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A Condensed Background Of Mineral Eyeshadow For Cosmetic And Other Use

By Haywood Hunter


Women, men and even children have used mineral eyeshadow and other substances to augment their features and enhance their appearance for literally thousands of years. Evidence for this comes from the Old Testament (Ezekiel 23:40) and Egyptian burials dating back to 10,000 BC. Shadow is brushed onto the upper eyelids for color and depth.

The Egyptians, and women today, used a black substance called kohl to enhance their eyes, improve vision, prevent infection and reduce glare. Kohl is made from burnt almonds and minerals such as antimony, copper and malachite, ochre and ash.

In the 7th and 8th centuries BC, the Greeks used what they called 'fucus', a mineral substance derived from lapis luzuli and malachite to produce vibrant blues and greens. Fucus and other beautifying substances formed an important part of the Greek economy at the time.

As the Roman Empire grew, the Romans became acquainted with the Iranians. The Iranians made the same use as the Egyptians of kohl to ward off the evil eye. The wicked Romans took the oils that the Egyptians used for sacred purposes and used them instead in sexual practices. They learned of medicinal uses for the oils and also employed them to ward off evil spirits.

In India during the Bronze Age, kohl was applied to everybody, even little babies, to repel infection, glare and the ubiquitous evil eye. At that time, kohl was produced from lead and antimony, both heavy metals. It is unknown how many people went blind or perished, but the kohl that is manufactured today is made from less harmful raw materials.

Mineral eyeshadow today comes in a dizzying array of different shades. If there is a colored mineral, it can be crushed, made into powder and pressed into packaging for cosmetic use. The powder may be used as it comes, dry, or moistened with sterile water to produce more vibrant shades.




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