Ancient make

Two cosmetic products have been identified from residues in the tomb of a non-noble woman who lived in China 2000 years ago, suggesting the widespread use of make-up

By Carolyn Wilke

28 July 2023

A mural from a tomb in Zhengzhou, China, depicting two women from the Han dynasty

Ancient Chinese artists of the late Eastern Han period (Public Domain)

Ordinary people in China may have been augmenting their looks with make-up some 2000 years ago. An analysis of two residues found with a grooming kit in the tomb of a commoner from the Han dynasty hints that there was a sophisticated cosmetic industry at the time.

Ancient texts provide a wealth of records on the lives of regular people from later dynasties, including on the composition and cost of cosmetics, says Meng Wu at Shandong …

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