Ancient Egyptians used crushed emeralds as a primitive form of eye shadow
Ancient Egyptians ground semi-precious green stones into fine powders to create striking eye makeup that served as both a high-fashion statement and a practical shield against the desert sun.
Elite Egyptians applied vibrant green pigments made from malachite and occasionally crushed emeralds to their eyelids as early as 4000 BCE. This iconic look served a dual purpose by reducing the suns glare and warding off eye infections common in the Nile Valley.
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