Primitive mehods, like burnt matches, were used for eyeliner.
Berries helped stain the lips, and as Scarlett O'Hara did, a punch on both cheeks added a blush tone to the complexion.
It may surprise many that cosmetics actually began more than 6000 years ago.
The ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Persians used visual enhancements.
The Romans were known for making facial crèmes of beeswax and olive oil.
Many times the ingredients were natural, but sometimes they consisted of harmful ingredients, including lead, mercury and arsenic.
Cleopatra is well known for her beautiful eye liner, but this practice was not limited to women.
Great men like Pharaohs, kings, generals and other legends in their own time were not above a little powder and blush.
Eyeliner and mascara was not out of the question - it made them look more dramatic, attractive and worthy.
Ego and appearance are often closely linked together.
Most contemporary women do wear makeup.
However, men also use cosmetics to enhance their appearance! The first was hair dye, then moisturizer, and now, a skin toned concealer is a frequent male commodity.
This concealer comes in a stick or a tube, and helps erase dark circles, lines and complexion defects.
It is currently thought to be the most popular male commodity in the wonderful world of cosmetics.
Additionally, TV commentators, actors, celebrities and rock star are often known for wearing blush and mascara when onstage or on the air.
It has been proven that an enhanced appearance leads to better social acceptance and gives its wearer a halo effect, making them seem better than they actually are.
In the Old West, you could say this had the opposite effect! Barmaids with loose morals often wore probably a lighter version of today's more sophisticated cosmetics.
These "shameless hussies" wore make up to show that they were available for extracurricular activities.
In Paris, prostitutes were known to have worn lipstick in order to advertise to the public that they engaged their lips in giving sexual pleasure to their male "johns".
Cosmetics cover a wide range of beauty enhancing rituals which are not limited to the face.
The face itself, being the primary...
is the usual focus of anti-aging preparations, like adopting a regiment of applying facial cream as a base, combined with sunblock against harmful UV rays, which is used to moisturize the skin and promote a youthful appearance.
Botox has been used to ease the effects of wrinkles, and a plastic surgeon may be used for a face lift.
The effects of all these preparations are limited at best.
Safety concerns to women lead to animal testing, which has gained a great deal of negative publicity in recent years.
Today's normal beauty routine consists of washing one's face with a non-lye based cleaning preparation, astringent to dry out pimples and moisturizing cream to protect the skin from the outer elements.
This is followed by basic foundation, a creamy skin toned concealer, with a healthy dab of blush.
The eyes are specially adorned with powder, liner, mascara.
The most basic of all cosmetics for women is a complimentary shade of lipstick that makes the teeth look whiter and the smile more attractive.
Beauty procedures have com a long way from thor primitive means to today's society in which merchandise like Kerastase products are a daily part of our lives.