‘Eyeliner: A Cultural History' traces the historical significance of the iconic cosmetic
People have lovingly lined their eyes with some form of eyeliner for thousands of years.
Even as beauty trends change, eyeliner endures.
Eyeliner originated in ancient Egypt, and it’s been used for thousands of years across cultures. In Chad, young men from nomadic clans wear kohl eyeliner to attract wives.
The cover of “Eyeliner: A Cultural History.” (Courtesy of Penguin Random House)
Indian Kathakali dancers wear kajal to tell stories through their eyes. In Iran, women use eyeliner as a symbol of resistance. A British Instagram influencer described eyeliner as the one product you can use
