Conference

The Complete Guide to Applying Eye Makeup

The Complete Guide to Applying Eye Makeup

how to apply eyeshadow
 
Applying eyeshadow is relatively easy. However, learning to apply eye makeup the right way is no simple task. How do you choose the right shade for your eye color and skin tone? Do you really need 10 makeup brushes? Will you ever use every color in that eyeshadow palette?
 
We know that it’s easy to get confused about the best ways to make your eyes pop, so we’ve crafted a 5-step guide to show you exactly how to handle all those eyeliners, mascaras, and shadows, no matter your eye shape or color. Let's get started:
 

1. Start with great makeup brushes.

There’s a reason famous artists don’t finger paint: it’s much harder to create a masterpiece without the proper tools. The same holds true for makeup application. Invest in a few good cosmetic brushes for even, precise, and hygienic makeup application. Luckily, you can get great ones without dropping an entire paycheck.

When we tested the best makeup brushes in our Beauty Lab, we found that synthetic brushes are almost always preferable to their natural-fiber counterparts, and they are more affordable, easier to clean, and allergy-friendly. (Psst: All of our winners were synthetic, and the pros couldn’t differentiate them from pricier natural picks!)\There’s a reason famous artists don’t finger paint: it’s much harder to create a masterpiece without the proper tools. The same holds true for makeup application. Invest in a few good cosmetic brushes for even, precise, and hygienic makeup application. Luckily, you can get great ones without dropping an entire paycheck.

When we tested the best makeup brushes in our Beauty Lab, we found that synthetic brushes are almost always preferable to their natural-fiber counterparts, and they are more affordable, easier to clean, and allergy-friendly. (Psst: All of our winners were synthetic, and the pros couldn’t differentiate them from pricier natural picks!)

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2. Apply a base eyeshadow to the lid.

Using your eyeshadow brush, sweep your favorite base shade on your eyelid. If you have brown eyes, shimmer might be the way to go — look how Mandy Moore rocks it on the red carpet.

Depending on the look you’re going for, you can bring this base color all the way up to your brow bone in preparation for a more dramatic smoky eye, or you can stop at the crease of your eye for a basic, everyday look.

In the latter case, here’s a foolproof trick: place the color into the crease of your eye when your eyes are open, and work down toward the lash line. That way, you’ll never overshoot your crease or end up with messy lines.

3. Concentrate darker shadow in the eye crease.

Dark colors attract light, so placing a darker tone of shadow in the crease of the eye makes your eyes pop by adding depth and dimension in the exact right spot.

To get the look, dip a domed brush like e.l.f. Blending Brush ($3, ulta.com) into a dark shadow and sweep it right along the eye socket, following the shape of your eye between your brow bone and eyelid. A deep brown like Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Thunderbird ($20, sephora.com) is a universally flattering choice, no matter your eye color.

If you (like me!) have hooded eyes, your upper lid covers most of your mobile lid when your eyes are open. That means you will have to play with different, higher placements for crease shadow, because if you simply apply along the eye socket, the color will disappear when you open your eyes. Instead, start with your eyes open and use your brush to mark where you want that dark color to start in order to be visible. Then, close your eyes and blend across, smoothing out any hard lines and focusing pigment on the outermost corner of the eye in a "V" shape.

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4. Rim your lash lines in a super-dark color.

Eyeliner that's applied correctly can make your lashes look thicker and eyes look wider. If you're not a huge fan of eyeliner, you can get a similarly impactful look (that’s easier to wash off!) with a super-dark eyeshadow. Use a flat, short-bristled brush, like this one by Beauty Junkees ($10, amazon.com), to press the dark color along the edges of your upper eyelid where your eyelashes begin, and along the lower lash line.

If you like to wear liner on your waterline (the inner-most rim of the eye), be aware that the bristles might irritate your eye. In that case, you can trace this line with our favorite eyeliner, or (beauty hack alert!) apply a pale nude liner to the waterline to make the eye look wider and more awake. Just be sure you choose something waterproof, like Marc Jacobs Beauty Highliner Gel Eye Crayon Eyeliner ($25, sephora.com).

5. Highlight with a pretty shimmery shadow.

Make your brows pop and add lift by adding a shimmery pale eyeshadow or pencil directly under the brow. Benefit High Brow ($22, ulta.com) is an easy-to-use pencil, or you can try Maybelline Expert Wear Eyeshadow in Soft Pearl ($3, target.com) for more shimmer. Add the same pearly light color to the inner corner of the eye to brighten things up, too. Finish with a few coats of our favorite mascara, and you're good to go.

