Egyptian Eye Makeup

Why Egyptian Eye Makeup? When you think of the ancient Egyptians two things come immediately to mind – the pyramids and the dazzling, dramatic appeal of Ancient Egyptian eye make up (or Cleopatra Eye Makeup). If you look at art throughout the Egyptian empire you’ll be hard pressed to find any eyes without adornment on both women and men.

The characteristic almond shape of Egyptian Eyes was not simply chosen to make a person’s eyes stand out – there were religious reasons behind it as well. For example, the green eye makeup they wear (called Udju) came from Sinai, a place sacred to Hathor. Hathor protected women and ruled over matters of love and beauty. Likewise the gray eye makeup called Mesdemet (a blend of lead and copper) was a gift given to the Pharaoh, who was considered a god in his own right.

The Eye’s Have it

Its worthy of note that Egyptians considered eye makeup important enough to include applicators in their burial chambers – insuring they’d be quite handsome throughout the afterlife.

A third component in Egyptian eye make up was Galena, a silvery mineral. It is interesting to note that research indicates this mineral helps protect the delicate skin around the eye from the desert sun. This protective element is very interesting considering the Egyptians believed their efforts protected of the “evil eye”. Galena was also used in making Kohl – a mixture of copper ores, ash, burnt almond and ochre. This is the distinctive black that lined the eyes and was also used for mascara.

Applying the Makeup

If you’re interested in trying traditional Egyptian eye makeup or Cleopatra Eye Makeup yourself, Kohl is the keynote to the whole look. You can find this product at a variety of outlets for about $15-$30.00 with a good applicator. To apply the Kohl: 

Dampen the stick / applicator Roll the applicator in the Kohl so the powder gathers on it. Gently shake the applicator to remove any clumps Start at the inner corner of your eye With your eyes lightly closed, pull the applicator across the crease of your eye You now have the basic “cat-eye” Add mascara to your lashes to provide thickness

If you’re planning on using eye shadow, be sure to put it on before the Kohl.

The whole idea behind Egyptian eye makeup was drama and presence. You want to use such a look sparingly so that when you do come out with that opulent eye-art, it will have a lot of impact on everyone around. Who says you can’t live like an Egyptian Queen (at least for one night)? 

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