How did the People of Ancient Vedic Times Look so Beautiful?

What would people not do for beauty? We all feel good when we are complimented on our appearance, regardless of gender. People in the recent times are willing to go under the knife in order to appear their best. As children, I'm sure we all read stories about the Vedic era in which the main characters were lauded as the most attractive or gorgeous. But, have you wondered how individuals of those days seem so ageless and lovely naturally, and what they used as cleaning agents, serums, moisturizers and so on?

Let’s take a look.

In ancient India, both men and women used highly refined self-beautification ideas and a wide range of cosmetic applications, and many of these were inextricably linked to the seasons and daily routines. Significantly, they were used not just to build an outwardly pleasing and beautiful personality, but also to achieve longevity, happiness and good health.

The Vedas, the earliest records of ancient India, relate to numerous standards of everyday behaviour that place a strong focus on personal hygiene. It firmly believes that everyday regular functions should not begin without a daily bath in pure flowing water. Water not only cleans the filth, but it also refreshes the body, allowing it to do its everyday activities more efficiently. Applying soft earth, saponaceous scented soft plant materials to the body before a water bath to remove dirt and other impurities from human skin is clearly stated as a way to maintain personal cleanliness and hygiene.

Kumkum: Sandalwood, turmeric, and grey or black ash are used to make kumkum. This was embellished by both men and women, particularly Hindus, who saw it as not only a beautiful spot but also as something that invoked sanctity. Memory and thinking are said to be housed in the sensitive area between our brows on our forehead. Kumkum is said to cool the forehead and prevent the body from losing vigour when worn in this area. It is also seen to be a divine blessing and a protective barrier against bad forces. Most of us now use plastic-made reusable stick bhindis, which we refer to as "more convenient" and serve as a beauty spot.

Soaps: In ancient India, soap was prepared at home by slowly boiling a mixture of sweet almonds, bitter almonds, Ghee, almond oil, fragrant oils and other ingredients. The manufacture of lime and caustic soda from aqueous extracts of ashes is also mentioned in Sanskrit scriptures, “Sushruta Samhita” and “Charaka Samhita”. Even natural clays, both neutral and alkaline, were all used as cleaning agents.

Lipsticks/lip balms: Lipstick is now commonly used to colour our lips. Ladies in ancient India ate 'Pan,' which was a mixture of crushed areca nut, betel leaves, spices, and lime. 'Pan' is a popular refreshing treat that also stimulates salivation, aids digestion, and gives the lips a scarlet colour. When they had cracked lips, the rind of Bel fruit (Aegle marmelos) was powdered and combined with milk to produce a paste, which when applied cured them in 10 days.

Talcum powder: Unlike modern-day talcum powders, ancient face powders used natural vegetable agents. They were made of rice powder, violet roots, or freshly ground sandalwood.

Blush/Rogue: This was made by combining many liquids, including plums, cactus fruit, red beet, ripe strawberries and green walnut husk.

Kajal/Kohl: Since early Vedic times, women, whether young and old, have used black kajal or kohl to make their eyes appear bewitchingly large. It is also believed that applying kajal paste to the eyes may aid in the creation of long and thick eyelashes, which many women desire nowadays. Apart from improving beauty, Kajal is also said to protect individuals, particularly newborns, from evil eyes. The Kajal paste has a very long shelf life and may be stored for years. A miniature earthen lamp is filled with 'Ghee' (milk fat), a cotton wick is placed inside, and the lamp is left to burn overnight. The flame's black soot is gathered in a bronze or copper pan positioned at an angle above the flame. The collected soot is mixed with ghee and a dab of castor oil before being used as "kajal".

Nail polish: Women coloured their finger and toe nails with the leaves of 'Mehendi' or 'Henna' plant instead of nail polish. The leaves of the "Henna" plant were mashed into a fine paste and applied with bare hands in various designs on the hands, nails, feet and toe nails, then left for a couple of hours. When washed, it turned the hands and feet a gorgeous red colour that lasted for days.

Depilatories: Hair on the arms, face and legs was once as unpopular as it is now. Women in those days used to rub newborn newborns with placenta a few hours after birth to prevent hair growth. Turmeric paste was applied to the skin to inhibit unwanted hair growth. Young adolescent girls also used to paint their bodies painted with hot cow dung ash and had the unwanted hairs were removed by hand. This was a monthly procedure and was thought to make the skin smooth and free of unwanted hair. For face, a thick mixture of oatmeal, almond oil and freshly crushed sandalwood was massaged into the face and let to dry. Then, it was rubbed gently creating friction, which not only prevented hair development but also removed blackheads and provided necessary nutrients to the skin. To keep facial skin moist and avoid drying, a natural compress comprised of shredded orange, lemon or cucumber peels was applied.

Hair Care: Long hair to the knees was traditionally a source of pride for every woman in the Vedic times (it still is...). A woman's tresses were given special attention so that they would grow long, silky black, and beautiful. Curry leaves were taken to prevent premature greying of hair and then were boiled in coconut oil and used routinely as hair oil to encourage hair development and help preserve the natural colour of hair, keeping it black for a longer period of time. Fenugreek seeds soaked in water overnight were crushed into a thin paste and applied to the scalp to treat dandruff, followed by a hair wash with soapnut extract. This resulted in healthy hair that was long, black and silky.

Besides using these natural items, people in Vedic times ate food that was simple, healthy and pure in reasonable quantities, and they cultivated the habit of a kind, happy, and well-balanced demeanour. That, my friends, is the secret!!

References

1. Dixit, S. (2003) ‘BEAUTY TIPS FROM ANCIENT INDIA’. Available at: https://sitaramdixit.synthasite.com/resources/BEAUTY%20TIPS%20FROM%20ANCIENT%20INDIA.pdf

2. What Ancient Women Used for Makeup Before Factory-made Cosmetics? (no date). Available at: https://www.auchitya.com/what-ancient-women-used-for-makeup-before-factory-made-cosmetics-arrived/ (Accessed: 13 May 2022).