The Evolution of Makeup

By: Althea & Kelly

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Who invented makeup?

Egyptians way back in 6000 BCE started to do makeups.

- Believed makeup appealed to the Gods

- Both men and women of all social classes wore
makeup.
Use black kohl to line
their eyes+Green/Blue
eyeshadow for special
occasions.

*Kohl is a combination of ash, lead, burnt almonds, ochre, and oxidized copper.
“Fossils”
Divergent evolution

Purpose of Makeups

Protection from
sunlight and insects Aesthetic appeal

Ex: Egyptians and Vikings Ex: Nowadays

Gradualism– ~100 B.C Makeups
Egyptians 6000 B.C

Use blackAncient
kohl to line their eyes+Green/Blue
Greece
eyeshadow for special occasions.
makeups:
- Connect their
China– Zhou dynasty, Qin Dynasty (1050 B.C~220 B.C)
eyebrows
- Use fruit juice as
How: Zhou– paint on their
*Plain makeup era (“Black&White”) Makeup
cheeks and lips
powder and facial cream (magnesium) ➡ White / Dai(黛)
➡Black powder (Lead)
Qin– Start to put red powder on (White powder+Red
paint)+ Early “lipsticks” start emerging(胭脂) (made from
animal oil and insects)

Why: Aesthetic appeal

Gradualism– 1000A.D. Makeups
Europe- Vikings
How: Striking facial makeup/ Vikings tattoos ➡ blue hues of
face paint + black-colored eyes
Why: Aesthetic appeal / Protection from sunlight and insects
/ To look more fearsome
China- Song dynasty
How: *simple and natural 三白妝(San bai makeup)➡ white powder
on their foreheads, noses, and chins (like highlighting in the
modern days)
Why: Aesthetic appeal
Stick Pearls/Flowers on their face
Gradualism- 1200A.D Makeups

Medieval times in Europe: *People

think that doing makeups is
Japan disrespectful to gods

Women only have simple makeups

Korea on.
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Gradualism– 1400A.D. Makeups

Europe: Medieval times makeup

Ming Dynasty— Becoming much more similar to modern makeups

- Bright tone
- Vivid colors
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Gradualism– 1700 A.D. Makeups
Europe— The Great Cover Up style

- Bleach their skin white with

face-whitening makeup that contained
lead
- Women also color their cheeks with
vivid colors and dark red lip coloring
(mercury).
- Draw veins over their neck and chest
areas to enhance the effect.

Originated in Italy This trend then spreader

through France, and
evolved into white skin
with light pink blush
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Gradualism– 1800/1900 A.D. Makeups
Beginning of the 1800’s Makeup Era— Pale & Elegant
- Influenced by Queen Victoria’s outfits and makeups
- Back to plain makeups
- Dark eyebrows with light colored lips
- Lemon juice either consumed or applied as a face
tonic (hydrate your skin before makeup).
*Tanned skin is considered a lower class look back then

Later 1800’s-1900’s
- Movie industry start emerging
- Makeup trends are influenced mostly by
celebrities of HollyWood
- Clear outlines of facial features
- Dark eyeshadow / eye lines
- Thick eye lashes/ nose shadows
Punctuated Equilibrium– Nowadays Makeups

2020
2000 2005 2018

2023
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Adaptations
Makeup adapts to what your using it
for depending on what you’re using it
for. Like this first image is everyday to
day makeup, what you might see if
you’re walking around in public. While
this second photo is artistic, or
theater makeup. Soused as more
dramatic to portray a character.
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Variations
- Different cultures have different types
of makeup styles
- Different brands have different style,
color, and ingredients of cosmetics
products
- Different product have different
functions.
Overproduction
The needs of cosmetics have
increased
- more new brands are
emerging
- More competitive market
- More innovative products
Natural selection
People nowadays find light makeups or a more natural makeup look more
appealing then heavy, colorful makeups.

So products that sell light color shades or foundation closer to original skin tone
have the advantage in the cosmetics market.

V.S.
Descent with modification
Geographical distribution
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Analogous Structure
Nowadays, people do makeups
to look good, same with
clothing and hairstyles, these
are evolving because of the
changes in beauty standards
and different popular trends.
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Homologous structure
The purpose of makeup have
evolved into for aesthetic purposes
from protection from sunlight or
showing respect to the god.
 Nowadays, people
don’t use lead in
Vestigial structure
makeups. Titanium
dioxide is a common
alternative.
Past cosmetic products:
With toxic ingredients like
Lead.
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How would it Evolve in the Future?

We think that the purpose of doing makeups
won’t change, but due to the recent trends
of makeup, leaning more towards “natural”
style, we predict that aggressive makeups
would probably decrease. But the future of
makeups will still be diverse consisting of
multiple types of makeups.
Resources

● https://www.sewickleyspa.com/blog/1700s-hair-makeup-r
evolution
● https://youtu.be/i8e5D83P6UI
● https://ytliu0.github.io/ChineseCalendar/era_names.html
● https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hant/花鈿妝
● https://www.niusnews.com/=P1ovvvd3
● https://www.cosmetify.com/blog/hottest-eye-makeup-tren
ds/