the beauty secrets of the ancient greeks

When I was researching the beauty secrets of the Ancient Greeks, I realised, the more things change, the more they stay the same. There as now, we all want what we can’t have.

The Ancient Greeks were no different. Dark-haired and bronze-skinned, their ideal of beauty was the total opposite: long and curly golden locks, and pale porcelain skin. So they faked it. Here’s how:

Skin

In Ancient Greece, pale skin was a sign of prestige and beauty. It meant women (and men) didn’t have to work for long hours in the fields to support themselves. They were wealthy – the proof was on their skin (literally).

To achieve the look, women painted their faces with white lead. Yes, lead. A literal poison. Sure, it gave them the “elite” look, but it also shaved years off their lives. Lead wasn’t just toxic — it was a one-way ticket to health disasters. No lead? No problem. Chalk was the poor man’s alternative — though it had the staying power of dust in the wind.

This paint needed a smooth foundation. So, women slathered creams made with honey all over their faces to keep it moisturized. Honey is now known to have antimicrobial and humectant properties, making it a natural moisturizer that attracts and retains water in the skin.

Of course, you couldn’t slap on lead or chalk without a smooth base. Enter honey, the Ancient Greeks’ version of a hydrating primer. Sticky? Yes. Effective? Also yes. Honey’s magic wasn’t just accidental. It kept skin soft and dewy (we now know it’s naturally antibacterial and a humectant).

For extra glow, they’d add olive oil. Ancient Greeks loved olive oil so much, it’s a miracle they didn’t drink it straight from the amphora.

Related: 4 Skincare Uses For Olive Oil

Makeup

Ancient Greek women loved makeup – just like us. But they were so expensive back then, only the rich could afford them.

Not that you could see it. Turns out, the “clean girl aesthetic” isn’t new. Ancient Greek women mastered the no-makeup makeup look before it was cool. It was all about looking like you “woke up like this” (spoiler: they didn’t). Natural beauty (achieved with unnatural means) was the ideal.

They dabbed red pastes made from iron oxide and ochre clay onto their cheeks and lips. Some used olive oil mixed with beeswax to whip up the OG tinted balm. Talk about DIY beauty hacks. Eyeshadow? That was charcoal blended with — you guessed it — olive oil.

But wait, the pièce de résistance: the unibrow. Yep, you read that right. Unibrows were all the rage. If you didn’t have one naturally, you’d fake it with dark powders. Why? Because a connected brow was the ultimate sign of intelligence and purity. Who knew?

Hair

In Ancient Greece, only female slaves wore their hair short. Free women had long hair, but could only wear it loose until they remained single. The moment they tied the knot, they’d tie it up, usually in a bun. If it was straight, they’d curl it. Diadem, jeweled combs, hair pins, scarfs, and other accessories completed the look.

Just like dark skin, dark hair wasn’t appreciated And most women had dark hair. So, they would lighten that too. How? By applying vinegar throughout their locks, and then sitting for hours in the sun. To prevent a tan, they’d wear broad-brimmed hats with a hole in the middle.

To keep their hair soft, moisturized, and shiny, they once again turned to olive oil. Applied and left on the hair for hours, it acts like a conditioning treatment. I do this too sometimes, and the result is amazing.

Fragrance

The Greeks didn’t stop at looking good, they had to smell good too. They used essential oils and herbs like rosemary, thyme, and myrrh to create perfumes. Myrrh, a total flex in the fragrance world, was said to calm the mind and body. Basically, smelling good was part of their wellness routine.

Fitness & Diet

Beauty wasn’t just about surface-level glam. Health was the Ancient Greeks’ ultimate beauty secret. Exercise was a lifestyle (those statues weren’t sculpted for nothing). Women stuck to light workouts, while men went hard in the gymnasiums.

Their Mediterranean diet was the MVP, packed with olive oil, grains, fish, and veggies. It kept them glowing from the inside out , proving beauty really does start on the plate.

The Bottom Line

Sure, the Ancient Greeks had some questionable beauty hacks (unibrows, anyone?), but they were onto something. Olive oil? Still a staple. Honey? Still a skincare hero. And their focus on self-care through diet and exercise? Timeless.

About Gio

Hi, I'm Gio. I'm a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is skin coach and writer on a mission to help you achieve your best skin day ever - every day. I bust skincare myths and debunk marketing jargon to help you figure out what's worth the splurge and what's best left on the shelf - using science, not hype. I also offer skincare consultations to help you create the best skincare routine for your unique needs.