The History of Makeup Is Surprisingly Elitist

From How Stuff Works Now comes this article on the history of make-up:

People of all walks of life have found ways to enhance their features throughout history. But for centuries, it was the rich folks and aristocrats who had the luxury of using extravagant cosmetics. 

• By 4000–3500 B.C.E., Egyptians were lining their eyes in that famous cat-eye fashion. 
• Nail polish started to become the rage in ancient Asian cultures around 3000–1500 B.C.E. 

There also a link to a podcast for the rest of this article.

You might also be interested in 26 Facts About Lipstick from Buzzfeed