on September 26, 2026
There are some beauty looks you return to again and again. A little black dress. A favourite piece of jewellery. Darkly defined eyes.
For me, Sormeh belongs in that company. A fine line can draw attention to your eyes without changing anything else about your look. Build the colour and it becomes deeper, softer at the edges and more dramatic.
But what makes Sormeh special to me goes beyond makeup.
One of my earliest memories is watching my grandmother apply it. I remember the dark powder and the care she took around her eyes. I did not know its history then. I only knew that this small ritual felt familiar and important.
Years later, as I explored Traditional Persian Medicine and the beauty practices I had grown up around, I began to see that moment as part of a much longer Persian story.
What is Sormeh?
Sormeh is the Persian name associated with a dark cosmetic traditionally used to define the eyes. You may also see it described as Persian kohl or Sormeh eyeliner.
It is tempting to call it an ancient version of the eyeliner we use today. But that description misses what made it meaningful. Depending on the time and place, dark eye cosmetics could be worn for beauty, as part of a wider ritual or because people believed they offered protection.
The objects made to hold Sormeh give us a glimpse of that history. The Metropolitan Museum of Art has a kohl flask attributed to Iran, dating from the ninth or tenth century. It was made to hold dark eye powder, with a narrow opening that could accommodate an applicator.
I find that little flask fascinating. Someone chose to make an object specifically for this practice. Defining the eyes was worth preparing for, carrying and repeating.
Why did people wear Sormeh?
The first reason is easy to recognise: dark definition changes how the eyes look.
A fine line close to the lashes brings them into focus. A stronger application creates intensity, even when the rest of the face is left simple. In traditional Persian beauty, the eyes had their own place alongside preparations for the skin, brows, hair and scent.
Yet appearance was only part of the story. The Metropolitan Museum of Art explains that people historically believed kohl could help guard against the glare of the sun, discourage eye disease and ward off evil. These were beliefs associated with its use, alongside its beauty purpose.
That connection between beauty and protection helps explain why Sormeh could mean more than eyeliner to the person applying it. It could be part of getting ready, caring for yourself or observing a practice passed through your family.
Those historical beliefs are important to understand, but they are not proven benefits of modern Sormeh® eyeliner.
Sormeh and the evil eye
The evil eye is a belief found across many cultures: the idea that an envious or harmful gaze can bring misfortune. People developed different customs and objects intended to guard against it.
Within the wider history of kohl, the Metropolitan Museum of Art records the belief that applying it could ward off evil. That belief gives another meaning to a practice centred on the eyes.
I cannot tell you exactly what my grandmother thought about each time she applied Sormeh. What I can say is that learning about these beliefs changed how I saw the ritual. The dark line was beautiful, but the practice also carried ideas about care and protection that stretched far beyond the finished look.
You can value that cultural history without expecting an eyeliner to protect your health or keep harm away.
Did men wear Sormeh too?
Yes. Although eyeliner is often marketed to women today, dark eye cosmetics were historically worn by men as well.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art notes that kohl was once widely used by men and children as well as women. Its Iranian flask is one of the surviving objects connected to that history.
That is one of my favourite details to share. Sormeh’s story is broader than a women’s makeup trend. People of different ages and genders used dark eye definition, and the reasons for wearing it were not always the same.
Sormeh in the Haft-Ghalam beauty ritual
Sormeh also had a place in Haft-Ghalam, a traditional Persian beauty practice whose name refers to seven cosmetic items.
The Encyclopaedia Iranica account of Persian cosmetics describes traditional bridal preparations that included henna, Sefidab, rouge, Sormeh, brow colour, perfume and gold spangles. Each contributed something to the finished look. Sormeh gave definition to the eyes.
A historical study of Haft Qalam Ārāyish explores how cosmetics developed across the Iranian world. Beauty practices changed over time and across places. They were shaped by the people who used them, not held still as one fixed routine.
That is how I like to think about Haft-Ghalam today. You can learn where a ritual came from, appreciate what it meant and find your own way to use part of it.
Sormeh vs kohl: what is the difference?
If you have searched for “Sormeh vs kohl”, you may have found the two terms used for similar products.
Sormeh is the name associated with this dark eye cosmetic in Persian tradition. Kohl is a broader word commonly used in English for dark eye cosmetics from several cultures. The terms overlap, but neither tells you exactly what is inside a particular product.
