The overall history of ancient Greece is dramatic. The styles and beauty trends from that time are just as dramatic and bold. From cosmetic trends from skin enhancing, to eyebrows, to lips, Greek women were not afraid of makeup.
Skin trends of the ancient Greeks may surprise some. This group of people may often be thought of as having glowing, golden skin, but light skin was considered the height of beauty and fashion. Women used chalk and white lead to lighten their skin. They did not know that the materials that they were using were dangerous and toxic.
Keeping skin clear and soft was also a high priority in the Greek culture. Honey and olive oil were both used for cleaning and moisturizing the skin. Both honey and olive oil are used in many lotions and health care products today. For instance, Burts Bees has created a successful cosmetics brand based on natural bee materials in their products.
Makeup in the Greek ancient culture was worn by high society daily. Many women would use eyeliner made with olive oil and charcoal to darken their eyes. This eyeliner was also used to create a thick brow, which was very popular at that time. Red iron oxide was mixed with beeswax to create a shiny and long lasting lip balm.
We still use many materials in our cosmetics and beauty products that the Ancient Greeks used in the past. These include olive oil, honey and beeswax. We no longer use harmful materials such as chalk and lead in our cosmetics. This has been linked to a shortened life span and disease of people that were living in Greece at that time.