Still feeling stuck? We love how YouTuber Haley Wight breaks it all down.

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An Introduction to Makeup-Part 2

 

Top Qualities of a Good Makeup Artist

In addition to knowing exactly how to apply makeup on a model, possessing excellent color perception and artistic ability, successful makeup artists also possess the qualities listed below;

1. Patience:

Achieving a stunning professional face beat requires a lot of time. Usually it requires approximately one hour thirty minutes (1:30Mins) to deliver a gorgeous makeup look. Many times it takes much more time than this. A whole lot of patience and perseverance is needed to achieve that great look. You can hardly achieve a beauty makeup look in a hurry. If you naturally lack patience, and loose interest in things easily then this is a wrong profession for you.

2. Creativity

Professional in the field of Makeup are called artists, meaning makeup is an art. All artist paint creatively on a carnvas, in this field our carnvas is the face of our model. Creativity starts from your imagination. It is imperative for makeup artist to creatively pre-visualize and mentally arrange that "WOW LOOK"  they intend to come up with. Having a good sense of colours and creatively combining complimentary colours together is key in succeeding in this profession.

3. Attention to Details

A makeup artist MUST be detail-oriented. Paying attention to the smallest of all detail is key to delivering a good job. Ensure the both brows are the same, foundation shade fits the model skin perfectly, eyeshadow are well blended and so on.This single skill makes all the difference in delivering a flawless job.

 

4. Ability to work under pressure

Makeup artists need to be able to complete their work under pressure while still paying attention to detail. Some times, you are faced with delivering a good job within limited times. Other times, you are required to makeup several model within a set time. Some of your jobs may require you to concentrate for extended periods of time in order to satisfy painstaking requests. You need to be able to stay calm, speed up and come up with new ideas you can implement in creative ways.

 

5. Excellent communication / interpersonal skills

Having a meet and greet personality will tremediously aid in excelling in this career. Many times, you get to work with other people. Like hair stylists, designers, celebrities and the likes. It is important to get along with everyone you work it. Best way to achieve this is to avoid throwing tantrums, treat everyone nicely and with respect. Note, no one wants to work with a difficult person.

6. Flexible

A makeup artist should be flexible at all times. Be ready to start all over again with a face beat, go to a clients location to offer your services, work within different space and use versatile products. You should be willing to travel far at all times, this ability usually open doors for a lot of possibilities out there.

 

7. Tact

When a person is tactful, it means they have a keen sense of what to do or say in order to maintain good relations with others or avoid offense. Basically, a makeup artist will always have to deal with difficult or delicate situations. Being able to manage through this difficult times is one of the top qualities of a makeup artist. This trait will let clients see you as professional and committed to ensuring they will be completely satisfied with your services.

 

8.Good listener

Good listening is much more than being silent while the other person talks. You need to periodically ask questions that promote discovery and insight.  This gives you detailed information and a good understanding of your client request. It gives you the ability to assess customer needs leading to precise delivering and customer satisfaction.

 

9. Drive

You have to put in all the time and effort it takes to be successful in a career you are passionate about. Eagerness to learn more about this profession will eventually make you become a professional. Having a strong drive will help you push through challenges head and help you gain mastery of this profession.

 

10. Management

A makeup artist needs to manage their own time as efficiently as possible. Show up on time for a scheduled appointment, purchase tools and products necessary to satisfy your client. Keep simple and correct book keeping, this is as easy as recording you entire expenses and income.

 

These ten (10) top qualities will aid you in becoming a successful professional in this career. Some you may already possess; others you may need to put in consicous effort to develop in order to see the best possible outcome. If you think you lack any of the above-mentioned qualities, don’t be discouraged. Take out time to develop these traits in yourself. Remember, as a new makeup student, study all the modules to get an in-depth knowledge.

Makeup Brush Set 101

MAKEUP BRUSH 101 | Your Complete Guide to Makeup Brush & How to Use Them

Makeup brushes are the most important makeup tool in a makeup artist box. The right brush makes a big difference in  how you apply your eyeshadow, bronzer, sculpting and so on. Knowing the exact brush to use for each technique is key to getting your makeup career started and elevate your makeup application skills.

