When it comes to beauty, no one does it quite like Cleopatra. As the last ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, this ancient queen was known as a seductress and strategist. Even Julius Caesar fell under her spell! She has been revered throughout history for her enchanting appearance and her brains, so I've taken it upon myself to find out what her beauty routine consisted of.
From pore cleansing face scrubs to nourishing hair masks, this Queen certainly knew how to keep herself glowing from head to toe.
Skincare
Milk & Honey Bath
For dolphin-smooth skin, draw up a milk and honey bath. Both of the ingredients exfoliate and soften the skin while leaving you smelling sweet. Honey is an antibacterial antioxidant that also has antifungal properties. It can reduce inflammation and provide you with a natural glow. Milk contains lactic acid that gets rid of dead skin cells while keeping the skin hydrated to prevent dryness. When the two ingredients are combined, they make the perfect anti-aging concoction. To make your own simply add 2 cups of milk and 1/2 cup of honey to your bath water and relax for a while.
Exfoliating Sea Salts
Cleopatra didn't have microbeads in Ancient Egypt. For a natural and effective exfoliant, she used sea salts. This method might be a bit harsh for some, so be sure to test it out on a small area of skin before applying it to your entire body. Apply sea salt to your damp skin and massage in a circular motion. It helps to slough off dead skin cells and clear out pores. Don't do this daily. Once or twice per week is plenty.
Rose Water Toner
To keep her skin soft and clear, Cleopatra used rose water as a toner. To this day, it remains the main ingredient in most toners and cleansers available in the beauty industry. You can make your own at home uses locally grown roses. Simply place the rose petals in a pot of water and bring it to a boil. Keep an eye on it. Once the petals have lost most of their color, turn off the stove and let the beauty potion cool. You can add a few drops of vitamin E as a natural preservative. Once cooled, pour the fresh rose water into a glass container and use daily. Personally, I spritz with rose water in the morning and at night.
Aloe Vera Moisturizer
Aloe Vera is the miracle plant well-known for treating sunburns and healing wounds. It can also be used as a moisturizer. After exfoliating, it's best to generously apply a good moisturizer, and Aloe will do the trick beautifully. Slather it on and let it absorb into the skin. It helps to hydrate and replenish the skin and will also leave your face feeling firmer.
Haircare
Henna
In order to achieve a new hair color without damaging the hair, henna may be used. This natural dye is plant-based and was used by Cleopatra to get a vibrant hair color. Sometimes she would mix it with Juniper berries to get a different look. It can also be used as a nail color or for temporary tattoo designs.
Honey & Oil Mask
To keep her hair strong and healthy, Cleopatra used a mix of milk and castor oil as a hair treatment. Run this antioxidant-rich treatment through your hair for luscious locks. Let it sit for at least 30 minutes. You can even leave it in overnight, if you want. Just be sure to use a head wrap to keep your pillow clean.
WEIRD FACT:
Cleopatra used castor oil to brighten the whites of her eyes.
Makeup
Kohl Eyeliner
When you think about Cleopatra, one of the first things to come to mind is probably her famous eyeliner. Kohl was used to achieve this glorious cat eye look. In ancient times, it was processed from heavy metals with high concentrations of lead salts. While the product certainly should not be used today, we can still rock her signature winged look with modern black eyeliner pencils.
Red Ochre
When recreating a makeup look inspired by Cleopatra, most people use a gold or nude lip color. However, if you want to accurately represent the famous Queen of Egypt, you will need a strong red lip. Red ochre is a natural pigment she used as a lip and cheek stain. Finely ground and mixed with water, it could be easily applied to create a sultry look.
Burnt Almonds
If you ever run out of brow product, toast up some almonds! The Queen of Egypt used burnt almonds to darken her eyebrows and create her iconic look. For more tips, tricks, and Egyptian beauty secrets, check out this article...and this one too!
That's it for now! Until next time...
-Fish
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