No other country or culture was so Greatly concerned with beautification and body care than ancient Egypt. Cosmetic implements, particularly eye-makeup palettes, have been discovered in the earliest graves. Yet Egypt's Queen Cleopatra VII was credited with writing a book of beauty secrets, based on her personal practices.

Many of her beauty treatments are still used by women around the world: henna for hair, aloe for skin, and kohl for eye enhancement. Her luxurious bathes included dead sea minerals and salt, and often olive oil, but she was more noted for her milk baths. Although her beauty book has been lost, ancient Egyptian scrolls contain dozens of treatments, including a special anti-wrinkle-cream formula that might have been similar to one prescribed by the last Queen of the Nile. This formula called for a mixture of Frankincense (which helps reduce wrinkles and scars), oils, grass and fermented fruit juices.

Some think the fruits were added for aromatherapy, but recent scientific data and anti-aging specialists indicate that this fruit-laced facial cream had special benefits for the skin. Esther underwent 12 months of beauty treatments in the bible, and they were also prescribed for women - six months with Oil Of Myrrh and six with perfumes and cosmetics. Calamus Oil was used along with Cassia Oil and Aloes so the women would be beautiful before the king.

Pomegranates, figs and choice fruits were mentioned quite often, and henna blossoms from the vineyards and nard. These were also used by women for their beauty treatments.