A Condensed Chronicle Of Mineral Eyeshadow

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By Haywood Hunter


Women, and some men, have been using make-up and other cosmetics to define their facial features, especially the eyes, and to improve their appearance for thousands of years. Evidence of this comes from the Bible and from Egyptian burials as far back as 10,000 BC. Mineral eyeshadow is placed on the upper eyelid to provide both depth and color.

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.

In the 7th and 8th centuries BC, the Greeks used what they called 'fucus', a mineral substance derived from lapis luzuli and malachite to produce vibrant blues and greens. Fucus and other beautifying substances formed an important part of the Greek economy at the time.

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 India during the Bronze Age, kohl was applied to everybody, even little babies, to repel infection, glare and the ubiquitous evil eye. At that time, kohl was produced from lead and antimony, both heavy metals. It is unknown how many people went blind or perished, but the kohl that is manufactured today is made from less harmful raw materials.

Modern mineral eyeshadow is available in every color imaginable to match hair color, outfit and mood. The sky is the limit in the cosmetic universe and there is almost nothing that can't be powdered, pressed and used as makeup. Dry powder may be brushed on the lids, or it may be dampened with water for a more vibrant effect.




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