Ancient Egyptian chemists were making cosmetics 3500 years ago

Ancient chemists were synthesising paints and cosmetics at least 3500 years ago. This finding was made by researchers who developed a way to carbon date inorganic carbonate compounds, and used it to study preserved materials found in Egyptian and Greek tombs.

Lead carbonates were some of the most important ingredients in ancient paints and make-ups. But while carbon dating is routinely used to determine the age of historic items made from plant or animal materials, analysing inorganic materials is less straightforward.