Kohl
as the First Mascara
Thousands of years ago when there will still no malls with make up counters, Kohl (which actually means “to brighten the eyes.”)
Mothers also put kohl in their baby’s eyes to strengthen them and also to prevent the evil eye from cursing their children.
Egyptians were the first ones to really utilize its purpose as an eye make up as depicted in their hieroglyphics. They used Kohl as eyeliner and mascara to draw more attention to the windows of the soul. Kohl was used liberally by Egyptian women because for them, the eyes were the most important body part to be emphasized back in
They also discovered that by using kohl as mascara, the whites of the eyes appeared whiter while the black pupil richer. Today, the mascara we know of differs from kohl not only in composition but also in perception. What was first used as a medicinal aid is now more commonly known for aesthetics.