Cleopatra Beauty Secrets
For her skin:
Number 1: Donkey milk bath
Number 2: Aloe Vera Gel
Number 3: Rose Water
Number 4: Honey
Number 5: Apple Cider Vinegar
Number 6: The Beeswax face cream
Number 7: Grape Skin mask
For her nails:
henna
For her eyes:
kohl
For her hair:
-honey-oil mask
-eggs
Who is Cleopatra?Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, is known for her beauty, charm, and to be the lover of Julia Caesar then wife of Mark Antony. After all, she was a woman of power! When her father Ptolemy XII died, she coruled with her brother. Have you ever wondered how such a busy businesswoman took care of her skin…? Let me explain ((So you can take few examples too😉)
Cleopatra has this 1 superpower that us businesswomen can take example from; she was a feminine “businesswoman”. |
Kosmètikon de Kléopatra
“Kosmètikon de Kléopatra” is a papyrus contaning fragments of recipes which would have been used by Cleopatra herself. Many fragments of the papyrus were lost since Emperor August (who succeeded his 2 lovers; Julius Caesar and Mark Antony) is known to order to destroy many of her writings. However, many fragments in ancient Greek were translated in 2007 revealing about her lotions. According to the translation of this ancient text, “Kosmeticon de Kleopatra”, “is not from the Queen herself, but someone who listed the recipes she used for her beauty care”. In conformity with this translation and from recent works by experts in this domain (historians and archeologists), the existence between Cleopatra and the Kosmetikon now seems proven. Moreover, other beauty secrets came up to now orally, which are also believed to be genuine since other women of her era, close to her were also using them. |
Intro 😊Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt as we know, is known to be one of the most beautiful woman in history. As a royal, her skin and hair were extremely well-groomed and taken care of with natural ingredients.
The Queen of Egypt’s beauty techniques were so developed (even 5,000 years ago!) that many of her secrets are still relevant today.
Let’s discover together Cleopatra’s beauty secrets… 😊 |
1) Donkey Milk bathThis Cleopatra’s beauty secret is probably the most eccentric one… Cleopatra using donkey milk is very widespread in the legends. In reality, it is not impossible for her to have used it, one of the closest to human milk. Donkey milk baths were a Roman women habit. Cleopatra would have taken on this habit after living 2 years in Rome. Donkey milk contains around 4 times more vitamin C than cow’s milk with less fat. Donkey milk also contains high amounts of Q10*
Donkey Milk benefits:-Donkey milk has hydrating properties -Donkey Milk has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory benefits -anti-aging benefits (preventing apparition of fine lines and wrinkles) -helps with skin cell renewal (due to its high amount of antioxidants) -toning and healing properties -helps with acne, eczema and psoriasis
The legend says that Cleopatra had her own herd of donkeys and for only 1 bath it required between 700-1000 donkeys😊.
Mixtures:1. Milk, Honey -Cleopatra’s mixture for her bath is known to be donkey milk and honey. You can also add vegetable oil such as almond oil and olive oil. –How to? – Prepare a recipient and mix:
– 2 cups of donkey milk (or goats milk, which also has Q10 in it) -1/2 cup of honey – 1 cup of vegetable oil can be added (such as olive oil or almond oil) – Feel free to add few drops of floral essential oils (lavender, geranium…) – EXTRA: rose petals 😉 Then add this mixture to your bath water 😊
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Q10 (CoQ10):Q10 is an antioxidant that we produce naturally. Exposure to UV lights diminishes the antioxidants present in our skin (such as vitamin E and CoQ10). These naturally present antioxidants also diminish with age.
According to scientifical research, external application of antioxidant can prevent from phot-aging. Moreover, external application of Q10 can also protect against UV harms.
