🎭 The Weirdest Makeup Trends in History (That Weirdly Worked)
Beauty Has Never Been Boring 💋
If you think contouring your jawline or laminating your brows is wild, imagine using bird poop for highlighter or whale oil for moisturizer.
History’s makeup trends were fearless — sometimes genius, sometimes gross, often both.
But hey, every glitter fallout and accidental poisoning led us to something better: smarter, safer, and allergen-friendly beauty.
Let’s time-travel through the most unhinged makeup trends ever — and find out which ones actually kind of worked.
1. Cleopatra’s Crimson Beetle Lipstick 🪲❤️
Cleopatra’s signature lip was made by crushing carmine beetles mixed with red clay and beeswax.
Yes, bugs. Actual bugs.
📌 The good news: It looked incredible and stayed put in desert heat.
📌 The bad news: Harvesting beetles is… not vegan.
💡 Fun fact: The color carmine (CI 75470) is still used in some lipsticks today — though cruelty-free brands now use synthetic or plant-based pigments instead.
✅ Verdict: Genius color theory, terrible ingredients list.
2. The Lead Foundation That Killed for Complexion ☠️
In 18th-century Europe, pale skin meant wealth.
So women (and men!) painted their faces with ceruse — a mix of vinegar and white lead.
It created a flawless, poreless glow… until it caused anemia, paralysis, and hair loss.
Many wore wigs to hide bald spots caused by the makeup itself.
📌 Science check: Lead disrupts collagen production and damages nerves.
📌 Modern lesson: Flawless skin isn’t worth your life.
✅ Verdict: 10/10 for coverage. 0/10 for longevity.
3. The Victorian Blush Hack: Slap Yourself! 💢
Victorian women believed visible makeup was improper — so they’d literally slap their cheeks to get that “natural flush.”
📌 Fun fact: Some also bit their lips before social gatherings for color.
📌 Result: Microcirculation = yes. Dignity = no.
💡 Science truth: Gentle stimulation increases blood flow temporarily, which is the same concept behind modern microcirculation skincare.
✅ Verdict: Technically works. Emotionally unstable.
4. The Geisha Glow: Nightingale Droppings Mask 🐦💩
In 18th-century Japan, geishas used uguisu no fun — a mask made from sterilized nightingale droppings — to brighten and smooth the skin.
📌 Surprising twist: It did contain enzymes that gently exfoliated and whitened skin.
📌 Downside: Well… bird poop.
✅ Verdict: Effective, but we’ll stick with enzymes that don’t come from the sky.
5. The 1920s “Radioactive Radiance” Craze ☢️✨
Early 20th-century brands added radium to face creams and powders, promising “eternal youth.”
The glow was real — because it was radioactive.
📌 Horrifying truth: It caused radiation burns, jaw necrosis, and cancers.
📌 Tagline from 1917: “Tho-Radia — science’s gift to beauty.” 😬
✅ Verdict: The original “lit-from-within” — just… don’t.
6. The 1960s Mod Lashes: Twiggy’s Doll Eyes 👁️👁️
Women in the ’60s drew fake lower lashes with eyeliner and stacked up to 5 pairs of false lashes for that mod doll look.
📌 Science note: The illusion of bigger eyes = more “youthful” appearance.
📌 Modern tip: Today’s allergen-safe, latex-free lash glues do the job safely.
💡 Bonus fact: Twiggy’s entire lower lash look took 40 minutes — per eye.
✅ Verdict: Iconic. Time-consuming. Worth it.
7. The 1980s Glitter Explosion 🌈💥
From Studio 54 to MTV, everything sparkled — cheeks, hair, even shoulders.
Unfortunately, that shimmer was made of microplastic and aluminum dust.
📌 Result: Eye irritation, clogged pores, and environmental disaster.
📌 Modern fix: Biodegradable, plant-based glitter that’s safe for you and the oceans.
✅ Verdict: Still fabulous, just… sustainably, please.
8. The 1990s Frosted Lipstick Era ❄️💄
Every mall in America had one: that pale, icy lip that made everyone look slightly hypothermic.
📌 Psychology: Frosted tones reflected light — giving an illusion of volume.
📌 Science update: Today’s glossy balms and lip oils achieve the same without the cakey texture or blue tint of regret.
✅ Verdict: Nostalgic. Frostbite chic.
9. The Early 2000s Concealer Lips 😐
Because nothing says “fresh-faced” like… erasing your lips entirely.
📌 Trend logic: Nude lips were “effortless.”
📌 Reality: Everyone looked like a dehydrated mannequin.
✅ Modern version: Nude shades that match undertones — not foundation.
💡 Fun fact: Concealer lips are now officially banned by 99% of makeup artists.
10. The 2010s Contour Craze 🪄
Bless Kim Kardashian, but the 2010s turned contouring into geometry class.
People were carving cheekbones sharper than samurai swords.
📌 Science note: Contouring works by manipulating light — dark shades recede, light ones highlight.
📌 Problem: Daily contouring with heavy creams = clogged pores and irritation.
✅ Modern fix: Cream-to-powder, allergen-safe, non-comedogenic formulas.
💡 Verdict: Art form? Yes. Daily wear? Maybe not unless you’re on camera.
Bonus: The Ancient “Gluten Facial” 🍞
In 18th-century Europe, bakers believed kneading dough softened their hands — so women literally rubbed bread on their faces for hydration.
📌 Truth: The starch did help retain moisture.
📌 Modern issue: For people with gluten sensitivity, that’s a breakout waiting to happen.
✅ Verdict: Cute theory, allergic reality.
Final Thought: Beauty Trends Come and Glow 💫
From beetles to bird poop, from radium to glitter — every era had its version of “innovation.”
Some ideas aged beautifully. Some… exploded.
But all of them led us to where we are now:
Science-backed beauty that actually cares about your skin.
🌿 The EpiLynx Promise:
Because after centuries of dangerous “beauty hacks,” your skin deserves better.
That’s why EpiLynx products are always:
✨ Gluten-Free
🌱 Vegan
🐰 Cruelty-Free
💚 Allergen-Safe
🧴 Made for Sensitive Skin
No beetles. No bird poop. Just clean, smart, beautiful science.
