Ancient Egyptian makeup is known for its bold, dramatic style, intense eye makeup, perfectly sculpted brows, and glowing skin. Inspired by the beauty of historical figures like Cleopatra and Nefertiti, Egyptian makeup is a timeless, iconic look that has influenced modern beauty trends. If you want to recreate this striking style, here are some key Egyptian makeup tips to help you achieve a look as bold and regal as the queens of ancient Egypt.

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Focus on Dramatic Eyes

The eyes are the most crucial feature in Egyptian-inspired makeup. Ancient Egyptians were famous for their dramatic, almond-shaped eyes, often enhanced with thick eyeliner lines. To recreate this look, focus on creating bold, defined eyes that command attention.

How to Create the Look

• Winged Eyeliner: Use black liquid or gel eyeliner to create a bold, extended wing on both the top and bottom lash lines. The key is to elongate the wing, making it sweep outward toward your temples. This helps create the iconic almond-shaped cat-eye effect.
• Kohl Liner: In ancient Egypt, kohl was used to line the eyes for protection and beauty. To achieve this look, apply a black or dark brown kohl pencil to your waterline and smudge it slightly for a soft, smoky effect.
• Smoky Eyeshadow: Pair your bold liner with rich eyeshadow shades like deep browns, blacks, golds, and bronze. Apply a dark shadow to the crease and outer corners of the eyes, blending well for a seamless, sultry look.

Pro Tip: To make your eyes pop even more, use a gold or metallic highlighter in the inner corners of your eyes to brighten and open them up.

Emphasize Brows

Strong, defined eyebrows were a staple of ancient Egyptian beauty. Egyptians used various natural ingredients to darken and shape their brows, creating a bold and structured frame for the face.

How to Create the Look

• Shape Your Brows: Use a brow pencil or powder to shape your eyebrows into a full, structured arch. For a more dramatic effect, extend the tail of the brow slightly.
• Bold Brows: Darken your brows using a deep brown or black shade, depending on your natural brow color. Fill in any gaps for a thick, bold look that emphasizes the eyes.

Pro Tip: For an even more authentic look, use black eyeliner or brow gel to give your brows a rich, dark appearance, like the queens of ancient Egypt.

Glowing, Flawless Skin

Ancient Egyptians were known for their glowing, sun-kissed skin, which they achieved through natural oils and minerals. For a modern take on Egyptian skin, focus on creating a radiant, flawless base that highlights your natural beauty.

How to Create the Look

• Moisturized Skin: Start by applying a hydrating moisturizer or facial oil to create a smooth, dewy base. This will give your skin a healthy, radiant glow.
• Flawless Foundation: Use a full-coverage foundation to even out your skin tone and create a flawless canvas. Opt for a satin or dewy finish to mimic the glowing skin of the ancient Egyptians.
• Highlight: Apply a luminous highlighter to the high points of your face, such as the cheekbones, bridge of the nose, and brow bone, to enhance your natural glow.

Pro Tip: Mix a few drops of facial oil or liquid highlighter into your foundation for an authentic Egyptian glow for a dewy, radiant finish.

Bronzed, Sculpted Cheeks

Bronzed, sculpted cheekbones are another key feature of Egyptian-inspired makeup. Ancient Egyptians often used natural pigments to contour and define their facial features, giving them a regal, chiseled appearance.

How to Create the Look

• Contour: Use a matte bronzer or contour powder to sculpt your cheekbones. Apply the product just below the cheekbones and blend upwards toward the temples for a lifted, defined look.
• Bronzed Glow: Sweep a warm-toned bronzer across the high points of your face, such as your forehead, nose, and jawline, to create a sun-kissed glow that mimics the look of ancient Egyptian royalty.

Pro Tip: Choose a bronzer with golden undertones to enhance your skin’s warmth and give you that signature Egyptian glow.

Our Picks

Physicians Formula Murumuru Butter Bronzer

LAURA GELLER NEW YORK Baked Bronze-N-Brighten Bronzer

Neutral or Bold Lips

For the lips, ancient Egyptians often went for a more neutral or deep red look. Depending on the vibe you’re going for, you can either opt for a natural, nude lip or make a bold statement with a deep, rich color.

How to Create the Look

• Neutral Lips: Choose a soft nude or peach lipstick that complements your skin tone for a more understated look. This will allow your eyes to remain the focal point of the makeup look.
• Bold Lips: If you prefer bold lips, opt for deep red, burgundy, or wine shades to add drama to your makeup. These colors were often associated with royalty and are perfect for an Egyptian-inspired look.

Pro Tip: To create a long-lasting, smooth lip look, exfoliate your lips and apply a hydrating lip balm before applying your lipstick.

Accessorize with Gold

Gold was a symbol of wealth and beauty in ancient Egypt, and it often played a significant role in their makeup and fashion. You can incorporate gold into your makeup look to add an extra layer of luxury.

How to Create the Look

• Gold Eyeshadow: For a touch of glamour, add a pop of gold eyeshadow or shimmer to the center of your eyelids or inner corners of your eyes.
• Gold Accents: Use a gold highlighter on your cheekbones, nose, and cupid’s bow to enhance your glow and give your makeup a royal finish.

Pro Tip: If you want to go the extra mile, accessorize with gold jewelry or even use gold body shimmer to add a radiant, regal effect.

Achieving the Egyptian Makeup Look

Egyptian makeup is all about bold eyes, sculpted features, and glowing skin. By focusing on dramatic eyeliner, strong brows, and bronzed, contoured cheeks, you can create a look that channels the beauty of ancient royalty. Whether you go for a soft neutral lip or a bold red, accessorizing with gold and embracing rich, earthy tones will give your makeup a timeless, luxurious finish. Check out the rest of the site for more makeup inspiration!

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