the beauty secrets of the ancient romans

Let’s talk about the beauty secrets of the Ancient Romans…

Did you know that the Ancient Romans started using cosmetics for ritual purposes only? But as time went on, makeup and skincare became a natural part of women’s everyday lives.

Wealthy people bought imported makeup from China and Germany, while the poor could only afford cheaper knock-offs of such “high-end” cosmetics.

Due to the weather conditions and the poor quality of their cosmetics, women needed to reapply their makeup several times a day (talk about dedication!). And honestly? Using those toxic ingredients probably didn’t help their skin much.

By the way, rich women didn’t apply their makeup themselves. They had female slaves called Cosmetae for them. Cosmetae also mades creams, lotions and cosmetics. But how? Let’s delve deeper into their fascinating beauty rituals and ingredients.

Face

Like a lot of ancient cultures, the Romans thought fair, white skin was the ultimate goal. A typical case of “I want what I can’t have.” Their complexion was naturally darker, so they used chalk powder, white marl, and white lead (yes, a poison!) to lighten it. White lead wasn’t just dangerous. It was a total disaster for their health, causing all sorts of issues like lead poisoning. Yikes!

Fair skin wasn’t just about looking good; it was a status symbol. Pale skin showed that you didn’t have to work outside in the sun. This “lighter is better” mindset stuck around for centuries and pops up in beauty trends even now.

Eye Makeup

The Ancient Romans were all about big eyes with long lashes and thick, dramatic brows that nearly met in the middle. To get this look, they used antimony or soot to darken their brows and sometimes faked a unibrow by extending them inward. Yep, unibrows were a thing – a big thing! They were considered a sign of intelligence and beauty. Some women even used dyed goat hair to make fake brows. Talk about commitment.

To make their eyes stand out, they used kohl made from saffron, ashes, soot, or antimony. And kohl wasn’t just about looking good. It helped protect their eyes from infections, thanks to its antibacterial properties. Pretty smart, right? Well, except for the kohl with lead in it. That wasn’t great.

They applied kohl using sticks made from glass, ivory, wood, or bone, which they dipped in water or oil first. For a different way to darken their eyes, they’d burn date stones or char rose petals. And let’s not forget their colorful eyeshadows! Green came from malachite, and blue from azurite. These colors didn’t just make them look fancy; they screamed wealth because those pigments were expensive.

Cheeks & Nails

Pink cheeks were all the rage because they were seen as a sign of good health. Roman women used all sorts of things as blush: poppy and rose petals, red chalk, alkanet, Tyrian vermillion, crocodile dung (yes, really!), red ochre imported from Belgium (fancy!), mulberry juice, wine dregs, cinnabar, and red lead (another poison – they really loved risky ingredients!). They mixed these with oils or waxes to make them easier to apply.

For their nails, they whipped up a mix of sheep fat and blood. Sounds pretty gross, right? But back then, animal products were a go-to because they were easy to find and thought to be good for the skin. Plus, the blood added that reddish tint they were after.

Skincare

The Ancient Romans didn’t stop at makeup. They were big on skincare too. They made creams and lotions to deal with wrinkles, pimples, sun spots, freckles, and flaky skin. Their masks were made from lentils, barley, lupine, honey, or fennel mixed with oils, oregano seeds, sulfur, vinegar, goose grease, basil juice, and hawthorn. For a touch of luxury, they’d throw in rose or myrrh for fragrance.

Some of their skincare tricks are pretty gag-worthy, though. They used placenta and even animal poop (like kingfisher or calf excrement), thinking these had magical rejuvenating powers. Can you imagine slathering that on your face? Gross, but they were clearly willing to try anything.

For pimples, they used a paste of barley flour and butter. To lighten sun spots, they smeared on ashes of snails. Weird? Totally. But some of these ingredients probably worked because of their natural acids and fats.

Related: Snail Mucin: Why Is It In My Skincare Products

Perfume

Romans were obsessed with perfume. Smelling nice wasn’t just about hygiene; it was a sign of health and a sneaky way to cover up the stink of their makeup. Perfume recipes were like family heirlooms, carefully guarded and passed down.

Perfumes came in liquid, sticky, or solid forms. They made them by soaking flowers, leaves, and roots in oils or grape juice, a base called onfacio. Then they added dyes and other ingredients to finish them off. And deodorant? That wasn’t new either. Romans used alum, rose petals, and iris to stay fresh.

Hair

Roman women loved wigs. Not just for fashion, but to hide white hair or damage from dye jobs. During the Imperial era, wigs were made from real hair: blonde came from Northern Europe, and black from India. If you had a wig, you were flaunting your wealth and connections big time.

They also went all-in on hair dye. To keep their blonde hair bright, they used a mix of beech ash and goat fat. Redheads crushed up leaves from the henna family. For black hair, they used black antimony with animal fat or brewed cypress leaves with vinegar and absinthe ash mixed with rose oil. These dyes weren’t exactly quick fixes, but beauty takes effort, right?

Body Hair

Body hair? Hard no for Roman women. They plucked, shaved, or used resin paste to wax it off. Some even scraped it off with pumice stones. Ouch! These methods weren’t exactly comfy, but smooth skin was the goal, no matter what it took. Sound familiar?

Men and Makeup

In Ancient Rome, makeup on men was a no-go – it was seen as immoral and too feminine. But some men still used white powder to lighten their faces, especially actors and performers. And a few kept their skin soft with oils and creams, but that was more about staying clean than looking glam.

What was acceptable for men instead was the moderate removal of hair and the use of perfume. During the Emperor’s Commodo’s times, dyeing hair blonde become fashionable for men too.

The Bottom Line

There you have it, the beauty secrets of the ancient Romans. Looking back, it’s wild how much effort the Ancient Romans put into looking good, even if it meant using dangerous or downright gross ingredients. A lot of their ideas (like focusing on natural ingredients and perfumes) still inspire beauty trends today. But honestly, thank goodness we’ve moved past the lead and poop stage of skincare!

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.