During the middle Ages, which areas of the face did women typically apply colored makeup?

In the Middle Ages, women commonly applied colored makeup to the cheeks and lips as these areas were considered essential for enhancing attractiveness and femininity. The use of color on the cheeks and lips was symbolic of health and vitality, serving to highlight facial features that were deemed important during that period. A well-defined mouth and rosy cheeks were often associated with beauty, and thus these areas received the most attention when it came to makeup application.

The other areas mentioned, such as the eyes and forehead or the nose and chin, were less emphasized in terms of colored makeup application during this time. Ears and neck, while they may have been adorned with accessories or other forms of beautification, were not the primary focus for color cosmetics. This historical context illustrates the social norms and beauty standards of the time, helping to establish why the cheeks and lips were the primary focus for makeup application.