We have different brand of brushes, from everyday to highend brush set. However, what is more important is the type of brush than the brand of brush. You certainly can find great brushes and tools at every price point. While we have losts of highend tools around, its always best to start off your career with majorly budget friendly tools.However, keep in mind that an artist wouldn’t be able to create a masterpiece without great paint brushes! The right makeup application tools are far more important  than beauty products themselves.The following paragraph will explain in details the different types of brushes, how it is used for a certain technique and what to look out for. We are focusing on essential MUST HAVE makeup brushes, which is usually divided into two major categories.

  • Face Brushes
  • Eye Brushes

Face Brushes

1. Foundation Brush

The foundation brush is an important piece in a brush set. It's primary function is to facilitate the smooth application of your base or foundation onto the skin. This has to meet certain criteria. First the brush needs to have a reasonable width, wide enough and densed. Remember we are trying to cover the entire face with product. It certainly needs to be firm because you would have to spread, blend and push the foundation into the skin.If the brush is too soft and loosed, it will be difficult to work your foundation into the skin quickly and evenly leaving you with a cakey appearance.

What It's Used For: It provides the perfect amount of pressure for the smooth application of the foundation over pores, crevices, and lines. Prefect for hard-to-reach areas, like the sides of your nose. t

What It Looks Like: The top of a foundation brush head curves to form a rounded or domed shape, and tends to have short or medium length bristles.Their bristles are packed in a flat shape and vary in length from shortest at the outer edges to longest in the center, forming a slight point. Looks much likely to a paint brush.

Uses:

  • Apply liquid foundation
  • Apply concealer
  • Blend cream products

Tips and Tricks:

  • It works best with patting, feathering, and downwards stroking motions.

2. Concealer Brush

Whether it's a blemish, scars or dark circles you are trying to cover, a concealer brush is perfect for spot correction. As the name suggests, concealer brushes are used to even out concealers – to make the product look as natural as it can on the skin.

It aids in the application and blending of the concealer. The brush helps you to get to the smallest of the flaws.

to target problem areas. It blends all your imperfections smoothly.

What It's Used For: seamlessly blend under-eye concealer and instantly cover blemishes.

What It Looks Like: It has a uniquely tapered side with flat bristles and a pointed tip.

Uses:

  • Apply liquid foundation
  • Apply concealer
  • Blend cream products

Tips and Tricks:

  • While using a concealer brush, never blend it out. You should never move the product around, but carefully pat the product onto the skin to conceal just the area.

 

Stippling Brush

Have you ever seen those blunt-topped, two-coloured fiber bristles brushes at a makeup shop  before and wondered what  it is actually used for? While the foundation brush helps you to get the product onto the skin smoothly, the stippling brush gives you an airbrushed finish look with your foundation.. It is a multi-use product and can come in large or small sizes.

What It's Used For: Just like it's name, it stipples! Used with a buffing motion, creating small circles with each stroke to blend product. It is used to dot and dotting on your foundation makes a smooth, more diffused finish as opposed to rubbing or brushing.

What It Looks Like: Stippling brushes usually have two-toned long flexible bristles, normally quite dense and soft. A tight black base with pointed white bristles at the top. The bristles spread from the handle in a conical shape and come to points at the end.

Uses:

  • Apply liquid or cream foundation
  • Apply blush or highlighter
  • Blend concealer and foundation
  • Blend cheek colors together for a flawless look

Tips and Tricks:

  • For a sheer, diffused finish, dampen the bristles of your stipple brush first before applying product.
  • To use, dip the very tips of the brush into your liquid or cream foundation. To apply, dot the brush along your face to distribute pigment and then go back over it with the brush to blend.

 

4. Angled Blush Brush

An angled blush brush enables the precise application of the blush. The angled shape of the brush allows it to pick up the product and dust it onto the cheeks ever so softly so that it looks natural.

This is a medium-sized brush that is dense and rounded, with a tapered, angled end. It has the perfect shape to define cheekbones. Use as you would a normal blush or brush or use it to shape out the hollows of your cheeks.

Uses:

  • Apply blush, bronzer or highlight
  • Contour cheekbones and other features
  • Blend cheek color

 

5. Powder Brush

The primary function of a powder brush is to dust your face with loose or compact powder, without making you look like the ghost from The Grudge. A good powder brush will allow you to set and touch up your makeup.

This is a makeup brush that is large and fluffy, generally quite soft, yet dense. It is used to sweep or press powder onto the face. It can also be used for blending because of its rounded shape.