This also means that donkey milk and also goat’s milk have anti-aging properties while preventing photo-aging. –> This is an amazing way to delay wrinkles and fine lines. Andd welcome a younger looking skin😉 |
My personal note/ Ex Animo Note 😊:-Donkey Milk presents lactic acid, which is an AHA (alpha-hydroxy acid), which helps exfoliating and rejuvenating the skin. Today there many products that help exfoliating the skin -What is an AHA? AHAs is an ingredient used in skincare industry that helps exfoliating skin by penetrating the top layer of the skin to remove dead skin cells and regenerate healthy skin cells. Where is the AHA ingredient from? AHAs are either synthesized in laboratories or sourced from natural substances (such as fruits, milk, sugarcane…) –> The choice is yours 😉 Giving my personal preference is of course…natural ingredients! 😊
Note about honey:-Also helps exfoliating (as it contains natural source of alpha hydroxy acid, which helps with cell regeneration) -honey has mild exfoliating properties |
2) Aloe Vera GelThe Egyptian Queen is known to be massaged her skin daily with an aloe vera gel. The legend has it that Cleopatra’s skin complexion’s secret comes from Aloe Vera Gel. Cleopatra not only used Aloe Vera for her skin, but also in a mixture for eye drops, which helps lifting her eye-look.
Aloe Vera has many many beneficial properties, it can be used as a moisturizer. Bur be careful! Do not use Aloe Vera alone on your skin! Aloe Vera needs a “fatty substance” to seal hydration of the skin cells. So mix 50/50 Aloe Vera with your favorite vegetable oil 😊
Mixtures:-Cleopatra is known to combine aloe vera gel with honey to make an ultimate face mask. Ingredients: -1 cup of honey -1 cup of aloe vera gel Mix them together, and apply to your skin, leave it around 10-15 minutes, then rinse it off with tepid water😊
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3) Rose water
Cleopatra is known to use rose water as a natural facial toner.
Rose Water; Rose Water is an amazing facial toner. It helps your skin rejuvenate, makes skin soft and smooth, while regulating its pH level. Moreover, rose water also has anti-inflammatory properties which can help reducing redness and irritations.
How to? – Put rose water in a spray bottle and spritz it on your face throughout the as much as needed (since rose water also has cooling effect, amazing for springs and summer!) or – Apply rose water with your fingers (pat it) after cleansing and before lotions.
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My Personal Note/Ex Animo Note 😊Do not use cotton to apply rose water! Because … |
4) HoneyCleopatra VII, was believed to do regular honey masks on her face…
Honey has antibacterial and anti-aging properties!! According to a study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, the use of 🍯” keeps the skin juvenile and retards wrinkle formation” The Queen of Egypt is known to use honey in her face masks combined with donkey’s milk and/or Aloe Vera.
Mixtures:
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My personal note/Ex Animo Note:– Patch test 24 hours before any decision of application – Use High Quality honey; to have better effects use 100% Organic pure raw honey. |
5) Apple Cider VinegarEven though this ingredient is highly popular today as if it was recently discover, the Queen of Egypt is known to use it for her face even before thousands of years B.C. Apple Cider Vinegar was used as a face rinse after washing it. Benefits: Apple Cider Vinegar; regulates skin pH level and increases blood flow.
How to? -Water (or rose water if wanted😊) -1 tsp of Apple Cider Vinegar => Mix them together. –> Put Water into a large bowl, then add 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in it. After washing your face, rinse your face with this apple cider vinegar-water mixture.
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6) Beeswax face creamExperts studying Cleopatra’s beauty secrets, gave this recipe for the idaeal Cleopatra face cream: Ingredients: -2 tablespoon of beeswax -2 tablespoon of Aloe Vera Juice -1 tablespoon of almond oil -4 drops of pure rose oil
How to: -Heat the beeswax and almond oil until you have an homogene liquid. -Add aloe vera juice and few drops of rose oil into it and mix well again. – Once the mixture melted completely, you can remove it from the stove, and allow it to cool down -You can put the mixture into a glass recipe -The cream has to be consumed under 1 week
Note: -This cream can be used at day and night -Can be used even for under eye area |
7) Grape Skin Mask
How to keep your skin radiant ang glowing? 😊 Well this mask might be a good answer…or any other mask with honey in it.
