Eight facts about makeup that will shock you

Many forms of make-up have existed for thousands of years.  In ancient times tar, lead and an array of other elements beautified women all over the world. Ingredients have changed and trends have evolved, but one thing that has stayed consistent is the love women have for make-up. Here are some astonishing facts about makeup we put together, with some help from michellephan.com:

During Cleopatra’s reign, she would soak the sails of her ships in perfume so the scent would drift to Rome before her arrival. She truly represented Egyptian queen beauty.

In the old days, make up was used to frighten enemies, show a social rank or make magic.

Neon nail polish is illegal in the United States. While many brands tout neon shades, their colors do not possess the true neon colorant. Neon within nail polish is not approved by the FDA.

Dying your hair black in ancient Rome involved feeding leeches, putting them in vinegar, leaving the substance to ferment for two months and thicken into a paste, then applying the mixture to the hair and allowing it to dry for a day.

In the 18th century, England almost passed a law that allowed men to divorce their wives if they caught them wearing makeup.

Every year there are close to 900 million lipsticks sold worldwide. That means almost every single person in the US could own three tubes of lipstick!

The first nail polish was invented in China in 3000BC. Unlike the formula today, the original version was a mixture of beeswax, gum, egg whites and colored powder.

For a woman to wear makeup in Morrisville, Pennsylvania she must get a permit first. Luckily, no one is enforcing this law!  

Compiled by Saman Javed. 

Published in The Express Tribune, April 30^th, 2014.

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