While it may not be a common fact that Ancient Egypt's Cleopatra was the first beauty entrepreneur in history, it is logical to think that our ancestors battled with their skin just like us today.

In our modern day, we like to think of Estee Lauder as the beauty industry's creator, but let us take a little trip in the TRIXSENT Time Machine and learn more about those who came before us - way before us!

Ancient Egypt

While other civilizations had their beauty practices, Cleopatra spent her adult life leading Egypt and researching skincare and beauty techniques. She is credited with creating a manufacturing plant that produced perfumes, cosmetics, and skincare potions.

Cleopatra crafted various antimicrobial facial cleansers using honey, olive oil, lime, and chalk. She also created toners from apple cider vinegar, used sea salt scrubs to exfoliate her skin, and produced natural nail polishes and hair dyes.

Many ancient Egyptian concoctions contained castor, sesame, and moringa oils to fight fine lines and wrinkles. Ancient Egyptians also made a soap paste from clay and olive oil to cleanse their skin. Honey and milk masks were used to moisturize skin, and baths included milk and Dead Sea salts to exfoliate, rejuvenate, and heal damaged skin.

Ancient Greeks and Romans

Like the Egyptians, the ancient Greeks and Romans also highly valued skin care. Honey was used as a moisturizer, and oils and sand were used as a natural sunscreen. The wealthier class had servants tasked with hair removal by plucking, as these two cultures valued a smooth, sleek appearance.

Bathing ended with fragrant oils and perfumes slathered on the body to soothe and gloss skin. One of the most widely used skincare treatments was mixing fresh berries with milk and applying the paste on the face and neck; olives and olive oil as exfoliants and moisturizers; honey, milk and yogurt were used as anti-aging preparations.

Ancient China

The Chinese had perfected skin-bleaching methods by using lemon juice and spongy mushrooms. But early on, the Chinese believed that healthy skin was most linked to inner wellness and used preferred nutrition, circulation, and exercise methods to simultaneously promote inner and outer health.

Medieval Times

During the 12th Century, smooth, white skin was a highly regarded quality for the beauty conscious. Many women use herbal remedies to treat blemishes and promote fair skin. They used aloe, rosemary and cucumbers to cleanse the skin; various seeds, leaves and flowers were mixed with honey to create facial masks, and vinegar was used as an astringent.

Queen Elizabeth I

The Queen started a trend when she decided pale skin was to be achieved and exulted. She used lead and vinegar to make a whitening foundation to remove freckles called ceruse. Personal hygiene was not as it is today; with no running water and the plague to contend with, men and women of the Royal Court took to keeping skin looking pale (to emulate the Queen) by using this solution which they would powder over and on top of previous applications. When the resulting white layers were so thick that they could not be washed off, they experimented with rainwater, donkey's milk, red wine, and urine as makeup removers. Unfortunately, the use of lead often caused poisoning and death in those who participated in this beauty ritual.

While it seems like today's beauty standards have not changed that much, the methods have improved dramatically! We are sure you will agree that clean, fresh, and glowing skin is achievable, without such drastic measures. 

If you are interested in how the TRIXSENT Therapy Oils can benefit you and your skin, please reach out to us via the Contact page. A Team TRIXSENT member will follow-up with you.