Cosmetics
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- For the Washington DC area indie-rock band, see Make-Up (Band).
- For other uses, see Cosmetic.
Image:Cosmetics.JPG Cosmetics (pronunciation: cosmetic ) or make-up are substances used to enhance the beauty of the human body. Cosmetics include lotions, powders, lipstick and many other types of products. Their use is widespread, especially among women in Western countries. The manufacture of cosmetics is currently dominated by a small number of multinational corporations that originated in the early 20th century, but the distribution and sale of cosmetics is spread among a wide range of different businesses.
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[edit] History
The first archaeological evidence of cosmetics usage is found in Ancient Egypt around 4000 BC. The Ancient Greeks and Romans also used cosmetics The Romans and Ancient Egyptians used cosmetics containing mercury and often lead.
In the western world, cosmetics were used throughout the Middle Ages, though their use was typically restricted to the upper classes.
Cosmetic use was frowned upon at some points in history. For example, in the 1800s, Queen Victoria publicly declared makeup impolite.[citation needed] It was viewed as vulgar and something that was worn by actors and prostitutes.
By the middle of the 20th century, cosmetics were in widespread use in nearly all societies around the world.
[edit] The cosmetics industry today
The cosmetics industry is a multinational, multi-billion-dollar industry. Of the major firms, the oldest and the largest is L'Oréal, which was founded by Eugene Schueller in 1909 as the French Harmless Hair Colouring Company (now owned by Liliane Bettencourt 27.5% and Nestlé 26.4%, with the remaining 46.1% are publicly traded). The market was developed in the USA during the 1910s by Elizabeth Arden, Helena Rubinstein, and Max Factor. These firms were joined by Revlon just before World War II and Estée Lauder just after.
[edit] Controversy
The popularity of cosmetics in the 20th century has increased rapidly. Especially in the United States, cosmetics are being used by teens (especially teen girls) at a younger and younger age. Many companies have catered to this expanding market by introducing more flavored lipsticks and glosses, cosmetics packaged in glittery, sparkly packaging and marketing and advertising using young girls. Some social consequences of physical image continuously existing in the spot light have had much attention in the media over the last years. Many fear teens are displaying the physical signs of maturity long before they are mentally and psychologically ready to handle the attention brought forth by their physical image.[citation needed]
[edit] Types of cosmetic
The various forms of makeup include:
- Foundation, used to color the face and conceal flaws to produce an impression of health and youth. Usually a liquid, cream or powder.
- Rouge, blush or blusher, used to color the cheeks and emphasize the cheekbones. This comes in powder, cream and gel forms.
- Bronzer, used to create a more tanned or sun-kissed look.
- Eye liner and eye shadow, used to color and emphasize the eyelids (larger eyes compared to face is a sign of youth).
- Eyebrow pencils, creams, waxes, and powders are used to fill in and define the brows.
- Nail polish, used to color the fingernails and toenails.
- Concealer, a type of thick opaque makeup used to cover pimples, various spots and inconsistencies in the skin.
Also included in the general category of cosmetics are skin care products. These include creams and lotions to moisturize the face and body, sunscreens to protect the skin from damaging UV radiation, and treatment products to repair or hide skin imperfections (acne, wrinkles, dark circles under eyes, etc.).
Cosmetics can also be described by the form of the product, as well as the area for application. Cosmetics can be liquid or cream emulsions; powders, both pressed and loose; dispersions; and anhydrous creams or sticks.
[edit] Extreme cosmetics
In addition to over-the-counter cosmetic products, recent years have seen an increasing market for prescription or surgical cosmetic procedures. These range from temporary enhancements, such as cosmetic coloured contact lenses, to major cosmetic surgery.
Many techniques, such as microdermabrasion and chemical or physical peels, remove the oldest, top layers of skin cells. The younger layers of skin left behind appear more plump, youthful, and soft. Permanent application of pigments (tattooing) is also used cosmetically.
