Chic Afrique Historical Insights


	The pervasive trend to the natural look and to natural sources for raw materials has made a commercial impact on most consumer products, including cosmetics.
	Many oils and butters traditionally used for edible purpose are being used to an increasing extent in the formulation of cosmetics. These materials extracted from fruit and vegetable seeds, leaves and stems, possesses very desirable physical properties for the use in topical cosmetics.
They are light and of low viscosity, have excellent covering and penetrating properties making them useful carriers for therapeutic antibacterial and curative agents. Many like vegetable oils or shea butter may provide nutrients for the skin and essential fatty acids. It is for this reason and more that cosmetic chemists are embracing whole heartedly natural ingredients in their formulas.
	From the time of the earliest explorations, the western world has been fascinated by the continent of Africa and its many treasures. No one knows how long cosmetics have been used there; but complex prehistoric cave paintings in North Africa show that cosmetic use in Africa, predate clothing. Ancient Egyptians developed a highly sophisticated system that is the basis of many of our modern cosmetics. They cared for their body as the aesthetic was a smooth body.
All body hair was removed for comfort as well as hygiene. They understood the importance of cleanliness and bathed several times a day. Baths were accompanied by salt scrub-down followed by a thorough rub-down with aromatic oils.
They believed that the living body must be cared for in life so that it can be maintained in death. A glance inside the cosmetic case of Thuti, one of Egypts many beauties in 1300 BC, reveals the extent to which Africa had developed the art of beauty. There were several slippers for her comfort during the application of makeup, elbow cushions as arm-rests, while her face was being made up of a pumice stone was used to remove body hair as well as smooth rough skin on elbows, knees and feet. Empty cosmetic pots of alabaster and gemstone which had been filled with facial and body creams.
	Unfortunately, many of those same ingredients used in Ancient Egypt; the modern cosmetic would have only begun to scratch the surface. We here at Chic Afrique Herbals are committed and dedicated to restoring cosmetic ingredients and recipes from Africa. We will try to unfold the mystery and make Africas age old beauty secrets available to you again -Today.