The ancient Egyptians were ahead of their time when it came to skincare and makeup. Their elaborate beauty routine included exfoliating with salt scrubs, moisturizing with oils, and using clay masks to protect their skin from the harsh desert sun.
Back then, men and women wore makeup for religious ceremonies, sun protection, and even to enhance their beauty. They believed makeup had magical and protective powers, so they used it on their faces and bodies.
Cosmetics like kohl eyeliner, green malachite eyeshadow, and red ochre lip color were used daily. Eye makeup enhanced beauty but was also believed to ward off evil spirits, protect against diseases, and shield the eyes from the sun's glare and infections carried on windblown sand.
The effort to perfect their appearance reflected the Egyptians' pride in their physical beauty and cultural heritage, ultimately contributing to the perception of them as seductive and alluring. Their makeup regimen, which took hours to complete, was seen as a form of self-expression and an indicator of social status.
They say everything old is new again. What is often forgotten or ignored is that many of these old ways of knowing existed millennia ago on the African continent. So, in reality, not much is new to us since we've been there from the jump.