been costly.
Cheeks & Nails
Pink cheeks have been all the fad as a result of they have been seen as an indication of excellent well being. Roman ladies used all types of issues as blush: poppy and rose petals, crimson chalk, alkanet, Tyrian vermillion, crocodile dung (sure, actually!), crimson ochre imported from Belgium (fancy!), mulberry juice, wine dregs, cinnabar, and crimson lead (one other poison – they actually beloved dangerous components!). They combined these with oils or waxes to make them simpler to use.
For his or her nails, they whipped up a mixture of sheep fats and blood. Sounds fairly gross, proper? However again then, animal merchandise have been a go-to as a result of they have been straightforward to search out and regarded as good for the pores and skin. Plus, the blood added that reddish tint they have been after.
Skincare
The Historical Romans didn’t cease at make-up. They have been large on skincare too. They made lotions and lotions to take care of wrinkles, pimples, solar spots, freckles, and flaky pores and skin. Their masks have been created from lentils, barley, lupine, honey, or fennel combined with oils, oregano seeds, sulfur, vinegar, goose grease, basil juice, and hawthorn. For a contact of luxurious, they’d throw in rose or myrrh for perfume.
A few of their skincare tips are fairly gag-worthy, although. They used placenta and even animal poop (like kingfisher or calf excrement), considering these had magical rejuvenating powers. Are you able to think about slathering that in your face? Gross, however they have been clearly keen to strive something.
For pimples, they used a paste of barley flour and butter. To lighten solar spots, they smeared on ashes of snails. Bizarre? Completely. However a few of these components in all probability labored due to their pure acids and fat.
Associated: Snail Mucin: Why Is It In My Skincare Merchandise
Fragrance
Romans have been obsessive about fragrance. Smelling good wasn’t nearly hygiene; it was an indication of well being and a sneaky strategy to cowl up the stink of their make-up. Fragrance recipes have been like household heirlooms, fastidiously guarded and handed down.
Perfumes got here in liquid, sticky, or strong types. They made them by soaking flowers, leaves, and roots in oils or grape juice, a base known as onfacio. Then they added dyes and different components to complete them off. And deodorant? That wasn’t new both. Romans used alum, rose petals, and iris to remain contemporary.
Hair
Roman ladies beloved wigs. Not only for vogue, however to cover white hair or injury from dye jobs. In the course of the Imperial period, wigs have been created from actual hair: blonde got here from Northern Europe, and black from India. When you had a wig, you have been flaunting your wealth and connections large time.
In addition they went all-in on hair dye. To maintain their blonde hair vibrant, they used a mixture of beech ash and goat fats. Redheads crushed up leaves from the henna household. For black hair, they used black antimony with animal fats or brewed cypress leaves with vinegar and absinthe ash combined with rose oil. These dyes weren’t precisely fast fixes, however magnificence takes effort, proper?
Physique Hair
Physique hair? Laborious no for Roman ladies. They plucked, shaved, or used resin paste to wax it off. Some even scraped it off with pumice stones. Ouch! These strategies weren’t precisely comfortable, however clean pores and skin was the aim, it doesn’t matter what it took. Sound acquainted?
Males and Make-up
In Historical Rome, make-up on males was a no-go – it was seen as immoral and too female. However some males nonetheless used white powder to lighten their faces, particularly actors and performers. And some saved their pores and skin gentle with oils and lotions, however that was extra about staying clear than wanting glam.
What was acceptable for males as a substitute was the reasonable elimination of hair and the usage of fragrance. In the course of the Emperor’s Commodo’s instances, dyeing hair blonde turn out to be modern for males too.
The Backside Line
There you may have it, the sweetness secrets and techniques of the traditional Romans. Trying again, it’s wild how a lot effort the Historical Romans put into wanting good, even when it meant utilizing harmful or downright gross components. Numerous their concepts (like specializing in pure components and perfumes) nonetheless encourage magnificence tendencies as we speak. However truthfully, thank goodness we’ve moved previous the lead and poop stage of skincare!
About Gio
Hello, I am Gio. I am a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is pores and skin coach and author on a mission that can assist you obtain your greatest pores and skin day ever – every single day. I bust skincare myths and debunk advertising and marketing jargon that can assist you work out what’s well worth the splurge and what’s greatest left on the shelf – utilizing science, not hype. I additionally supply skincare consultations that can assist you create the very best skincare routine to your distinctive wants.