Uniform and unblemished skin – essentially the state of youthful skin – is the aspirational ideal, regardless of age. With expanding networks to share images and self-portraits (‘selfies’) in the digital world, the face is now scrutinized by far-flung social networks unhindered by time and space.
History
The history of civilization is also the history of private life. Cosmetics – substances applied to the skin and hair to enhance its visual appeal – have been “conserved” across human culture and history. At first, key ingredients were derived from plant, animal and mineral sources. Examples include the ancient Egyptian use of kohl (a mineral and vegetable mixture) around the eyes, and the use of fine rice powders for skin whitening by the Chinese. With the Scientific Revolution, a shift to ingredients obtained from precise extractions resulted in pure chemical entities to join with natural substances.
As prehistoric man left evidence of the tools he needed in daily life, other artifacts testify to his imagination: cosmetics, the tools of beauty.
