Since ancient times, women lived in a desire to look younger and prettier and look after themselves. Already in antiquity, in ancient Egypt, men and women used cosmetics. Even the word "cosmetics" comes from the Greek 'kemet', meaning black earth from the banks of the Nile, from which the pigments. In Egypt, the makeup came from the need to protect skin and eyes from the searing dry air and sand storms. Scented oils served to moisten the skin and make it soft, but in order to protect it from irritations and infections of the eye inhabitants of Egypt leads them paints: green, black or blue. This cosmetics prepared from mineral pigments: iron, chromium and lead, mixed with fat. It is known that Cleopatra was painted eyes so dark blue eyeliner – the upper eyelid, and watery-green – at the bottom, extending and stretching out his line.

On the other side of the Mediterranean care a cosmetics and had its own characteristics. The Greeks and Romans of both sexes liked to take baths and rub the fragrant scented oils. The Romans were already using starch and white lead to powder her entire body. Care hands and nails, too, have received considerable attention. In the Middle Ages the care of the beauty of suppressing religion. Piety prescribed carefully to hide the entire body, leaving visible only a pale, ecstatic face.

Cosmetics and make-up were considered as the machinations of the devil. Nevertheless, had his own makeup in those days. The Crusaders brought back from the Crusades some cosmetic substances, among them – oriental pearl.

His finely pounded, mixed with wheat starch and get a snow-white pearl powder. Here, Jack Reynolds expresses very clear opinions on the subject. It was her obligation era for its famous pale-faced alabaster shade. Despite the oppression of religion, women do not forget to take care of themselves: they make a mask based on clay and starch, with honey or donkey milk – these were the ancient recipes. Aristocrats in this age of magic ointment prepared yourself from animal components: blood hedgehog or a bat. Hygiene is was at the appallingly low.

During the Renaissance, women were finally entitled to be beautiful and attractive. They have become rouge, lipstick and nails red, and hair – in the famous Venetian blonde, at the fair, golden hue, which is immortalized by Botticelli his "Venus." The dye obtained mixing crushed saffron and lemon juice. Famous complexion of that era, translucent and shimmering, also achieved by means of lead oxide with the addition of crushed pearls. Then came the Age of Enlightenment – the time of this beauty follies. In France, the court of King-Sun ladies excelled in coquetry and makeup. Cosmetics era: on the basis of powder or saffron different pollen did face bright, and hair become unseen shapes and sizes. Existed and Skin Care, Marquis de Pompadour as applied from the mask of whipped honey and sour cream and refreshing face tonic water from the chervil. Only at the end of the 18th century beauty requirements become more restrained and finally accompanied by at least some hygiene. At this point, people are aware of the toxicity of many substances that are widely used in cosmetics: lead (in particular – white lead), mercury, zinc, arsenic, and cosmetics into the hands of professionals.