|
History
Since the time of Adam and Eve man and woman have adorned their bodies in va\rious ways to modify , beautify and protect what the Creator has given us.They used natural pigments;leaves, flowers, minerals to make colours and clothes to adorn the body.
In Ancient Egypt around 4000 BC they used khol eyeliner,blue mineral pigment for eyeshaow and henna on their hands and feet, as therir culture was falling into decline they even began to wear wigs.
The berber of north africa used clay pigments to make their cheeks rosey and a special mud that is used today as shampoo
The Ancient Greeks and Romans also used cosmetics. In the western world, cosmetics were used throughout the medieval period, although their use was typically restricted to the upper classes. Cosmetics were also used in Persia and what is today the Middle East. After the rise of Islam, cosmetics were sometimes restricted, although Islam has no set prohibition against the use of cosmetics.
Cosmetics were widely used until the modern period. At some times, cosmetic use was frowned upon. For example, in the 1800s, Queen Victoria publicly declared makeup impolite. It was viewed as vulgar and something that was worn by actors and prostitutes.
By World War II, cosmetics had common application for all classes, and for the upper classes in nearly all societies.
In Japan, geishas wore lipstick made of crushed safflower petals to paint the eyebrows and edges of the eyes as well as the lips. Sticks of bintsuke wax, a softer version of the sumo wrestlers' hair wax, were used by geisha as a makeup base. White paste and powder colour the face and back; rouge contours the eye socket and defines the nose. Black paint colours the teeth for the ceremony when maiko (apprentice geisha) graduate and become independent.
As of 2006, the cosmetics manufacturing industry is dominated by a small number of multinationals that all originated in the early 20th century. Of the dominant firms, the oldest and the largest is L'Oréal, which was founded by Eugene Shueller in 1909 as the French Harmless Hair Colouring Company (now owned by Liliane Bettencourt 27.5% and Nestlé 26.4%, with the remaining 46.1% are publicly traded). The true market developers were the 1910s American trio Elizabeth Arden, Helena Rubinstein and Max Factor. These firms established the market and were augmented by Revlon just before World War II and Estée Lauder just after.
Small independents, like semi-permanent cosmetics company Lip-Ink International, have attempted to break into the cosmetics market with unique products, but are largely shut out of the major retail outlets.
Women and Beauty in Islam
Pleasing the husband: The wife should pay proper attention to her makeup and appearance, to attract the husband and respond to his sexual inclinations, since this is quite effective in pulling the man to his wife and strengthening the relations of love between them. She should provide him with ways of enjoying her beauty and satisfy his desires and prevent him the temptation of throwing himself into the traps of forbidden desires
Natural Products used in Islamic Countries:
KOHL
Kohl (khur, kuhl, kahal, or kohol) is a black substance used by the women of the Arabian Peninsula as eyeliner and eye shadow. Apart from making the eyes look brighter and larger, kohl was once believed to have value as a protection against eye disease. It's blackness also controls the sun's glare in the desert, and thus it is used by both men and women of the desert.
Kohl is powdered antimony, a brittle metallic elementary body of bright bluish-white colour and flaky crystalline texture. An Artemis import, a belly dance mail-order supply house, sells both light and darker grades of kohl of fine quality. It can also be found at Middle Eastern grocery stores, but beware of any powder which does not appear to be very finely and consistently ground. The "kohl" pencils used in modern makeup are a completely different item and should not be applied in the manner the powder is applied, next to the eye.
To apply kohl you need:
1) a small stick or large toothpick which has both ends rounded off. Place this in olive oil overnight so that it soaks into the wood. You may also use the olive oil to clean your stick after use.
2) a packet of kohl powder.
IMPORTANT: If you wear contact lenses you must apply kohl BEFORE inserting lenses. (Mandatory legal disclaimer: In my experience this has not damaged my gas-permeable contact lenses, however I accept no liability if somehow you feel that it has damaged yours.) To proceed with application: pick up stick in right hand to apply to right eye. Dip tip of stick into kohl powder. Hold stick parallel to eye, and starting at the inner point of the eye, run it between the eyelids ACTUALLY TOUCHING THE EYE. (It doesn't hurt, really.) Re-powder stick, pick up in left hand and repeat on the other side. You may also enhance your eyebrows, or draw points off the end of your eyes.
You will feel when it is in the correct location, and you will have your eyelids nicely black around the roots of the eyelashes with no white skin showing. Kohl is water-proof but not "spit-proof", which is a great attribute in hot climates. A tiny amount of power will last you a couple of years, and it's much healthier for your eye than commercial cosmetics which you wouldn't dare put into your eye. Excess powder will gather at the corner of the eyes and you can remove it. It is much less artificial looking than painting a line outside the lids with commercial eyeliners; people will notice your eyes, but they won't be quite sure why.
About the importation of khol. Be careful with some khols. The scariest a notice/reminder from the FDA and the customs agency: about the importation of khol which contains some lead that could be: very harmful! Which contains some lead that could be: very harmful! Mainly any khol which isn't stamped with ingredients or: something mentioning the content is under extreme suspicion. : ...so...be careful. If in doubt - ask. But, I have found *good* khol to be wonderful!
ROUGE
Rouge (zerkoun), fine red powder prepared from safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) was used to paint ladies’ cheeks in traditional Arabia. It was also applied to the lips. The Bedouin of Arabia are known to have used the red roots of the Arnebia decumbens (a plant of the Boragnaceae family) to make rouge.
EAR-PIERCING and NOSE-PIERCING
In Arabia a girl usually has her ears pierced at birth, and a Bedouin child may have them pierced in two or three places. The holes are kept open with silk cords until she is old enough to wear ear-rings. There are even some pieces of jewellery which attach to the nose, and then attach to other head ornaments.
TATTOO
(TAQWA PALACE NOTE: Permanent tattooing is forbidden in Islam because it is destructive to the skin and Muslims should not distinguish themselves by ranks but by faith, Insha Allah)
Tattoo, the practice of making permanent marks or designs on the skin by puncturing and inserting a pigment or pigments, is practised by many groups of women. It began in Mesopotamia thousands of years ago, and is especially popular amongst the Marsh Arabs. The various patterns of facial tattoos are invariably geometric, and sometimes indicate tribal status.
AROMATICS
Authentic old Arabian garments will be steeped in incense. The ancient Egyptians were immensely fond of frankincense and myrrh attar produced in southern Arabia. Popular attars today include: musk, henna, amber, jasmine, lavender, and lemon grass. One practical aspect of attars is that the one derived from the henna flower is said to be an excellent anti-perspirant.
REFERENCES:
ART OF ARABIAN COSTUME by Heather Colyer Ross
http://www.ummah.com/islam/taqwapalace/fitness/beauty1.html#beauty1 |
