Story of men skincare

When did men start using cosmetic products?

In our western civilization, it seems to us that masculine beauty and men's skin care is something relatively recent.

However, if we look back, we will discover that in many civilizations, men and women cared for each other equally.

Here are some examples:

Egypt

Surely the first great civilization on record in which personal hygiene and beauty were taken very seriously was the Egyptian civilization.

And precisely the masculine beauty, both in the care of the skin and hair, or in the clothes that were worn, was of vital importance.

At this time, cosmetics not only had an aesthetic aspect but also practical since essential oils, plant extracts and tree resins were used to prevent skin ailments, moisturize and care for it to end up giving it a smoother appearance and young, and ultimately to be more handsome.

As an example, ointments were used to repair sunburned skin, and the famous Kohol (mineral with which the black line of the eyes was painted to give the famous cat's eye look of that time) was also used. by men not only as an aesthetic element but also to prevent conjunctivitis.

There were recipes with balms and plant extracts to strengthen hair and prevent wrinkles. Men not only shaved, but also waxed, exfoliating their skin with ingredients such as sea salt and honey.

On a bodily level, they stiffened their muscles with natron powder and applied olibanum masks, and hydrated their faces with moringa, olive, and beeswax oils. Lining your eyes with kohol to enhance your gaze was not the only makeup product used by men in ancient Egypt.

They also flushed their cheeks and lips with red ochre, a tint that was plentiful in the desert. They used malachite green to shade their eyebrows and eyelids, and even dyed their nails with henna.

Washing and waxing were daily acts that were not only subscribed to priests nor did they have any religious significance. Although it is true that the priests had to bathe at least twice a day. They detested hair to the point of completely plucking eyebrows and eyelashes when performing sacred rituals.

The masculinity of the Egyptians was enhanced with a penetrating gaze, thanks to black pigments and the help of green eye shadow.

The Greeks

The Greeks paid special attention to their personal hygiene and aesthetics since the canons of beauty were very marked by proportions. Great importance was given to baths in which they used water and soap made from olive oil, a typical Mediterranean ingredient.

At this time there are public baths reserved exclusively for men. After bathing, they hydrated their skin with honey. They also paid special attention to manicures and body waxing.

Roman empire

In ancient Rome, men not only cleaned themselves but also combed and shaved their hair just like women. Roman men applied blush to their cheeks based on a red pigment to appear healthier.

They lightened their skin with powder and painted their nails with an elixir of pig fat and blood. In ancient Rome, men dyed their hair and painted their heads to camouflage baldness and thus appear more handsome and younger.

China

In China, male cosmetics date back to the Han dynasty, when it was popular to apply white powder made from ground rice plus lead to the neck area.

The Middle Ages It was a fairly dark time in general in terms of personal hygiene and the use of cosmetic products. Ointments and poultices were used but more to try to repair than to prevent and less to show better facial and body appearance.

It was a time dominated by ecclesiastical doctrines, where "inner beauty was promulgated". Curiously, only at the end of this period and in royal and high nobility instances, makeup became popular among men, where the canon of beauty was to have white skin.

The men also wore wigs of the same color to enhance the effect. The problem is that lead was used in makeup preparations which caused serious health problems.

In France, King Louis XVI participated in the use of the white powder makeup mentioned above, and by going bald at the age of 23, he also promoted the use of wigs among the men of the court.

News

And so we come to the modern age, where through the Hollywood film industry the cult of male beauty resurfaces and little by little men begin to take care of their skin and personal appearance, using moisturizing creams, anti-wrinkle creams, and hair products. .

Currently, there is a growing trend both in the West and in Asian countries in the care of men's skin with specific male cosmetic products.

Moisturisers, anti-wrinkle creams, eye contour creams are no longer exclusive products for women's skin, but creams for men are the trend that has come to stay within the routine of facial and body care for men.

Homo Naturals is the first 100% natural male cosmetics brand. We formulate products for men's skin care.

Men's skin has different characteristics than women's and needs specific products. We are creators of 100% natural and ecological products.

You can search our online store the best creams for men, both for facial and body care.

Do you have more information about male personal care habits of other civilizations? Do not hesitate to expand the information and leave your comments.