Women in Ancient Rome (June 2014) | Page 11

The Make up of makeup

- The main component of a makeup kit was Kohl: ashes or soot and antimony mixed together.

- Saffron: to improve the smell

- Charred rose petals and date stones could be used to darken the eyes

- Green eye shadow came from malachite, blue eye shadow came from azurite

- Dark eyebrows that almost met in the center were considered attractive. The effect was achieved by using antimony or soot to darken the eyebrows then extend them inward

- Make up would usually come in a tablet or cake form

- Wealthy women would buy expensive makeup that were cased in containers made from gold, wood, glass, or bone

- Kohl came in compartmentalized tubes that could store more than one color of eye makeup

Lipstick?

- There is no evidence that they colored their lips. But there is some evidence to hint that they did paint their nails

- Oral hygiene wasn't close to today’s standards, but white teeth were still prized. So false teeth, made of bone or ivory and paste, were very popular

- They would sweeten their breath with powder and baking soda