Cosmetics (colloquially known as makeup or make-up) are care substances used to enhance the appearance or odor of the human body. They are generally mixtures of chemical compounds, some being derived from natural sources, many being synthetic.
History
The word
cosmetics derives from the
Greek κοσμητικὴ τέχνη (
kosmetikē tekhnē), meaning "technique of dress and ornament", from κοσμητικός (
kosmētikos), "skilled in ordering or arranging"
[4] and that from κόσμος (
kosmos), meaning amongst others "order" and "ornament".
[5] The first archeological evidence of cosmetics comes from the hollowed out tombs of the Ancient Egyptian pharaohs.
[6] Archaeological evidence of cosmetics dates at least from ancient
Egypt and
Greece. According to one source, early major developments include:
[1]
The
Ancient Greeks also used cosmetics.
[7][8] Cosmetics are mentioned in the
Old Testament, such as in 2 Kings 9:30, where
Jezebel painted her eyelids—approximately 840 BC—and in the book of
Esther, where various beauty treatments are described.
One of the most popular
Traditional Chinese Medicines is the fungus
Tremella fuciformis;
used as a beauty product by women in China and Japan. The fungus
reportedly increases moisture retention in the skin and prevents senile
degradation of micro-blood vessels in the skin, reducing wrinkles and
smoothing fine lines. Other anti-ageing effects come from increasing the
presence of
superoxide dismutase in the brain and liver; it is an
enzyme that acts as a potent
antioxidant throughout the body, particularly in the skin.
[9]
Cosmetic use was frowned upon at many points in Western history. For example, in the 19th century,
Queen Victoria publicly declared makeup improper, vulgar, and acceptable only for use by
actors.
[10]
During the sixteenth century, the personal attributes of the women
who used make-up created a demand for the product among the upper class.
[11]
Of the major cosmetics firms, 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 26% and
Nestlé 28%; the remaining 46% is traded publicly). 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.
Beauty products are now widely available from dedicated internet-only retailers,
[12]
who have more recently been joined online by established outlets,
including the major department stores and traditional bricks and mortar
beauty retailers.
Although modern make-up has been traditionally used mainly by women,
an increasing number of males are gradually using cosmetics usually
associated to women to enhance or cover their own facial features.
Concealer
is commonly used by self-conscious men. Cosmetics brands release
cosmetic products especially tailored for men, and men are increasingly
using such products.
[13]