Cleopatra’s Beauty Secrets

Practical tips and tricks straight from the Egyptian queen's skin care routine!

Reviewed by Simone de Vlaming, Beauty Expert Simone de Vlaming Simone de VlamingBeauty Expert facebook_icontwitter_iconlinkedin_iconyoutube_icon
Written by Nisha Baghadia, MA (Mass Communication) Nisha Baghadia MA (Mass Communication) linkedin_icon Experience: 3 years
Edited by Shatabdi Bhattacharya, BSc Shatabdi Bhattacharya BSc linkedin_icon Experience: 2.5 years
Fact-checked by Anu Pallavi, BA Anu Pallavi BA linkedin_icon
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The Queen of Egypt Cleopatra is known as the most beautiful woman in human history, and for centuries people have been admiring her beauty.

From her signature makeup looks to the seduction tactics, beauty treatments, and use of natural ingredients fit for royalty, Cleopatra’s beauty secrets have been thoroughly studied and researched, and these secrets are relevant to many of us even today. Keep reading to know about them all!

The Cultural Legacy Of Cleopatra’s Beauty Secrets

A woman dressed like Cleopatra
Image: Shutterstock

Cleopatra, the legendary Queen of Egypt, left behind not only a political and historical legacy but also a cultural one centered around her renowned beauty. Cleopatra’s beauty rituals have fascinated people for centuries and inspired beauty standards across different cultures. Her use of natural ingredients like milk baths, honey, and essential oils became symbols of luxury and self-care.

Cleopatra’s kohl made from minerals like malachite, set trends for dramatic eye makeup. Her beauty secrets continue to influence modern skincare and beauty routines. Today, Cleopatra remains a cultural icon, representing beauty that transcends time. Let us now take a look at her beauty secrets.

Queen Cleopatra’s Beauty Secrets:

From using natural ingredients like honey and rosewater to her elaborate hair and body care routines, Queen Cleopatra had set the bar for beauty standards too high. Her beauty practices and exotic cosmetics are revolutionizing for beauty industry. Come along as we examine the ancient queen’s beauty regimen and see how her methods have influenced modern beauty techniques.

Beauty secrets of queen Cleopatra

1. She loved to use honey on her face due to its antibacterial properties.


protip_icon Quick Tip
Honey is an excellent emollient and humectant. It can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles, regulate skin pH, and may help condition your hair (2).

2. She washed her face many times a day using oil and chalk or oil and lime.

3. She used to rinse her face with Apple cider vinegar.

4. Ginger, antimony, calamine, onions, goose fat, turpentine, etc. were some of the numerous skin care products used in Queen Cleopatra’s skin care regime!

Cleopatra loved to use honey

5. Sea salt scrub was the natural scrub she used to exfoliate her body and face.

6. Queen Cleopatra used rosewater to make the pimple marks disappear.

Queen Cleopatra used rosewater

protip_icon Quick Tip
Rose petal extract contains potent antioxidants like anthocyanins, polyphenols, and flavonoids that help reduce free radicals. It also has anti-inflammatory properties (3).

7. The natural nail polish that Queen Cleopatra used was Henna, which gives fingernails a lovely reddish-brown color.

8. She used henna or a Mixture of Juniper berries, oil and two unidentified plants to dye her hair. . Besides these, olive oil was used to enrich the hair texture.

9. Cleopatra Beauty secrets – Milk:

She added Dead Sea salt to her bath with essential oils and aromatic flowers to relieve stress and make her skin glow! She used milk for bathing. Vitamins A and E in milk acted as an antiseptic too. She also mixed Milk with Olive oil to use it as a Moisturizer.

Jen Piceno, a lifestyle blogger, shares her experience of indulging in this well-known Cleopatra beauty secret of milk bath. She uses a milk bath recipe with honey, jojoba oil, and almond oil for her bath. About the results she says, “After soaking for 30 minutes in the milk & honey bath (bath #1), I can honestly say that my skin really feels like soft luxurious silk. Not only does my skin feel silky, it also looks more radiant, healthy, and hydrated (i).”

Cleopatra's beauty secrets with milk

Cleopatra's beauty secrets with milk 1


protip_icon Quick Tip
Milk contains beneficial compounds that can help address many skin issues, such as acne, blackheads, and excess oil production. It also helps soothe and moisturize your skin (4).

10. As far as fragrance is concerned, Cleopatra was said to have loved the scent of roses, and used rosewater as a perfume. It’s believed that she would soak rose petals in water and then distill the mixture to create a fragrant, floral water that she could use as a perfume or facial toner.

11. Cucumber, gum, oil and sycamore juice, mixed with boiled and crushed bones of a specific bird was used by Queen Cleopatra as a hair removal cream.

12. She chewed cachous pastilles to prevent bad breath.

13. Pellets of Carob and some essential oils were used to prevent any body-odour.

Queen Cleopatra used pellets of carob

14. Red ochre and fat mixed together was used to color her lips, and Celery and hemp were combined for soothing her eyes. As per some research, Antimony Sulphide was the black chemical, which Cleopatra used to make, decorate, and shade her eyes, eyebrows. She also used to shade her lashes dark. This chemical is a key element in traditional Egyptian eye makeup. This iconic look not only enhanced her features but also served as an inspiration for beauty routines throughout history.

15. Many still use this popular recipe to get rid of tan even today. Take 1 cup of green grapes and 1 tablespoon of honey. Mix it together and apply on your skin. Leave it on for 15 minutes to remove tan.

Let us now check out some beauty products inspired by her beauty regime.