This Grape-honey skin mask can help heavily tanned skin, get rid of their tan. This mask can be your key mask to have a glow before an event.
Ingredients: -100grams of grapes – 2 tablespoons of honey How to? -Crush the grapes and add honey on top it. -After washing your face, apply this mask on your face and wait at least 15 minutes -Rinse it off
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For Nails
HennaCleopatra is known using henna for her nails; as sort of nail paint and also to nourish it. In our days, henna is well-known in Middle East and Asia especially in ceremonies such as weddings. Henna was also used thousands of years ago with Cleopatra. Henna nourishes, protects and strengthen the nails at the same time while giving a natural reddish brown colour.
Henna for hair She is also known to use henna for her hair mixing it with other plants such as juniper berries, to dye her hair. |
For Eyes
Kohl
Kohl is Cleopatra’s signature eye look. While being a make-up, it was designed to protect the eyes at the same time…
Benefits: More than giving a cat eye look, thanks to the ingredients in her Kohl, it helped protect the eye from the sun, from infections and eye diseases such as conjunctivitis.
What was Cleopatra’s kohl recipe? Cleopatra’s Kohl ingredients mainly composed of black Galena (a mineral giving the color black while protecting the eyes) or green Malachite. The mineral was infused with spices (such as frankincense resin and/or cinnamon bark) and was mixed with animal fats or natural oils (we prefer natural oils 😊). Moreover, it can also contain zinc oxide which helps protecting against sun. |
For Hair
Honey-Oil Hair Mask
According to the legend, Cleopatra’s hair was very soft, healthy and shiny. Experts couldn’t find Cleopatra’s hair mask but they gave a recipe very close to hers: -3 cups of honey -1 cup of almond oil (or olive oil) Mix the ingredients and apply it after washing your hair. Let it sit for 5-15 minutes then rinse it off.
Henna She is also known to use henna for her hair mixing it with other plants such as juniper berries, to dye her hair. |
ShampooCleopatra washed her hair with a natural, chemical-free “shampoo”; which is only 3 eggs.
How to? -mix all the eggs -apply to your hair from root to tip -let it sit for couple minutes -Rinse it off
-P.S: Do not rinse with hot water
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LipsRed Ochre A mixture of red ochre and fat was used to color her lips
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EyesCelery-Hemp A mixture of celery and hemp was used to keep her eyes bright and healthy.
Antimony Sulphide This was the ingredients she used to make her eyes, eyebrows and lashes darker
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For mouth/good breathCachous pastilles For a good breath, she chewed cachous pastilles |
Hair removalThis is probably one of the most “weirdest” recipes, please do not use this one … For hair removal she is known to use a mixture of; -Gum -Cucumber -Oil and sycamore juice -a specific bird’s boiled and crushed bones (this is especially why I do not want to use this recipe,.. there are way more easier recipes today) |
Fragrances
As fragrance, she loved using especially rose and jasmine scents.
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Body 😊
Body Lotion (Post milk-honey bath): Cleopatra is known to use this lotion while having a body massage and gently exfoliating it. Ingredients: -2 cups of dead sea salt -3 cups of cream.
How to? -Mix these ingredients until having a homogeneous paste and use it as a body massage. Then, let it sit for 5 minutes. |
White Clay MaskCleopatra, known to use Clay Mask, especially White Clay Mask. This has purifying, lifting and toning effects on your skin.
How to? -50% water (or rose water) -50% of White Clay Mask
P.S: Do not leave your clay mask more than minutes (otherwise it can dry your skin very fast). You can also add few drops of your favorite vegetable oil (Such as almond oil) in your clay mask 😉
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Almond OilCleopatra is known to use almond oil in many of her recipes. This oil contains mandelic acid (this is found in many modern chemical peels artificially).
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And you, what is your favorite Cleopatra Skincare Secret? -Ex Animo Beauty (Beauty from the Heart😉)
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