Uses:

  • Apply powder foundation or setting powder
  • Apply powder blush, bronzer or highlighter
  • Blend check color together
  • Apply products to body

6. Angled Brush

An angled brush has multiple uses. It can be used for brows and eyeliner. The angled shape of the brush helps to fill in eyebrows in the shape of your choice. The sharp ends also make it convenient to draw out a killer winged liner.

 

Sigma came up with a short, stiff brush that is cut at just the right angle to assist you in making your brows look perfect. A brush like this gives you complete control of how you want your brows to look.

 

The fine hair on the brush adapts to your style of stroke and the medium, whether it be liquid, powder or cream. It allows you to achieve that “eyebrows on fleek” look.

 

7. Contour Brush

Contouring is one thing that, at any cost, can not be done without a brush. And if you manage to do it, you’d probably end up looking like a clay sculpture. Quite a few people know how to use a contour brush. A contour brush will have firmer bristles than a blush brush, and a more angled tip. It is specially designed to help you target the areas that you want to contour and shape.

 

8. Highlight Fan Brush

The bristles in a fan brush are specifically designed for highlighters. The bristles are spread out so that the brush picks up a small amount of the product. It is then slightly dusted on the top of the cheekbones and other areas of the face that need to be highlighted. It is best to go in with a light hand to avoid using too much product.

 

9. Blending Brush

A blending brush is a must have when it comes to brushes. This is something you can’t use your fingers for. A good blending brush will help you to soften out any harsh lines after the application of the eyeshadow. The trick to the perfect eyeshadow look is to blend, blend, and when you think you’ve blended enough, blend one more time to achieve perfection.

 

10. Eye Liner Brush

You know those Instagram video tutorials of piercing winged eyeliners? Yeah, well they didn’t do that with just any brush. You need a particular eye liner brush in order to reach that level of perfection and precision. The eye liner brush is designed to pick up and deposit the required amount of product while giving you maximum control.

 

11. Eyeshadow Brush

An eyeshadow brush helps you to apply eyeshadow, whether it be in the form of cream or powder, smoothly and with precision onto your eyelid. A good eyeshadow brush will pick up a decent amount of the product and will allow you to pack it onto the eyelid with minimal fallout.

 

12. Bronzer Brush

A bronzer brush is rounded and distributes the product evenly. A big fluffy brush for bronzing helps you achieve that natural, sun-kissed look.

 

13. Lip Brush

Most of the times, we either use the doe brush that comes with the lip products or apply them directly. However, if you want precision and perfectly lined lips like you see in makeup tutorials and photo shoots, a lip brush is a must.

 

14. Mascara Brush Or Spoolie

You might know how to pick the best makeup brushes, but how about a brush for your lashes or brows? Of course, you can use the wand that comes with the product when you purchase it, but if you are extremely specific on how you want your lashes to look, then a mascara brush is the way to go.

 

15. Blush Brushes

Unlike the angled blush brush, this one is not angled. This is somewhat like a powder brush, but more rounded and compacted to pick up the pigments of the blush. The bristles are designed to allow blending so that there are no harsh lines.

Blush Brush

This is a medium-sized rounded brush with soft bristles. Its small size allows for precise application. Its shape also allows for easier blending.

Uses:

  • Apply and blend out a blush
  • Apply and blend out bronzer
  • Contour
  • Apply and blend out a highlighter
  • Apply powder to set concealer

16. Eyebrow Brush

A pair of well-defined brows can enhance your appearance and help you instantly achieve an aesthetically pleasing look. Also, defined brows frame your eyes and highlight your best features. A slanted liner brush, also known as the angled brow brush, is used to apply eyebrow filler. An eyebrow brush or a spoolie brush is used to tame and shape brows after filling them in.

 

17. Kabuki Brush

Ever wondered what a kabuki brush does? A kabuki brush is usually used to apply loose powder on large areas of your face. Due to its size and design, the brush blends your powder foundation super evenly on your skin and creates a very natural-looking coverage. You can also use this brush to blend, buff, or stipple liquid or cream foundations for a far more natural and sheer coverage than what you achieve with a regular foundation brush.

 

18. Makeup Sponge

Ladies, makeup sponges are a game changer. If you use them right, your skin will look like that Instagram filter you love come to life. You’ve got to wet your makeup sponge, squeeze out excess water, and then apply your foundation by gently tapping it onto the skin. Next, blend it in using patting motions. Results? It creates an airbrushed finish, and your skin looks incredible.

