Men wearing makeup is nothing new. In fact, the trend dates all the way back to ancient Egypt, when Ramses III painted makeup along the creases of his eyes. Other rulers, including Alexander the Great and Louis XIII, also applied makeup to their eyes and cheeks, while artists like Kiss, Keith Richards, and Boy George brought men’s cosmetics back in vogue in the 20th century. From Egyptian pharaohs to major film stars, see all the men in makeup throughout time.
The ancient Egyptians applied makeup liberally, favoring it for its alleged healing powers and ability to imbue them with godlike protection. Here, Ramses III, the second pharaoh of Egypt’s 20th dynasty, is shown with makeup around the corners of his eyes in the tomb of his son, Ramses IV, in the Valley of the Kings.
According to Empire of Alexander the Great by Debra Skelton and Pamela Dell, cosmetics were extremely popular during the Hellenistic Age—and not just for improving your physical appearance. In hot climates, Skelton and Dell write, eye makeup “protected the delicate skin around the eyes, kept off flies whose bites could cause inflammations, and sheltered the eyes form the sun’s glare.”
Although it was considered popular in the 17th century to cake one’s face in thick white makeup, Louis XIII kept his beauty look more simple and muted. In most portraits, like the one at left, the King of France is shown with a bright rouge color on his cheeks and accented eyes.
Michael Nicholson/Corbis
Kiss’s signature black and white face paint has spawned legions of imitators and spoofs. In a 1996 interview with fan magazine Porkchops & Applesauce, co–lead vocalist Gene Simmons reportedly said the band’s decision to douse themselves in makeup was a result of the so-called glitter scene in New York. “Boys were basically acting like girls and putting on makeup," Simmons told the mag. "Y'know, all the skinny little guys, hairless boys. Well, we were more like football players; all of us were over 6 feet tall, and it just wasn't convincing! The very first pictures we took when the band first got together, we looked like drag queens. But we knew we wanted to get outlandish—being onstage looking like a bum wasn't my idea of respect.”
Amanda Schwab/Starpix, via AP
According to Victor Bockris’s biography of Keith Richards, the Rolling Stones guitarist’s dark eye makeup was due the influence of his former partner and the mother of two of his children, Anita Pallenberg, who encouraged him to apply black kohl underneath his eyes and wear lipstick and nail polish. Richard’s look became so influential that his band mate Mick Jagger allegedly mimicked him.
Boy George’s makeup emphasized the androgynous appearance for which the singer became known. He was rarely seen without skillfully applied beauty products on his lips and eyes, and many of his followers copied his style. There’s even a how-to book, Boy George: Fashion & Make-up Book, that gives instructions on how to look like the ’80s chanteuse.
Johnny Depp’s drunken pirate character Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean films was reportedly based on Keith Richards. And similar to the famed rocker, Sparrow wears layers of kohl around his eyes. The actor has donned makeup for a variety of other movie roles as well—from Edward Scissorhands to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory—and he’s been known to wear eyeliner off camera, too.
Peter Mountain/Disney, via AP,Peter Mountain/Disney via AP (left),Theo Wargo/Getty (right)
Zac Efron is often criticized for his feminine appearance and has been pictured several times wearing makeup. The teen heartthrob usually opts for minimal application—a little bit of eye makeup to define his eyes and some foundation to make his skin appear smooth.
Like his rocker contemporaries, the Green Day lead singer is a fan of makeup, regularly circling thick black eyeliner around his eyes like a panda. But applying makeup poses some issues as well—Armstrong reportedly told U.K. music magazine Kerrang!, “Watch out, ‘cause some of that eyeliner shit will give you a sty. I’m having one right now.”
The British comedian, who moonlights as Aldous Snow, the pervy lead singer of the fictional band Infant Sorrow, has been known to enjoy a swipe of eyeliner. Brand’s makeup job can be seen in the picture at left, taken at the GQ Men of the Year Awards in 2006.
Chris Jackson/Getty
Marilyn Manson’s beauty looks range from subtle to dramatic. Here, during a performance at the Sunset Strip Musical Festival in West Hollywood, the gothic rocker wears loads of pink eye shadow. His decision to wear makeup has created problems, too. According to a report in German weekly newsmagazine Der Spiegel, the musician was allegedly denied entry to the country’s Cologne Cathedral because of his lipstick.
It’s a rare occasion when Adam Lambert isn’t wearing makeup. On and offstage, the American Idol runner-up can be seen with glittery, smoky eyelids, foundation and concealer on his face, and nail polish on his fingertips. In an interview with gay and lesbian news magazine The Advocate, Lambert bluntly defended his use of makeup: “I’m wearing eight pounds of makeup because I f**king want to. Why not?” he said.
It’s no secret that Dave Navarro is a fan of cosmetics. The guitarist has since taken his advocacy to the next level and become a spokesperson for PETA, petitioning against product testing on animals.
The 30 Seconds to Mars frontman has been known to wear dark circles of eyeliner around his eyes, and he piles on even more makeup on set: for Jean-Marc Vallée’s film Dallas Buyers Club, in which he played a transsexual with HIV, Leto wore dark eye makeup, lipstick, blush, and colorful nail polish.
Justin Bieber received a ton of negative media attention when a photo circulated online of him on the set of his music video for his hit single “Boyfriend” getting touched up with mascara by one of his assistants.
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