The Genesis of Esthetics

Skincare....... A bit of history.

Esthetics, a branch of science that deals with the overall health and well-being of the skin. What brought you to my blog today? Do you or someone you know need help dealing with skin issues?

After reading today's blog you may wonder why you would need to know about the history of skin care. This blog was created to educate you about your skin and how it works so that one day you will be able to answer your own questions and those of your family and friends. I welcome your questions and I will answer them in my next day's post.

Now let's get this thing started.

          Earlier civilizations practiced skincare therapies more for self-preservation and disease prevention than for attractiveness.

Egyptians

    It all began with the ancient Egyptians. They were the first to use these therapies along with materials that we use today for personal beautification. Henna, a dye obtained from the powdered leaves of the mignonette tree was used in ancient Egypt for body art and on fingernails. Today, henna is used as a reddish hair dye and in tattooing.

Hebrews

The Hebrews used grooming rituals because they believed that their bodies were gifts to be cared for. Hebrews utilized the land around them for maintenance and cleansing of the skin, hair and teeth. Olive and grape seed oil was used to moisten and protect the skin. Today olive oil is found in many products including cleansers, body scrubs, lotions, moisturizers and even masks. Grape seed oil is a great moisturizer for the skin and is used in massage and aroma therapy. Pomegranate and myrrh were the Hebrew's most useful grooming aids. A tonic was made from myrrh and used as mouthwash. Pomegranate was used when the Hebrews were in need of an antiseptic. Today we know that vitamins A, C, and E are needed for healthy skin. A single glass of pomegranate juice has forty percent of the daily requirements of these vitamins. It's antiseptic properties aid in treating acne. Today myrrh is used in skincare products to soothe cracked and chapped skin. It can also reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

Greeks

The Greek word kosmetikos from which we get the word cosmetics, means skilled in the art of cosmetics. The Greeks used herbs and olive oil to regulate body temperature. They would mix sand with the olive oil and apply to their skin for protection from the sun.

Romans

 The Romans were famous for their baths. After bathing they would apply rich olive oil to their skin. The Romans also made fragrances from flowers, saffron and almonds. Today almond and saffron is used in some skincare compounds because they are rich in vitamins

A and B, these ingredients leave the skin soft and smooth. Cleopatra bathed in milk to soften her skin. We now know that milk contains lactic acid which is used in skincare for dry skin types.

Asians

 The Asians would rub a mixture of sap from wild trees, beeswax, and egg whites onto their nails. The mixture used would depend on whether they wanted red or black nails. Japanese geishas removed their body hair by wrapping a thread around each hair and pulling it out. Today this technique is called threading.

Africans

 Africans used the twigs from the mignonette tree (remember this is where henna comes from) as toothpicks. The twigs prevented oral and tooth disease because of it's antiseptic quality.

   Wow! Who knew people were so smart back in the day? I guess it's true what they say... Necessity is the mother of all inventions. Ancient people around the world used these materials. And many are still used today. As time goes by, self-preservation and disease prevention slowly begin to take a back seat to beautification and adornment as we see it reflected in popular culture of today. That's where trends and styles play a huge role in the choices we make. Are you a trendy chic or do you have your own classic style. Maybe you will find out tomorrow.