A Condensed History Of Mineral Eyeshadow

By Haywood Hunter


Women, men and even children have used mineral eyeshadow and other substances to augment their features and enhance their appearance for literally thousands of years. Evidence for this comes from the Old Testament (Ezekiel 23:40) and Egyptian burials dating back to 10,000 BC. Shadow is brushed onto the upper eyelids for color and depth.



The Egyptians, as do women all over the world today, employed a black powdery substance known then, as now, as kohl. It was used to define the shape of the eyes, fend off infections of the eye, improve vision and dampen glare from the bright sunlight on the sands. Then, kohl was made from antimony, copper, malachite, ochre, ash and burnt almonds.

Between 800 and 700 years BC, the Greeks had a substance called 'fucus', which they made from lapis luzuli and malachite, crushed and powdered to produce vivid blue and green eye shadows. This and other cosmetics at the time formed a significant part of the Greek economy.

With the expansion of their empire, the Romans were introduced to the Iranians who, like the Egyptians, used kohl to fend off the attentions of the evil eye. They adapted the sacred oils for use in sexual practices. Eventually, they discovered medicinal and spiritual uses for the materials.

In India during the Bronze Age, kohl was applied to everybody, even little babies, to repel infection, glare and the ubiquitous evil eye. At that time, kohl was produced from lead and antimony, both heavy metals. It is unknown how many people went blind or perished, but the kohl that is manufactured today is made from less harmful raw materials.

Mineral eyeshadow today comes in a dizzying array of different shades. If there is a colored mineral, it can be crushed, made into powder and pressed into packaging for cosmetic use. The powder may be used as it comes, dry, or moistened with sterile water to produce more vibrant shades.




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