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Quiz about History of Cosmetics and Fashion
Quiz about History of Cosmetics and Fashion

History of Cosmetics and Fashion Quiz


Historic Firsts in Cosmetics and Fashion. Here's a quiz that will test your knowledge of the origins of some cosmetics, scents and fashion trends.

A multiple-choice quiz by dobrov. Estimated time: 6 mins.
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Author
dobrov
Time
6 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
59,826
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Difficult
Avg Score
5 / 10
Plays
4846
Awards
Top 5% quiz!
Last 3 plays: Guest 86 (8/10), Guest 3 (0/10), Guest 192 (1/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. In ancient times scented unguents were produced from floral essences mixed with animal fat. In the 10th century however, an Arab, Ibn Sina, developed a new process of extracting floral attar with steam. Mixed with water, this scent became both a cosmetic and flavouring staple for many centuries. What was this scent called? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. During the 1400s, looking pale and otherworldly was in. To achieve this, women shaved their foreheads, plucked out their eyelashes and eyebrows, and whitened their faces and bosoms with ceruse. What did ceruse consist of? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. During the 1400s women sometimes resorted to a more drastic method of achieving that "pale look". What did they do? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. In what country did nail polish originate? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Helena Rubinstein began her career creating stage and film makeup. When Theda Bara appeared on the screen wearing a lot of one of Rubinstein's innovations, it became instantly popular with the general public. What was it? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Max Factor, like Rubinstein, was originally from Poland. During the last years of the 19th century he became purveyor of cremes and cosmetics to the Russian court. In 1904 he decided to try his luck in America, where he too started out by creating and selling theatrical makeup. What was one of his first major innovations? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Using scents to mask the smell of sweat has always been very common. In what century, however, was the first real deodorant produced? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. In the early 1920s she got a tan while on a cruise aboard the Duke of Westminster's yacht. When she got home, the colour of her skin caused a fashion revolution. Who was she? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. In 1960, Yardley was a small British firm that had been producing soaps and perfumes from lavender essence for almost 200 years. By 1966, however, it was a giant in the cosmetic industry, as it produced a complete line of cosmetics and fragrances that proved tremendously popular in Europe and in North America. What was this line called? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. A beautiful model in an evening gown appeared on the cover of a Harper's Bazaar magazine in 1915. She wasn't wearing a corset, her skirts were above her ankle and the back of the dress was scandalously low. But the model lacked one thing in particular that would set off a new trend in fashion in North America. What was it? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. In ancient times scented unguents were produced from floral essences mixed with animal fat. In the 10th century however, an Arab, Ibn Sina, developed a new process of extracting floral attar with steam. Mixed with water, this scent became both a cosmetic and flavouring staple for many centuries. What was this scent called?

Answer: Rosewater

Lavender water was a variant of rosewater. Hungary water, developed for Elizabeth of Hungary in 1390, used an alcohol base. Eau de Cologne didn't appear until the 1730s, when the Farina brothers introduced it in Cologne.
2. During the 1400s, looking pale and otherworldly was in. To achieve this, women shaved their foreheads, plucked out their eyelashes and eyebrows, and whitened their faces and bosoms with ceruse. What did ceruse consist of?

Answer: Vinegar and powdered lead

Ceruse rapidly ate away the skin, which meant that thicker and thicker layers had to be applied as time wore on. It eventually killed you. Despite its obvious drawbacks, ceruse remained popular for at least 300 years, although later zinc oxide replaced the lead.
3. During the 1400s women sometimes resorted to a more drastic method of achieving that "pale look". What did they do?

Answer: They bled themselves

Bleeding required the use of leeches, or sometimes the more extreme 'cupping' was employed. A vein was slashed and the blood drained into a cup, or bowl.
4. In what country did nail polish originate?

Answer: China

Although the ancient Egyptians stained their nails with henna, it was the Chinese who developed actual nail lacquers made from gum arabic, beeswax, eggwhite and coloured powders. The earliest traces of nail lacquer are dated to 3000 BC.
5. Helena Rubinstein began her career creating stage and film makeup. When Theda Bara appeared on the screen wearing a lot of one of Rubinstein's innovations, it became instantly popular with the general public. What was it?

Answer: Mascara

Rubinstein also introduced tinted face powder in the early 1920s.
6. Max Factor, like Rubinstein, was originally from Poland. During the last years of the 19th century he became purveyor of cremes and cosmetics to the Russian court. In 1904 he decided to try his luck in America, where he too started out by creating and selling theatrical makeup. What was one of his first major innovations?

Answer: Pancake makeup

Factor developed pancake makeup for actors, as an improvement over the older greasepaint. Pancake makeup didn't sweat off as easily.
7. Using scents to mask the smell of sweat has always been very common. In what century, however, was the first real deodorant produced?

Answer: 19th century

Mum deodorant in creme form was developed in Philadelphia in 1889. The active ingredient was aluminum chlorhydrate. In 1952, inspired by the workings of the ballpoint pen, Ban Roll-On was introduced.
8. In the early 1920s she got a tan while on a cruise aboard the Duke of Westminster's yacht. When she got home, the colour of her skin caused a fashion revolution. Who was she?

Answer: Coco Chanel

The Paris success of Josephine Baker also helped to promote the idea of brown skin as attractive and fashionable. Women's more active lifestyles in the 20's and ever-more-revealing fashions made tanning practical as well as fashionable.
9. In 1960, Yardley was a small British firm that had been producing soaps and perfumes from lavender essence for almost 200 years. By 1966, however, it was a giant in the cosmetic industry, as it produced a complete line of cosmetics and fragrances that proved tremendously popular in Europe and in North America. What was this line called?

Answer: The London Look

Yardley was innovative in two ways. First, the London Look line was the first extensive line of cosmetics created expressly for the teenage market. Second, it was the first line inspired by an existing youth trend.
10. A beautiful model in an evening gown appeared on the cover of a Harper's Bazaar magazine in 1915. She wasn't wearing a corset, her skirts were above her ankle and the back of the dress was scandalously low. But the model lacked one thing in particular that would set off a new trend in fashion in North America. What was it?

Answer: Underarm hair

The Wilkenson Sword razor blade company jumped right on the bandwagon and fiercely pushed the idea of women's underarm hair as unfeminine and unhealthy. They sold a lot of blades.
Source: Author dobrov

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