Traditional preparations varied. Modern formulas do too. One eyeliner described as kohl might be a pencil; another might be a cream. Our Sormeh® Persian Powder Eyeliner is a loose powder.
If you are choosing an eyeliner, look at its ingredients and directions as well as its name. They tell you what you are buying and how to use it.
How Traditional Persian Medicine inspires our Sormeh®
My interest in Sormeh sits within a bigger journey. Traditional Persian Medicine led me to explore the ingredients, everyday practices and beauty rituals I had known through my family.
At The East To West Lifestyle Co.®, we take inspiration from that heritage and ask how a traditional practice can have a place in modern life. With Sormeh®, that means creating a cosmetic you can use to define your eyes while sharing the Persian story behind it.
We do not present our formula as a medicine. Its purpose is eye definition. The historical beliefs about eye health and protection belong to the history of the ritual; they are not claims about what our product does.
What is our Sormeh® eyeliner made from?
Our Sormeh® Persian Powder Eyeliner brings together ingredients chosen for a dark, buildable look and a connection to Persian inspired beauty.
Activated coconut shell charcoal gives the formula its rich black colour. Apply a little for soft definition or build the colour when you want your eyes to make more of a statement.
Sweet almond oil adds an oil component to the powder blend. Almond oil also appears in historical accounts of Persian beauty preparations, making it a meaningful part of this modern interpretation.
Rose water brings a botanical ingredient long associated with Persian beauty rituals. It is one of those ingredients that many people recognise from the practices shared in their families.
Rock crystal quartz adds a mineral element to the formula and forms part of its ingredient story.
Sormeh® also contains bentonite clay and other ingredients. You can find the complete ingredient list on the product page.
The result is an eyeliner you can adapt to your mood. The black pigment gives you the visible definition. The story behind it gives you something more to discover.
How to apply Sormeh® powder eyeliner
You do not need to start with a dramatic eye. Sormeh® is buildable, so begin with a little and add more until you have the look you want.
- Dampen a clean fine liner brush. The brush should be damp rather than dripping.
- Pick up a small amount of Sormeh®. Starting lightly gives you more control over the line.
- Press the powder along your upper lash line. Work in short movements, close to the roots of your lashes.
- Build the colour at the outer corner. Add another layer for depth. If you like, extend it into a small flick.
- Add lower lash definition. Apply from the middle outwards when you want a fuller look.
For daytime, one fine line may be all you want. For an evening look, deepen the colour at the outer corner and beneath the lower lashes. You can keep it precise or soften the edges for a more smoky effect.
Sormeh® is a loose powder, and an applicator is not included. You will need your own fine liner brush. You can also read the product’s application directions here.
A dark eyed look you can make your own
When I think of Sormeh, I still picture my grandmother. I think of the moment I watched her apply it and how a gesture that took only a little time stayed with me for years.
Now I know more about the history around that gesture: the place of eye definition in Persian beauty, its role in Haft-Ghalam and the beliefs about protection once associated with dark eye cosmetics.
You do not need to recreate a historical routine to feel connected to it. You can wear a fine line with very little other makeup. You can build a deeper look for an evening out. Or you can simply enjoy knowing that the powder on your brush has a story behind it.
Discover Sormeh® Persian Powder Eyeliner.
Frequently asked questions
What is Sormeh eyeliner?
Sormeh is a name associated with a traditional Persian dark eye cosmetic. Our Sormeh® is a modern loose powder eyeliner inspired by that heritage.
Is Sormeh the same as kohl?
The terms refer to closely related traditions of dark eye definition. Sormeh identifies the Persian connection, while kohl is a broader term. The ingredients and application method depend on the individual product.
Why did people wear Sormeh?
People wore dark eye cosmetics to emphasise their eyes. Historical accounts also describe beliefs that kohl could protect against sunlight, illness or evil. These are historical beliefs, not proven benefits of modern eyeliner. You can read more in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s description of an Iranian kohl flask.
Did men wear Sormeh?
Yes. Historical dark eye cosmetics were used by men as well as women and children, according to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Is Sormeh part of Haft-Ghalam?
Yes. Sormeh appears among the seven cosmetic preparations described in historical accounts of Haft-Ghalam.
How do I apply Sormeh® powder eyeliner?
Dampen a fine liner brush, pick up a small amount of powder and press it along your lash line. Add more in layers to build a darker look. An applicator is not included with Sormeh®.
Let me know if you have any more questions - with love Sherry