 

 

Angled Eyeliner Brush

Professional makeup artist icons all use a cat-eye to achieve a glamorous look. An eyeliner brush serves multiple purposes. First and foremost for your eyeliner, of course. To use, dip the brush into the eyeliner pot. Starting from your inner eye, draw a line outward, gradually increasing the width of the line and flicking out toward the ends.

Practice makes perfect, as they say, and is especially true for trying any sort of eyeliner techniques. The key to eyeliner is steady hands. Sometimes, a selfie after applying your liner is a good idea to check the similarity of your wings.

 

What It's Used For: For adding liner to achieve a fuller lash line or cat-eye look, can also be used to highlight your eyebrows.

What It Looks Like: The bristles are small, flat, densed with a sharp angled slant at one side.

Uses:

  • Apply liquid foundation
  • Apply concealer
  • Blend cream products

Tips and Tricks:

  • If you really want precision, you can use a stencil or even tape if you want to make sure the angles of both your wings match.

Eyebrow Brush

Used for taming and styling your brows.

Brow Brush Guide

Most brow brushes come double-sided—a comb side and a brush side. You can calm even the most unwieldy brows with a duo-brow brush. First, use the comb to straighten and form your brow shape.

Then, use the brush side to apply your brow product whether that’s powder or a gel. Whether cream or powder, use short staccato strokes, making sure to come to a defined point at the ends. And remember, your brows are sisters—not twins. Follow the natural shape of your brows rather than forcing them into unnatural forms. Embrace that extra tuft on your left side!

 

Brow Highlighter Brush

Makeup Brush Set 101 --- Part 1

 

Eyeliner Brush

Eyeliner brushes are one of the trickiest things to take care of when applying eye makeup. Most of us go with the provided or attached brush in the product we want to make use of. But to achieve a certain line or shape, different eyeliner brushes come to the rescue.

For a straight, close to the lash line one can use the provided brush. But to achieve a Cat eye liner or winged eyeliner, it is necessary to use an Angled Brush for that perfect line.

Let us look at the different types of Eyeliner brushes and how to use eyeliner brush:

 

1. Simple Eyeliner Brush:

Eyeliner Brush is a slim, and sparse tipped brush, which is extremely slim and easy to use. It comes in handy when  drawing fine lines and fills in the minute gaps. It is not useful to draw a thick line. You cannot achieve winged or curved line with this type of eyeliner brush. Simple eyeliner brush masters in creating thin gaps and not layers.

2. Dome Shaped Semi Flat Brush:

Domed shaped semi flat brush us majorly used with gel eyeliners, this helps to achieve a flawless look.The Brush is moderately dense, which makes it extremely easy to make a moderately thick line, help fill in the desired wings and angles to achieve that winged look. If you are looking for the thick layer on your eyelids, use the domed shaped semi flat brush for the perfect look.

3. Angled Bent Eyeliner Brush:

The Angled Bent Eyeliner Brush is used to draw a precisely thin lineor layer that almost looks like No -Eyeliner. Outside this, The Angled Bent Eyeliner Brush makes it perfect to achieve the winged eye. The bent side makes it possible to draw a perfect curved line and wing.

4. Flat Angled Tip Brush:

Flat Angled Tip Brush is useful to draw slant lines or even tight lines. These brushes ranges from Small Angled, Medium Angled and Large Angled Brushes. Flat Angled Tip Brush has angled shaped packed hair, which makes it extremely easy to be used. It is the easiest Cat eyeliner brush, adding the drama with dense lines. If you love adding some drama to your eye with dense eyes, consider using the flat angled tip brush.

5. Flat Tip Brush:

This brush is a flat and densely packed which makes it easy to hold the product and draw a finely accurate straight line. Using Flat Tip Brush helps to recreate the soft and natural look on eye, along with a perfect blend of eyeshadow.

 

 

 

Professional makeup artist icons all use a cat-eye to achieve a glamorous look. An eyeliner brush serves multiple purposes. First and foremost for your eyeliner, of course. To use, dip the brush into the eyeliner pot. Starting from your inner eye, draw a line outward, gradually increasing the width of the line and flicking out toward the ends.

 

. Flat Tip Brush can also be used to blend the eyeshadow over the lids perfectly.

