Eye make-up worn by Cleopatra boosts immune system

Research carried out by the CNRS research institute and scientists from the Louvre Museum indicate that the heavy eye make-up used by ancient Egyptians such as Cleopatra may have helped to fight off bacteria which can cause eye infections.

The make-up used could take up to a month to formulate as the chemicals did not occur naturally, the black and green powders which were applied thickly around the eyes contained doses of lead salts, which at low levels produce nitric oxide.  Research found that...