Okay, besties, let’s chat! You know I’m obsessed with makeup trends, right? But I don’t mean the TikTok stuff—although, love you, TikTok—but I’m talking about old-school beauty routines, like ridiculously ancient. Let’s throw it back to Ancient Egypt, because their beauty game? Iconic. The fact that Cleopatra and Nefertiti were basically ALL of our beauty role models before we even knew about influencers just goes to show they knew what was up. And I’m here for all of it. Let’s break down some of those Egyptian beauty secrets from over 5000 years ago that are STILL fire today.
Magical Egyptian Eye Makeup (IYKYK)
You guys, you can’t talk about Egyptian beauty without talking about their EYE MAKEUP. It’s the OG of all looks. The classic winged liner? Yeah, they’ve been doing that since forever. Forget wing envy—we’re out here having Cleopatra-level cat-eye dreams, okay? And their method wasn’t just about ~aesthetic~, but they actually had some hidden benefits as well. #mindblown
Egyptians used natural ingredients like kohl (this gorgeous black pigment made from minerals) to create their iconic eye makeup. It wasn’t just for popping their eyes—it was also believed to have protective powers. How cool is that? They thought wearing kohl could guard them against evil spirits, and real talk: I’m ready to line my eyes anywhere if it means extra-wing protection from bad vibes.
“Kohl not only made them look fab, but helped protect their eyes from infections and the BLINDING Egyptian sun.”
Did I mention it also had some legit SPF-qualities because, well, they weren’t playing around with that desert sun. Hashtag multi-functional. Now, of course, we’re not about to dig up metallics and grind those into a liner (safety first, people), but their love for dramatic eyes paved the way for our current obsession with eyeliner being a whole personality.
Slay the Skincare Game Like Cleopatra
Alright, we need a second to talk about Cleopatra—official queen of the skincare scene. If she had Instagram back then, her routine would definitely have “#flawless #nofilter” written all over it. And just like us scrolling through skincare TikTok today, Cleopatra was all about those self-care moments, honey.
Legend has it that she bathed in MILK (move over, coconut oil bath hacks!) to keep her skin soft and glowing. That’s because milk contains lactic acid, which is a natural exfoliator. So, long before we were buying AHAs in little expensive bottles, Cleopatra was out here soaking in a tub of self-love and getting that healthy exfoliation. Honestly, who says no to smoother skin?
Here’s the low-key best part: You can still DIY this today! I mean, don’t start filling your tub with literal gallons of cow milk (that feels a bit… extra), but you could add a splash of milk to your bath water once in a while to have your own Cleo-inspired moment and bring on that glow-up.
Perfume That Did It All 💁🏼♀️
Okay, those ancient Egyptians knew a thing or two about smelling good. And thank goodness for that because I’m here for sweet-smelling vibes! They LOVED their perfumes, made from tons of fragrant natural ingredients like flowers (hi, florals), herbs, and oils.
Here’s the tea though: their perfumes weren’t just for smelling pretty. Egyptians believed these heavenly scents had power. Yup, power. Wearing perfume in those days was meant to cleanse the soul and protect them from negativity. So, basically, “good vibes only” is NOT a new thing—it’s literally been part of the culture for thousands of years. Like, they used frankincense and myrrh not just as fragrances, but because they believed those ingredients had spiritual and healing properties.
“Egyptians were out here mixing up oils and flowers and making DIY perfumes that not only smelled bomb but doubled as good luck charms.”
I mean, I’d totally wear a signature scent if it promised good vibes and protection all in a cute little bottle, right?
The Queen of Haircare
Now, let’s talk about hair because no beauty routine is complete without showing love to our locks! Somewhere along the line, Egyptians realized that castor oil was everything when it came to shiny, healthy hair. This magical oil was literally being slathered on their heads all over ancient times to encourage growth, smooth out frizzy ends, and give them luxurious goddess vibes.
Fun fact: Egyptians were so serious about their hair (we love to see it) that wigs became a MAJOR thing. And not just any wigs, but super intricate ones. Think multi-braided, extra AF hairpieces made from real human hair or even—you guessed it—vegetable fiber. Like, they were creative and weren’t afraid to switch it up.
So yeah, that TikTok castor oil growth challenge? Egyptian beauty queens started that! I’m high-key convinced we’ve just been rediscovering all these ancient tricks for centuries now.
Henna FOMO: Ancient Body Art That’s Still 🔥
I will never get over how cool henna always looks and feels. Y’know those intricate designs people get hand-painted for weddings, festivals, and, okay, sometimes just because it’s cute? Well, you might wanna thank ancient Egypt for being ahead of its time. They were ALL about henna too.
Henna was used for pretty much everything: to color the skin, hair, nails, and even to decorate the body with art that symbolized blessings, spirituality, and protection. Legit EVERYONE was using it—both men and women. And just like now, henna was also part of their beauty prep for special occasions.
Also, super random… but guess who also used henna? Ramses II. Yup, even the dudes were out here practicing self-care with sick henna designs. We love an equal-opportunity beauty moment.
The True Origins of “Lip Tint” 💋
Get this: Egyptians were using lip stains more than 3000 years ago, long before #nomakeupmakeup was even a thing. They’d use ingredients like red ochre (a bright red clay) and mix it with oil or beeswax to create luscious lip colors. They definitely were not out here showing up with some bare lips.
Sound familiar? Yeah, basically, they were using natural stuff and inventing the lip balm before we were. They loved a good tint and keeping their lips moisturized, just like us—3100 BC version instead of 2023. And no, the red wasn’t just any red. They wanted that deep, reddish-brown hue to give off those strong, powerful vibes. Cleopatra was probably rocking a lip stain daily.
That (Eye)Brow Game
Oh, and speaking of modern trends, ancient Egyptians were obsessed with getting their brows just right. I love how brow trends keep evolving over time, but apparently, in ancient Egypt, they were all about keeping things bold and geometric.
They darkened their brows with—you already know it—kohl. Both women and men. Yup, bold brows weren’t just a ladies’ trend. Brow game strong, literally. Kohl, being so versatile, was their go-to for filling in and shaping brows (honestly, how did they get it SO perfect every single time?). No perfect Instagram tutorial or Anastasia brow kits; just a steady hand and kohl. Total inspiration for anyone who loves to snatch their brows.
Tbh, Egyptians Were Major Beauty Trendsetters
So, here’s the deal: Ancient Egyptians brought more than just pyramids and mummies into the spotlight. If you think about all the “modern” beauty things we freak out over today, a lot of them actually come from these beauty queens. From skincare routines full of natural oils, bath rituals, and SPF (kind of) to makeup on point with winged liners, luscious lip shades, and brows for days—the Egyptians had it all down.
Low-key, they were basically the OG beauty influencers, except instead of Sephora, they were working with crushed gemstones and oils. Honestly? Kind of iconic.
What’ve We Learned?
We love our beauty YouTubers and Insta queens, but ancient Egyptians? Total bosses of beauty hacks. They were out here setting trends that have lasted for literally thousands of years, and that’s the kind of energy we all need. Whether it’s nailing the ultimate eyeliner flick or showing our skin some love with natural ingredients like honey and oils, sometimes the oldest tricks are still the best.
And let’s be real: if Cleopatra can live forever in selfie-level beauty inspo, so can you!
That’s it from me for today! Let me know which of these secrets you’re most excited to add to your own beauty routine?
Stay cute! 🖤
