COSMETICS
Chemicals which are used for improving the appearance or for beautifying are called cosmetics.
Since very early times, people have been concerned with their appearance and had sought the help of chemicals.
Egyptians, in 5000 B.C., used a fine powder formed of Antimony (Sb), mixed with green copper (II) carbonate (CuCO3) and used as eye-shadow.
In Elizabethan times, iron (II) oxide (Fe2O3) rouge was used to give the face a rugged complexion.
However, in Georgian times, ‘pale faces’ were more in fashion and women used white lead carbonate (PbCO3). As a result many women died as a result of the poisonous nature of lead!
Nowadays, the manufacture of cosmetics is an important industry. Some of these simple salts are used in the cosmetics. Oils and creams are often natural hydrocarbons like carnauba (‘Brazilian Wax’) and paraffin waxes.