Queen Cleopatra used green grapes
Interesting beauty secrets of queen Cleopatra

Cleopatras best-kept beauty secrets

Cleopatra-Inspired Beauty Products

A woman taking a bath in milk and rose petals
Image: Shutterstock

Cleopatra’s legendary beauty rituals have inspired a wide range of modern beauty products today. These celebrate her use of natural ingredients. Many skincare brands offer milk-based cleansers and bath products that pay homage to Cleopatra’s famous milk baths. Honey-infused face masks and body scrubs are also popular, drawing from her use of honey as a natural moisturizer. Products containing rosewater, a known favorite of the queen, are widely used in toners and facial mists for their soothing and hydrating properties.

Kohl eyeliners inspired by Cleopatra’s dramatic, smoky eye look are a staple for eye makeup enthusiasts. Additionally, many modern beauty lines feature gold-infused skincare creams, mimicking Cleopatra’s rumored practice of using gold to maintain her complexion.

While not all brands specifically create these products inspired by Cleopatra, the fact remains that she is among the most famous people who started exploring the potential of various ingredients for their cosmetic value. Her methods have been widely explored and advanced beauty regimes of today incorporate them as a base. It is quite interesting to note how her practices continue to play an important role in modern beauty strategies centuries after her time.

Infographic: Top 8 Secrets Of Cleopatra You Should Know About

Egyptian Queen Cleopatra is known for her alluring beauty. A variety of natural ingredients like milk, honey, salt, and essential oils was the secret to her enchanting beauty. Check out the infographic below to discover her top 8 beauty secrets you can incorporate into your daily skincare routine.

top 8 beauty secret of cleopatra you should know about (infographic)

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

The Egyptian queen Cleopatra is known for her enchanting beauty, charm, and allure. She is regarded as one of the most beautiful queens of the era. She indulged in beauty rituals that were enriched with natural ingredients and beauty products that are still relevant and people use them as beauty tips and beauty hacks. They are famous as Cleopatra’s beauty secrets are worthy enough to get included in your skincare regimen. She used to mix honey with donkey milk, sea salt scrub, and rose water in her skincare routine. Follow these beauty secrets to get glowing, flawless skin.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Cleopatra use aloe vera?

According to history, Cleopatra has used aloe vera as part of her skin care routine (1).

What was Cleopatra’s diet?

It is said that Cleopatra’s diet consisted of vegetables, fruits, legumes, pigeon meat, and mutton.

Why did Cleopatra wear lipstick?

Cleopatra’s lipstick is said to contain crushed carmine beetles and ants as a symbol of social status and power.

What did Cleopatra use for shampoo?

According to various historical sources, Cleopatra used olive oil, palm oil, coconut oil, eggs, and honey to nourish and moisturize her long hair.

What ancient Egyptian beauty tools were used by Cleopatra and can still be used today?

Ancient Egyptians used hair combs made from bone, wood, or ivory. Beauty products like Dead Sea salts, kohl, milk and honey mask, henna, and milk baths are still being used by people as part of their beauty routine.

How can I combine Cleopatra’s beauty secrets with modern-day skincare practices for optimal results?

Cleopatra used natural ingredients like honey and milk in her beauty routine. You can combine them with body lotions, creams, and other modern beauty products in accordance with your skin type to obtain optimal results.

Key Takeaways

  • Cleopatra used natural ingredients like honey, apple cider vinegar, sea salt, and rosewater in her skincare routine.
  • She exfoliated her skin with sea salt scrubs and used henna and herbs to dye her hair.
  • Cleopatra washed her face multiple times daily with oil, chalk, or lime.
  • She took milk baths with oils and flowers to moisturize her skin and relieve stress.
  • Pastilles and essential oils were used to freshen the breath and prevent body odor.

Illustration: Cleopatra Beauty Secrets

Cleopatra Beauty Secrets

Image: Stable Diffusion/StyleCraze Design Team


Discover the beauty secrets of Queen Cleopatra in this amazing video! From milk baths to exotic oils, learn how to achieve her legendary beauty and radiance.

Personal Experience: Source

References

Articles on StyleCraze are backed by verified information from peer-reviewed and academic research papers, reputed organizations, research institutions, and medical associations to ensure accuracy and relevance. Read our editorial policy to learn more.

  1. Aloe Vera: A Short Review
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2763764/
  2. Honey in dermatology and skin care: a review
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24305429/
  3. Skin anti‐inflammatory activity of rose petal extract (Rosa gallica) through reduction of MAPK signaling pathway
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6261181/
  4. Milk Proteins—Their Biological Activities and Use in Cosmetics and Dermatology
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8197926/

 

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Simone de Vlaming
Simone de VlamingBeauty Expert
Simone de Vlaming is a beauty expert and founder of Beautymone.com. She specializes in makeup, skin care, fragrances, and nails. Simone decided to start a beauty blog during her graduation to find an outlet for her passion.

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Nisha Baghadia
Nisha BaghadiaContributor
Nisha is a contributor to StyleCraze and has 3 years of experience in content writing for different genres. She is a makeup aficionado and combines her love for makeup and writing to provide her readers with the latest information in the beauty world.

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Shatabdi Bhattacharya
Shatabdi BhattacharyaAssociate Editor
Shatabdi is an associate editor and an alumnus of Lady Brabourne College, Kolkata, where she honed her skills and developed a deep understanding of the world of literature and expression. She has worked with various organizations and websites operating in different industries, ranging from education to lifestyle, showing her adaptability and drive to learn.

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Anu Pallavi
Anu PallaviBeauty & Lifestyle Writer
Anu is a beauty and lifestyle writer and a graduate of Amity University, Noida, where she refined her writing skills and cultivated her deep passion for the field. She pursued the Beauty Technician Training Program at Maquillage Beauty Institute, which has equipped her with practical skills in various beauty treatments.

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