What type of cosmetics and perfumes were used in Jesus' day?  Did the
people wear jewelry?  If so, who wore it and what was the jewelry made
of?

Hi ciao~

Women in Biblical times used perfumes much as modern women do, but
perfumes were more important at that time because of bad hygiene and
unsanitary surroundings. According to "Illustrated Manners & Customs
of the Bible" (J.I. Packer & M.C. Tenny, editors, Thomas Nelson
Publishers, 1980): "Common sources of perfume in Bible times were
frankincense and myrrh from Arabia and Africa, aloes  and nard from
India, cinnamon from Aylon, galbanum from Persia, and stacte and
saffron from Palestine.: (p. 484) Hebrew law forbade Jewish women from
wearing perfume for personal use; perfume was reserved for Jewish
religious rituals.

Cosmetics were worn by Egyptians and Assyrian women; primarily, they
painted their eyelashes and the edges of their eyes with black powder
moistened with oil or vinegar. (Giving a look something like modern
mascara and eyeliner.) Jewish women sometimes did the same, but the
practice was generally frowned upon...Jezebel was criticized for the
practice (see 2 Kings 9:30). In addition, some women used "nail
polish," or henna to stain their fingernails.

Both men and women wore jewelry in many forms: Rebekah is mentioned as
wearing bracelets (see Genesis 24:22). Men also wore bracelets. The
wealthy had bracelets of gold and other precious metals. Poorer people
wore bracelets of common metals or cord.

Anklets were another form of jewelry worn by women, and were made in
similar materials. Wealthy women wore anklets filled with small stones
so that they made a "tinkling" sound wherever they walked.

Earrings were worn by Egyptian and Hebrew women. Assyrians of both sex
also wore them. Earrings of this time were usually gold hoops,
sometimes with stones dangling from them.

Nose rings were also worn by women. They were often made of ivory or
precious metals like gold and silver, and might have jewels on them.

Most of this information comes from the above mentioned book, which is
available at most bookstores. To see what Amazon.com says about the
book, go to:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0785212310/qid=1035944083/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-8991896-2384805?v=glance

For an article about Biblical herbs, some of which were used in
cosmetics, go to:
http://asiarecipe.com/bibleherbs.html

Here's an article about perfumes in Biblical times:
http://www.taloils.com/pages/scenter/biblical_afarsemon.htm

An article on scented oils used in Biblical times:
http://www.taloils.com/pages/scenter/biblical_afarsemon.htm

An article about jewelry in the Bible:
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=jewelry+%22Biblical+times%22

Keywords Used:
cosmetics Biblical
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=cosmetics+Biblical

perfume Biblical
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=perfume+Biblical

jewelry "Biblical times"
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=jewelry+%22Biblical+times%22

Hope this helps!
kriswrite

Greetings cia-ga,
The best record for perfumes in Jesus' day would be the bible itself,
here is an interesting read about the different methods of anointing
with associated bible verses. 
http://www.alabaster.com.my/bibleperfume.html

People certainly wore jewelry in the bible,
http://www.probe.org/docs/e-piercing.html

In fact it jewelry dates back to pre-historic times when man decorated
himself by painting his skin, wearing feathers and bone.

Hope this helps,
Hrothgar

"Hebrew law forbade Jewish women from wearing perfume for personal
use; perfume was reserved for Jewish religious rituals."

That's news to this rabbi!

I think the authors were confusing two things.  There is a traditional
Jewish prohibition on creating or using the Temple incense or Temple
oil (except for the Holy Temple itself).  But any other combination of
perfume and oil were fine.  The other sites mentioned above also
assume this.

For more information, see the following articles in The Jewish
Encyclopedia (written in 1903, but still pretty good).

Perfume
http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=195&letter=P

Incense
http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=125&letter=I