History of Natural Ingredients in Cosmetics

There has been interest in the history of cosmetics for the last several decades. In part, this renewed curiosity is probably due to the revolutionizing natural movement in the cosmetic industry. In this article, we provide an overview of the historical aspects of the use of natural ingredients in c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cosmetics (Basel) 2023-04, Vol.10 (3), p.71
Main Authors: McMullen, Roger L, Dell’Acqua, Giorgio
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Archaeology
Ayurvedic medicine
botanicals
Cosmetics
Cosmetics industry
Egyptian civilization
Hair
Historical account
History
Ingredients
Lead
Medicine, Ayurvedic
Minerals
Mummies
natural ingredients
Oils & fats
Olive oil
Perfumes
Pigments
Skin
Traditional Chinese medicine
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Summary:There has been interest in the history of cosmetics for the last several decades. In part, this renewed curiosity is probably due to the revolutionizing natural movement in the cosmetic industry. In this article, we provide an overview of the historical aspects of the use of natural ingredients in cosmetics, which mostly come from botanical and mineral sources. We begin with an introduction to the art and science of cosmetics in the ancient world, which includes accounts of Egyptian, Mesopotamian, Greek, and Roman cosmetics as well as Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurvedic Medicine. These dermatological and cosmetic practices, which were advanced for the time, paved the way for the current revolution of natural ingredients in cosmetic products. Without providing a comprehensive historical account, we surveyed selected cultures during different periods of time to provide some perspective of our current understanding of natural ingredients in cosmetics. Attention is also given to the rich contributions of body art by tribal societies to our knowledge base, especially in the areas of dyes and pigments. Finally, we offer some perspective of natural ingredient cosmetics in the Information Age.
ISSN:2079-9284
2079-9284
DOI:10.3390/cosmetics10030071