When Was Makeup Invented. Queen Victoria 1819-1901 made a public declaration that makeup was vulgar and improper due to its connection with prostitutes. Large departure from traditional styles happened in 1960s and 70s with the introduction of hippie movement natural-looking cosmetic punk darker and sinister style that aimed to shock and glam extravagant and colorful style. In the Egyptian culture it was customary to adorn the body with a variety of scents and colors. The first evidence of makeup appeared in ancient Egypt in about 4000 BC.
Archeologists recently found evidence of makeup in an Egyptian tomb in Karnak. Buried with the dead were clay containers that contained color palettes of black eye paint green eye shadow and pigments used as lip stains. The art of wearing makeup was invented approximately 12000 years ago by the ancient Egyptians. By 1890 the demand for stage makeup had warranted its manufacture on a commercial scale. Colored makeup was introduced in Paris upon the arrival of the Russian Ballet in 1910 where ochers and crimsons were the most typical shades. History of Makeup Over the centuries women used burnt matches to darken their eyes berries to stain their lips and young boys urine to fade their freckles.
The eye makeup found was successfully dated to over 3000 years old.
Max Factor a Polish-American cosmetician and former cosmetics expert for the Russian royal family invents the word makeup and introduces Society Makeup to the general public enabling women to emulate the looks of their favorite movie stars. New international fashion moved rapidly after 1930s introducing new styles with each passing decade. By 1890 the demand for stage makeup had warranted its manufacture on a commercial scale. The infographic below created by Beauty Flash follows the evolution of makeup throughout the last 100 years. Queen Victoria 1819-1901 made a public declaration that makeup was vulgar and improper due to its connection with prostitutes. The first evidence of makeup appeared in ancient Egypt in about 4000 BC.