Kohl: The World's Oldest Known Makeup – History & Origins

The first recorded item of makeup is widely considered to be kohl.

Evidence suggests that kohl was used as far back as 4000 BCE in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. It was used to darken the eyelids and protect the eyes from the sun's glare, as well as believed to ward off evil spirits.

So, while the exact single "first" is impossible to pinpoint definitively, kohl is the earliest known and widely accepted makeup product.