When people think of medical advancements, they don’t often think of skincare. But just as the practice of medicine has evolved and improved over the years, so has the process of caring for the body’s largest organ — the skin. Learn more about the history of skincare below!
The Evolution of Skincare
Keep reading to journey through the various phases of beliefs, ingredients, and practices that impacted the way people cared for their skin.
- The earliest evidence of skincare and makeup comes from Ancient Egypt. Preserving youth was a strong theme within their culture, not too dissimilar from modern times. However, they used ingredients like castor, sesame, and moringa oils. They also used olive oil and clay mixtures to cleanse their skin, milk masks to moisturize, and dead sea salts to exfoliate. Additionally, the makeup they created had two purposes: to help decorate their skin and also to protect them from the harsh elements of the sun and desert.
- Like the Ancient Egyptians, the Ancient Greeks relied on totally natural ingredients to create the elements of their skincare. Their regiment included lots of fresh berries, milk, olive oils, and yogurt to create items like perfumes, eye shadows, cleanses, and even hair dyes.
- The 1700s globally saw skincare as an art form. Many people believed makeup was most beautiful when it was painted and layered on. Heavier makeup conveyed social and economic status. Popular skincare treatments during this time were saunas, sweat cleansings, and milk baths.
- During the 1800s, skincare was a privilege. It was seen as vital for those in higher classes to participate in, but it wasn’t necessary for those who were just trying their best to survive. For a majority of this century, skincare products were hard to obtain and expensive. Using products to lighten the skin was also popular. To do this, many people used items like harsh cleaners, oatmeal, lemon juice, and egg yolks.
- Fortunately for everyone, the 1900s and current times is when skincare really exploded. This century saw the birth of countless businesses for makeup and skincare products. For example, sunscreen wasn’t created until 1944. This also means that beauty products stopped being a privilege and became readily available for all types of people, no matter their economic status. Additionally, we’ve learned that using harsh chemicals to change our tone isn’t healthy while darker skin tones became more widely celebrated. Now, we focus on using natural ingredients like the civilizations before us. We also protect ourselves and our skin by using items like sunscreen and vitamins.
Avail Dermatology is here for any of your skincare needs. If you have any further questions about the history of skincare or want to speak to our staff, click here to reach out or give us a call at 770-929-9033. Click here to learn more about our telemedicine efforts!
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