The concept of foundation is a hardly a new thing, although using makeup to match your natural coloring is.
The ancient Greeks and Romans were among the first to use foundation, but their versions were comprised mostly of white lead (often resulting in fatal poisoning) or chalk to create a fairer complexion. In the Middle Ages and Renaissance, too, pale skin was seen as a symbol of privilege, and women turned to lead paint to whiten their faces.
During the reign of Charles II in seventeenth-century England, women began to use darker makeup to cover the pallor associated with staying inside to avoid the plague. However, pale skin came back into fashion once again in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.
That all changed in 1914, when Max Factor introduced pancake makeup. Since then, the number of foundation formulations and shades has grown exponentially, allowing women to match and enhance their natural skin tone, as well as get benefits from healthy ingredients.
Aren’t you glad white lead paint isn’t the trend anymore?
