How Skincare Routines Have Changed Throughout History

Humans have always been obsessed with beauty. Throughout history, skincare around the world has gone through many different iterations. Check out this list and see if you see any you recognize these skincare routines!

Ancient Egypt:

In Ancient Egypt, people were dedicated to skincare and reveled in routines that highlighted beauty and youth. The Egyptians were dedicated to personal hygiene and made soap pastes from olive oil and clay. They would also create face masks by mixing milk and money to hydrate their skin. Their focus on anti aging also led them to using moringa, castor, and sesame oils to keep up youthful appearances with these skincare routines.

Ancient Greece and Rome:

The Greeks saw fair skin as a sign of beauty and status– the paler the better. Too get super white skin both men and women covered their faces in toxic lead. If lead wasn’t available they would turn to chalk and then lather honey on top of either the lead or honey to retain moisture. The Ancient Romans also valued white skin and tried to maintain it by using lead on their faces and other products such as crocodile excrement, and white marl. Woman would make face masks to prevent wrinkles made of asses’ milk, snail ash, eggs, animal fat, and much more.

Ancient India:

Herbal facial products using Ayurveda concepts were used by the ancient people of India. Ayurveda isa holistic health medicine and is  the “balance between body, mind, spirit, and social wellbeing.” People of the Indus Valley would focus on anti aging and good health. Herbal waters, powders, and oils would all be part of the daily routine and would change or differ depending the season and what plants were available.

Dynastic China:

During the Wei Dynasty, people used “bath beans” which were made of medicinal native herbs, fragrance oils, and soy bean powder. The creators of “bath beans” were traditional Chinese medicine doctors, so they were always being experimented with. One iteration included pig pancreas! As time went one, the process was perfected to include plant ash. During the Wei Dynasty, people valued bright, white skin so they used lead mercuride. Using this product in excess led to potential death, and ruined skin with these skincare routines.

The Middle Ages:

The Middle Ages were a weird time in history in general but their skincare routines were extra bizarre. Long necks, high foreheads, no eyebrows were all favored traits.Outbreaks of smallpox and other diseases made women of this time period value clear, unblemished white skin.  Some odder facial skincare routines included the bull blood face masks, hogs grease, and amethysts gems to get rid of pimples. Herbal remedies usually included rosemary and distilled water.

Victorian Era:

Pale was in style during this time period that ranged from 1837-1901. White skin was a sign of nobility and wealth so women did everything to stay away from the sun. People would press zinc oxide, a white powder that is insoluble in water, into their face to bleach and maintain the fair tones. Today zinc oxide can be most commonly found in baby powders, diaper rash creams, and anti dandruff shampoo! Makeup wasn’t used heavily because there was a push for “natural beauty” during this time, but women still bought subtle makeup to give them the appearance of looking flushed. Natural creams using flowers and oils were also being made at home by the women of the Victorian era.

The Roaring 20’s:

During the 1920’s, skincare began to become more commercialized. In the US, nightly face washing with regular bar soap began to become a staple in homes across the country. Women used hot water and scrubbed their faces vigorously to get bright, radiant skin. Cold creams and lotions also began to take off in popularity. Vanishing cream worked like translucent powder ato keep a matte, dry appearance to oily skin.

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The 1950’s:

The war was over and the start of the nuclear family began in the 1950’s. Women gave extra attention to their face, during this time period, every detail counted. Ultra femininity was in style and women were expected to remove and maintain all their body hair. Petroleum jelly was used as a facial moisturizer, but shea butter was also used to keep extra smooth and wrinkle free skin.

The Sixties and Seventies:

Natural, minimal effort beauty was back in style during these decades. Multi-step facial cleansers and the incorporation of vitamins were introduced into women’s daily skincare routines. In the 1970’s organic products were starting to be introduced into commercially available products to push less damage on the skin.

The 21st Century:

The new millennium has elevated the skincare game significantly! Anti-aging and anti-wrinkle products are a big market. Companies have developed creams, lotions and serums that include a combination of ingredients like SPF, vitamins, collagen, and antioxidants. Sheet face masks have become a staple in the late 2010’s but for people that want more immediate results, dermal fillers have become an integral part of their skincare routines to maintain their youth.  

Which of these skincare routines have you done throughout the years? Let us know in the comments.

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