Facials are generally considered a treat, but have become more and more common in recent years, with the discovery of a multitude of health benefits. Women and men routinely apply all kinds of creams, lotions and masks to their faces in the hope of maintaining their youthful appearance. With some really out-there skincare options on the market now, including the 24k gold facial and the vampire facial, you might be fooled into thinking facials are a fairly recent trend.

However the truth is that people have been applying all kinds of substances to their faces for centuries with the desire of eternal youth! They say to learn from your past, so the experts at Angel Touch Beauty took a look into the ancient history of beauty to find out more about these ancient practices.

Ancient Egypt

Egyptians were famous for their involved beauty treatments, from using burnt almonds to fill in their brows to bathing in milk to keep their skin supple, so it’s no surprise that their facials were creative. It’s believed that Cleopatra used the mud from the Dead Sea to treat her skin twice a week in order to remove any impurities from her face and body. She would apparently also apply egg whites onto her face before bed, washing it off with clean water in the morning.

Ancient China

Yang Gui Fei, considered one of the “four beauties of Ancient China”, was known for her lavish facial treatments. It was believed that she would make her own facial masks from crushing pearls, white jade, ginseng, and mixed lotus root starch into a thick paste and applying it to her face. This was said to help whiten the skin, which was extremely popular in Ancient China, as it signified beauty, wealth, and purity. It also helped to remove spots and wrinkles.

Elizabethan Era

Just like in Ancient China, having pale skin was believed to be a sign of beauty, power, and wealth. As a result, many English women during the Elizabethan era used to undertake whitening facials. There was very little science behind skincare at this time, so many women used a poisonous blend of white lead and vinegar in their beauty routine. It was a combination made famous by Queen Elizabeth herself.

1900s

The turn of the century saw an increased popularity in radiant, glowing skin and, as a result, a number of different beauty treatments were created. One of the most popular treatments was Madame Rowley’s ‘toilet mask’ which was an overnight beauty mask that was designed to beautify, bleach, and preserve the complexion. It was made out of a flexible rubber and was to be used while sleeping. The invention of the face mask revolutionised the beauty industry, and paved the way for many beauty inventions such as the modern sheet masks we know and love today.

Luckily, with the advances in laser technology and medical science, we’re no longer putting our faces at risk in the same way as our ancestors. However, it’s pretty clear that we’re still just as enamoured with eternal youth as our ancestors were.

For more information on the best modern facials, contact Angel Touch Beauty in Oatley, Sydney or visit their website.