January 14, 2004

By: April Tom
Website: http://www.1st-in-cosmetics.com

L’Oréal plays integral role in International Museum Exhibition, “Perfumes and Cosmetics in Ancient Egypt”

Blending beauty and science, L’Oréal, the world’s leading beauty company, has contributed its scientific and research capabilities to the exhibit, “Perfumes and Cosmetics in Ancient Egypt” which can currently be seen from April 6-July 6, 2002 at the Egyptian National Museum in Cairo, the Louvre Museum in Paris and the Vieille Charite Museum in Marseille.

L’Oréal’s collaboration with the exhibit goes back to 1996 when the French Museums’ Research and Restoration Centre joined with a team of L’Oréal researchers in a unique partnership to analyze 49 cosmetic jars from the Louvre’s Egyptian Antiquities collection. The L’Oréal team loaned its expert resources to identify the ingredients, like lead sulphide i.e. black galena (the basis for kohl) used in the cosmetics of ancient Egypt. It was this initial partnership that formed the basis for the current exhibit.

L’Oréal’s scientific exploration of these ingredients resulted in astonishing discoveries. For instance, the presence of synthetic lead compounds in make-up created by the Egyptians has led experts to conclude that a sophisticated level of cosmetic science existed some 4,000 years ago. Their advanced formulations produced complex products that were not only aesthetically alluring but had therapeutic and medicinal benefits.

“L’Oréal is proud to be the sole scientific and research partner of this unique exhibit” says Jean-Luc Leveque, Research Prospective Director, Paris, France. To mark the occasion the company's research team has recreated the legendary ancient Egyptian perfume, Kyphi, using an intricate process that involves 16 ingredients, L’Oréal faithfully replicated the celebrated fragrance.

In addition, L’Oréal will, in collaboration with all three museums, publish a French-Arabic catalogue, which features articles by French and Egyptian scientists as well as pictures from the museums’ collections. L’Oréal Research has also designed a children’s workshop, Discovery Nefertiti’s Make-up. And from April 27-29, L’Oréal will sponsor a scientific Congress in Cairo, Egypt with European and Egyptian archeologists, chemists and physicists who will come together to study the essential role played by fragrances and cosmetics in ancient civilizations.

About The Author:

April Tom is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.1st-in-cosmetics.com.  Tips on skin care, hair care and beauty products to bring out natural beauty.