Painted Faces: A Colourful History of CosmeticsThroughout history, women (and men) have applied make-up to enhance, alter, conceal and even to disguise their appearance. Also, to a greater or lesser degree over time, cosmetics have been used as a visible marker of social status, gender, wealth and well-being. A closer look at the world of make-up gives us not only a mirror reflecting day-to-day life in the past, but also an indicator of the culture and politics of earlier periods in history. Susan Stewart guides the reader through the bewildering, fascinating and complex story of cosmetics, from the ancient world to the present day. Anyone who has ever wondered how the Romans used algae to colour their faces and urine to whiten their teeth, how Radium came to be a popular 1930s beauty trend, or how make-up survived the war will enjoy this colourful journey through the human obsession with improving how we look. |
Contents
East Meets West Literature for Women and | |
The Classical Revival | |
Witches Vizards and Patches | |
Counterfeit Cosmetics the French | |
The Victorians Ladies Magazines Crime | |
The Magic of the Movies Makeup and | |
Making up in Public with Makeup from | |
Plates | |
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advertisement alkanet Ancient Egypt Ancient Egyptian anoint appearance applied aromatic arsenic attractive baths beauty products became blonde body Book of Secrets brazilwood cheeks colour combs complexion contained contemporary cosmetic products dangerous disease effect eggs eighteenth century Elizabeth Arden example expensive eye make-up eyebrows face creams face powder fashion female flowers freckles French Greek hair dyes hair loss hair powder hair removal Hannah Woolley herbal important ingredients juice known ladies lady’s lemon lips lipstick look magazine make-up Max Factor mirror mixed mixture natural nineteenth century ointments one’s one’s hair orris root ounces Ovid paint pale perfume perhaps Pliny the Elder poet poisonous pomade popular Queen recipes resin Roman rose rosewater rouge scented seventeenth century skin smell soap society teeth toilette treatment Trotula Trotula Minor twentieth century wash wearing make-up white lead wigs wine woman women wore worn wrinkles