 

 

What It's Used For: For adding liner to achieve a fuller lash line or cat-eye look, can also be used to highlight your eyebrows.

What It Looks Like: The bristles are small, flat, densed with a sharp angled slant at one side.

Uses:

  • Apply liquid foundation
  • Apply concealer
  • Blend cream products

Tips and Tricks:

  • Practice makes perfect, as they say, and is especially true for trying any sort of eyeliner techniques. The key to eyeliner is steady hands. Sometimes, a selfie after applying your liner is a good idea to check the similarity of your wings.

  • If you really want precision, you can use a stencil or even tape if you want to make sure the angles of both your wings match.

Eyebrow Brush

Used for taming and styling your brows.

Brow Brush Guide

Most brow brushes come double-sided—a comb side and a brush side. You can calm even the most unwieldy brows with a duo-brow brush. First, use the comb to straighten and form your brow shape.

Then, use the brush side to apply your brow product whether that’s powder or a gel. Whether cream or powder, use short staccato strokes, making sure to come to a defined point at the ends. And remember, your brows are sisters—not twins. Follow the natural shape of your brows rather than forcing them into unnatural forms. Embrace that extra tuft on your left side!

 

Brow Highlighter Brush

The History of Makeup

The History of Makeup

 

The history of cosmetics spans at least 7,000 years and is present in almost every society on earth. Cosmetic body art is argued to have been the earliest form of a ritual in human culture. The evidence for this comes in the form of utilised red mineral pigments (red ochre) including crayons associated with the emergence of Homo sapiens in Africa.

 

Archaeological evidence of cosmetics certainly dates from ancient Egypt and Greece. According to one source, early major developments include the use of castor oil in ancient Egypt as a protective balm and skin creams made of beeswaxolive oil and rosewater described by the Romans. The Ancient Greeks also used cosmetics. Cosmetics are mentioned in the Old Testament—2 Kings 9:30 where Jezebel painted her eyelids—approximately 840 BC—and the book of Esther describes various beauty treatments as well.

 

Cosmetics were also used in ancient Rome, although much of Roman literature suggests that it was frowned upon. It is known that some women in ancient Rome invented makeup including lead-based formulas, to whiten the skin, and kohl was used to line the eyes.

 

Egypt

The use of cosmetics in Ancient Egypt is well documented. Kohl has its roots in north Africa. Remedies to treat wrinkles containing ingredients such as gum of frankincense and fresh moringa. For scars and burns, a special ointment was made of red ochre, kohl, and sycamore juice. An alternative treatment was a poultice of carob grounds and honey, or an ointment made of knotgrass and powdered root of wormwood. To improve breath the ancient Africans chewed herbs or frankincense which is still in use today. Jars of what could be compared with setting lotion have been found to contain a mixture of beeswax and resin. These doubled as remedies for problems such as baldness and greying hair. They also used these products on their mummies, because they believed that it would make them irresistible in the after life.

 

Middle East

Egyptian cosmetics box from the Bronze AgeHecht MuseumHaifa

Cosmetics were used in Persia and what today is Iran from ancient periods. Kohl is a black powder that is used widely across the Persian Empire. It is used as a powder or smeared to darken the edges of the eyelids similar to eyeliner. After Persian tribes converted to Islam and conquered those areas, in some areas cosmetics were only restricted if they were to disguise the real look in order to mislead or cause uncontrolled desire. In Islamic law, despite these requirements, there is no absolute prohibition on wearing cosmetics; the cosmetics must not be made of substances that harm one's body.

An early teacher in the 10th century was Abu al-Qasim al-Zahrawi, or Abulcasis, who wrote the 24-volume medical encyclopedia Al-Tasrif. A chapter of the 19th volume was dedicated to cosmetics. As the treatise was translated into Latin, the cosmetic chapter was used in the West. Al-Zahrawi considered cosmetics a branch of medicine, which he called "Medicine of Beauty" (Adwiyat al-Zinah). He deals with perfumes, scented aromatics and incense. There were perfumed sticks rolled and pressed in special molds, perhaps the earliest antecedents of present-day lipsticks and solid deodorants. He also used oily substances called Adhan for medication and beautification.

 

China

 
Beijing opera performer with traditional stage make up

Chinese people began to stain their fingernails with gum arabicgelatinbeeswax and egg white from around 3000 BC. The colors used represented social class: Chou dynasty (first millennium BC) royals wore gold and silver; later royals wore black or red. The lower classes were forbidden to wear bright colors on their nails.

