The Importance of Makeup

As if it wasn't hard enough trying to get our frizzy hair smooth in the morning or trying to fit into that snug dress, women also incessantly have to fuss over their foundation, lipstick, blush & mascara and try not to look like BoBo the clown in the process. Makeup is such an essential part of women's lives all over the world. Roman philosopher Platus once wrote "a woman without paint is like food without salt." And believe me, being in the beauty industry, i have seen my fair share of bland women. Like a designer purse or modern cell phone, few brave fem-bots leave home without it on. And ladies, don't deny it. We all revel in delight when we see these perfect, beautiful celebrities caught in public without any trace of makeup on. It's impossible to believe. THEY have zits, puffy eyes and wrinkles? It makes us feel better about ourselves and them seem flawed & ordinary. My fascination with makeup began at the age of 16. Liquid eyeliner was one of the most important items in my personal beauty arsenal. I would rarely leave home without it on and, 19 years later, still use it religiously. But please don't think my look is like cleopatra stuck in the late 80's. My makeup application has evolved greatly since then and I'm not so embarrassed to go to the grocery store or the mall without a full face of war paint on. A little mascara and a dab of blush really does wonders. Most men, of course, prefer a natural woman or so they say. Realistically, the words "natural beauty" seems sort of like an oxymoron. Nevertheless, makeup has been an important, integral part of humankind for centuries. Today, it is so scientifically advanced that it can do everything from smoothing or changing your complexion to enhancing the color of your eyes and hair. Ancient Egyptians created the world's first cosmetics using ingredients suchas lead and copper. Throughout the centuries, women used various items to enhance their beauty. For example, they would use burnt matches to darken their eyes, berries to stain their lips or urine to fade their freckles. Some even drank Ox blood in some misguided attempt to improve their complexions. Women throughout history put their health at risk with many of their homemade cosmetics. During the 18th century, for example, a rise of medical complications appeared. Tooth decay, adverse skin conditions and poisoning were often caused by dangerous makeup. In some cultures, women used arsenic, lead, mercury and even leeches to give themselves the pale appearance deemed to be beautiful in that era.It was not proper for a "lady" to work in the sun so she should, therefore, look translucent. It became fashionable to look like you were suffering from tuburculosis. The pale skin, flushed cheeks and luminous eyes of the illness was frequently imitated with white lead and rouge. To make their eyes brights, some women ate small amounts of arsenic or washed their eye with orange or lemon juice. In the 19th century, "natural makeup" became fashionable. Victorian propriety denounced excessive makeup as the mark of a loose woman. Above all, cheek and lip rouge were considered scandalous. Beauty books of the era suggested women bite their lips and pinch their cheeks vigorously before entering a room. To get more info on the history of makeup, go to www.webmd.com/skin-beauty/guide or www.fashion-ear.com/makeup/guide.



Thankfully, we have come along way from the days of using toxic and deadly mixtures to enhance our looks. Today's multibillion dollary cosmetic industry must meet strict government regulations about what it cannot include in products and must follow safe manufacturing guidleines. Lucky for us, the most serious injury from using cosmetics is usually only an irritation or a rash. That is, unless you do look like BoBo The Clown. Then you might get kicked in the shin by a scared 7 year old.