The history of makeup is quite ancient; women probably started wearing makeup around 4000 BCE, in Ancient Egypt, and the use of various substances as cosmetics may be even older. Archaeological evidence clearly indicates that both women and men in Ancient Egypt wore makeup, including kohl sticks to blacken the eyes, and copper to create rich green eyeshadow.
It is entirely possible that cosmetics have been a part of human existence for a very long time. If earlier societies used things like berries to stain their lips and cheeks, for example, this would not survive at archaeological sites, as the evidence would have long since decayed. The use of cosmetics was widespread enough by 4000 BCE for archaeological sites to include makeup containers, a few rare examples of cosmetics, and references to makeup in art and writing from this period.
