The Egyptians (3500 – 2500 B.C.)
Medieval Times (500 – 1500 A.D.)
Fast-forward to the 13th century in the midst of Medieval times and the eyebrows were practically non-existent so as to make the forehead appear as high as possible. If removing the eyebrows didn't do the trick, women would pluck hair from their hairlines to create more space. This was frowned upon by the church and considered a mortal sin unless it was done "so as not to be looked down on by her husband."
The Renaissance (1300 - 1700)
The cultural revolution sparked by the Renaissance also brought about a shift in beauty norms. The ideal look was a voluptuous body with long, thick hair of a soft yellow turning brown. Since having a light complexion was also a desirable trait, facials were common practice. Of course, the obvious difference between a Renaissance facial compared to a modern version was the use of white lead and mercury powders.
The Victorian Era (1837 – 1901)
The dawn of the Victorian era saw the advent of the corset, and with it, an obsession over big busts, big hips and miniscule waists. According to historians' estimates, corsets reduced women's lung capacity by 20 percent and displaced internal organs either above or below the midsection. "The Gibson Girl" (after creations by magazine illustrator Charles Gibson) became the popular look to aspire to in the early 1900s, which consisted of a "figure eight" body and hair piled into a bouffant or pompadour up-do. And when it came to makeup, the less you wore, the more modest (and virtuous) you were considered.
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The Roaring '20s
Goodbye, corsets; hello, rising hemlines. The 1920s were a liberating time for beauty and fashion as women preferred non-constricting garments and packed on the makeup, especially around the eyes. With the innovation of "compact makeup," women were delighted they could take their rouge and lipstick "to go." The most popular lip shape of the time was the "cupid's bow," in which lipstick was applied above the upper lip in the shape of a bow and exaggerated on the lower lip.
The 1950s
In a word, "impeccable" was the standard for 1950s beauty (nevermind all the chores that needed to be done, lipstick came first!). This post-war era allowed women to splurge more on makeup than they had the previous decade, especially as more makeup options became available to them. A typical makeup routine began with foundation cream—a newcomer to women's makeup bags—followed by a peachy powder, a generous application of mascara, rosy or pastel rouge and a pink or orange-red lipstick.
