PAINTED FACES: A Colourful History of Cosmetics

Book number: 93029 Product format: Hardback Author: SUSAN STEWART

In stock

Bibliophile price £9.00
Published price £20


In ancient Egypt, the manufacture of beauty products often took place within Royal palaces or at sites of great religious importance. Cosmetic production was strictly regulated and there was an air of mystery around the exact method of manufacture and composition. Such was the value of those ingredients in those cosmetic pastes, perfumes and ointment that those people employed to work with the valuable aromatic resin frankincense were even searched on leaving their place of work. We will here see Egyptians, both men and women, wear lapis lazuli alongside kohl on their eyes and eyelids. They applied ground alabaster as a facial scrub and cleanser and beeswax was all over the body as a moisturiser; facial hair was removed and Egyptian society, at all levels, strived to control unpleasant body odour and bad breath. All make up matters from the ancient world, the Middle Ages, the classical revival and the printing press, witches, counterfeit cosmetics during the French Revolution, 19th-century ladies' magazines, the movies, make up and the war effort, mass media advertising through to compacts and bags, Cutex manicure sets and ice cream lip pomades of the 1970s to 21st century trends are covered. Includes a glossary of cosmetic ingredients too in a book which is a bewildering, fascinating and complex story of beauty trends and a colourful journey through the human obsession with improving how we look. 288 pages, 16 pages of colour and mono photos.

Additional product information

ISBN 9781445653990

Customers who bought this product also bought

MUYBRIDGE AND THE RIDDLE OF LOCOMOTION
Book number: 91658 Product format: Hardback Author: Marta Braun
Bibliophile price £4.50
Published price $19.95
THE POET
Book number: 92804 Product format: Paperback Author: MICHAEL CONNELLY
Bibliophile price £5.00
Published price £8.99
PUSSWEEK: A Cat's Guide to Feline Empowerment
Book number: 93124 Product format: Paperback Author: BEXY MCFLY
Bibliophile price £6.50
Published price £12.99
GEOMETRY OF HOLDING HANDS
Book number: 91677 Product format: Hardback Author: ALEXANDER MCCALL SMITH
Bibliophile price £4.00
Published price £18.99
EXOTIC VETTING: True Stories
Book number: 92838 Product format: Paperback Author: ROMAIN PIZZI
Bibliophile price £6.00
Published price £14.99
ALICE BEHIND WONDERLAND
Book number: 93369 Product format: Hardback Author: SIMON WINCHESTER
Bibliophile price £5.00
Published price £10.99

Browse this category: Health & Beauty