Cosmetics

**Cosmetics, Beauty Aids, Gemstones, and Jewelry**


Cosmetics and beauty devices were widespread, commonly used, and had many variates in medieval times. They were used in all countries around Europe. In Rome the wealthy people wore thick make up as a custom and used white as a base color because they admired a pale complexion. Rouge was used on lips and cheeks and eyeshadow tones such as green, gray or brown were used. Perfumes were very much desired in Arabia and in Rome they were a part of personal adornment. In Rome perfumes were also used in public festivals and religious ceremonies. In later years perfume became more popular because they were not at first able to make the perfumes without important ingredients.

Other products widely used in the middle ages were breath deodorizers, a mixture for cleaning teeth, facial masks, artificial hair coloring, and shampoo. Most of these products had some down sides to them such as getting pimples and hair loss. Some of the ingredients were toxic or even poisonous. A lot of natural products could be used in the process of making the cosmetics. In the medieval times people also used beauty devices to make themselves more appealing. Hair care devices such as curling irons, hairpins, combs, and braid ornaments were used by women. Another device used was a mirror. The mirror was actually a small piece of polished metal in a case of gold or sliver with caved ivory around it. Women would also use scissors, tweezers, and razors.

Women in the Middle Ages used gems and jewelry as a way to beautify themselves. The wealthier people in medieval times wore necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings, and pins. All of these pieces were made out of gold or sliver with stones in them. Some of the stones that were used were sapphires, emeralds, and carved cameos or enamel. The Byzantines inherited certain ways of making their jewelry from ancient Rome such as the Roman gold fibula to fasten their garments. Other piece of jewelry that the Byzantines invented was the pectoral cross. It was worn on a gold chain around the neck. Also they wore crescent shaped earrings and pendents. Another culture that used the crescent shape is the Islamics. The Byzantines significantly influenced the Visigoths, Lombards, and the Franks. These barbarian tribes would cover gold backgrounds with arranged gemstones on it which would then be used for book cover, royal crowns, and other things. During the Crusades period knights brought back exotic gemstones and that started the practice of gem cutting. By the 1300’s men and women wore brooches, finger rings, gold chains, pomanders. Laws were then made to wear jewelry according to rank.

Works Cited
 * “Cosmetics and Beauty Aids.” The Middle Ages: An Encyclopedia for Students. Ed. William Chester Jordan. Vol. 2. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1996. 2-4. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 12 Mar. 2010.
 * CSvBibra (Gryffindor). “File:Weltliche Schatzkammer Wien (189)2.JPG.” Wikimedia Commons. Wikimedia Foundation, 19 Sept. 2009. Web. 1 Apr. 2010. .
 * “Gems and Jewelry.” The Middle Ages: An Encyclopedia for Students. Ed. William Chester Jordan. Vol. 2. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1996. 146-147. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 12 Mar. 2010.

SW