[edit] Ingredients
The Romans and ancient Egyptians used cosmetics containing mercury.
Cosmetic colorants are highly regulated. In the US, the regulating body is the Food and Drug Administration. Each country or group of countries has their own regulatory agency that controls what can go into cosmetics. Many colorants in cosmetics are also used as food dyes.
The red color of lipstick can come from iron oxide (rust) or from organic pigments. Typically, the pigment is crushed very finely while being mixed with castor oil. This pigment mixture is then mixed with a wax base to form a finished lipstick. The red color of some eyeshadows is from the dye carmine, made from the crushed bodies of the cochineal insect. This is extremely expensive and is used as rarely as possible. Pure carmine dye is usually more expensive than gold.
Lipstick can contain the shimmery substance of fish scales called "pearl essence." Pearl essence is obtained primarily from herring and is one of many by-products of large-scale commercial fish processing. This is rarely used due to the high cost and extreme fragility of this type of colorant. The primary source of the pearlescent shine used in lipsticks, eyeshadows, and blush is mica, a natural, mined mineral. The mica, which is translucent, is coated with a very thin layer of titanium dioxide. This coating causes color to appear through interference effects with the mica; varying the thickness of the titanium dioxide changes the color.[1]
Pearlescence of solid and liquid mixtures (e.g., lipsticks, shampoos and liquid soaps) is achieved by adding a suspension of tiny flakes of a suitable material, often a wax, e.g., glycol distearate.
The search for new ingredients and products often brings controversy, typically over ingredients whose function is unproven or disputed.
[edit] Potential dangers
There are a few potential dangers regarding the use of cosmetics. One such danger is the use of old mascara. Some mascaras contain an ingredient that breaks down to produce formaldehyde. The formaldehyde prevents the growth of bacteria. Aged mascara, however, may no longer be producing formaldehyde, allowing bacteria to proliferate. Blindness is one possible result if the bacteria-laden mascara gets into the eye.[citation needed] For this reason, it is often recommended to replace a tube of mascara every few months; opinions among experts vary from between three and six.<ref>"FDA/CFSCAN Cosmetics -- Shelf Life - Expiration Date"</ref><ref>"When Good Makeup Goes Bad"</ref> Moreover, formaldehyde is a powerful preservative that may interfere in the natural cleansing and purging functions of one's eyes and eyelids.[citation needed]
Other dangers include flammable hairspray, sharing cosmetics with others, possibly spreading disease, and the application of cosmetics while driving, among other dangers.[citation needed]
In one well-known case, Buddy Ebsen was originally cast as the "Tin Man" in the The Wizard of Oz. Aluminum dust was used for "tin" makeup. As the result of an allergic reaction, he was hospitalized and almost died, and Jack Haley replaced him in the movie, only this time the aluminum dust was added to a paste.[citation needed]
[edit] Image gallery
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Deidre Downs, Miss America 2005, wearing make-up, including prominent eye shadow, eye liner, and lipstick |
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Shauntay Hinton, Miss USA 2002, wearing make-up |
Actress Catherine Deneuve at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival wearing make-up, including eye liner and lipstick |
Actress and model Milla Jovovich at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival wearing make-up, including lipstick |
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Model Ellen Roche wearing make-up, including eye shadow, mascara, and rouge |
America's Next Top Model contestant Camille McDonald wearing make-up, including bright eye shadow and lipstick |
Dancer in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, wearing prominent make-up, including eye shadow, eye liner, rouge, and lipstick |
1889 painting Woman at her Toilette by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec |
[edit] See also
| Wikimedia Commons has media related to: |
[edit] Notes
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[edit] References
- "Ibn Sina's writing on Beauty"
- Burckhardt, Titus [1972]. Moorish Culture in Spain (in German). London: George Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1887752285.
[edit] External links
- Article on history, ingredients and method of manufacture of lipstick
- The British Library - finding information on the cosmetics and toiletries industry
- Apply Makeup
- Cosmetics and Your Healthbg:Козметика
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