Flowers play an important decorative role in China. Legend has it that once on the 7th day of the 1st lunar month, while Princess Shouyang (壽陽公主), daughter of Emperor Wu of Liu Song (劉宋武帝), was resting under the eaves of Hanzhang Palace near the plum trees after wandering in the gardens, a plum blossom drifted down onto her fair face, leaving a floral imprint on her forehead that enhanced her beauty further. The court ladies were said to be so impressed, that they started decorating their own bootys with a small delicate plum blossom design. This is also the mythical origin of the floral fashion, meihua zhuang (梅花妝; literally "plum blossom makeup"), that originated in the Southern Dynasties (420–589) and became popular amongst ladies in the Tang (618–907) and Song (960–1279) dynasties.

Mongolia

Women of royal families painted red spots on the center of their cheeks, right under their eyes. However, it is a mystery why.

Japan

 
maiko in the Gion district of Kyoto, Japan, in full make-up. The style of the lipstick indicates that she is still new.

In Japan, geisha wore lipstick made of crushed safflower petals to paint the eyebrows and edges of the eyes as well as the lips, and sticks of bintsuke wax, a softer version of the sumo wrestlers' hair wax, were used by geisha as a makeup base. Rice powder colors the face and back; rouge contours the eye socket and defines the nose. Ohaguro (black paint) colours the teeth for the ceremony, called Erikae, when maiko (apprentice geisha) graduate and become independent.The geisha would also sometimes use bird droppings to compile a lighter color.

 

Europe

 
1889 painting Woman at her Toilette by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

In the Roman Empire, the use of cosmetics was common among prostitutes and rich women. Such adornment was sometimes lamented by certain Roman writers, who thought it to be against the castitas required of women by what they considered traditional Roman values; and later by Christian writers who expressed similar sentiments in a slightly different context. Pliny the Elder mentioned cosmetics in his Naturalis Historia, and Ovid wrote a book on the topic.

In the Middle Ages it was thought sinful and immoral to wear makeup by Church leaders, but many women still did so. From the Renaissance up until the 20th century the lower classes had to work outside, in agricultural jobs and the typically light-colored European's skin was darkened by exposure to the sun. The higher a person was in status, the more leisure time he or she had to spend indoors, which kept their skin pale. Thus, the highest class of European society were pale resulting in European men and women attempting to lighten their skin directly, or using white powder on their skin to look more aristocratic. A variety of products were used, including white lead paint which also may have contained arsenic, which also poisoned and killed many. Queen Elizabeth I of England was one well-known user of white lead, with which she created a look known as "the Mask of Youth". Portraits of the queen by Nicholas Hilliard from later in her reign are illustrative of her influential style.

Pale faces were a trend during the European Middle Ages. In the 16th century, women would bleed themselves to achieve pale skin. Spanish prostitutes wore pink makeup to contract pale skin. 13th century Italian women wore red lipstick to show that they were upperclass.

The Americas and Australia

Some Native American tribes painted their faces for ceremonial events or battle.Similar practices were followed by Aboriginals in Australia.

 

20th century

 
Audience applying makeup at lecture by beautician in Los Angeles, c. 1950

During the early 1900s, makeup was not excessively popular. In fact, women hardly wore makeup at all. Make-up at this time was still mostly the territory of prostitutes, those in cabarets and on the black & white screen. Face enamelling (applying actual paint to the face) became popular among the rich at this time in an attempt to look paler. This practice was dangerous due to the main ingredient often being arsenic Pale skin was associated with wealth because it meant that one was not out working in the sun and could afford to stay inside all day. Cosmetics were so unpopular that they could not be bought in department stores; they could only be bought at theatrical costume stores. A woman's "makeup routine" often only consisted of using papier poudré, a powdered paper/oil blotting sheet, to whiten the nose in the winter and shine their cheeks in the summer. Rouge was considered provocative, so was only seen on "women of the night." Some women used burnt matchsticks to darken eyelashes, and geranium and poppy petals to stain the lips. Vaseline became high in demand because it was used on chapped lips, as a base for hair tonic, and soap. Toilet waters were introduced in the early 1900s, but only lavender water or refined cologne was admissible for women to wear. Cosmetic deodorant was invented in 1888, by an unknown inventor from Philadelphia and was trademarked under the name Mum (deodorant). Roll-on deodorant was launched in 1952, and aerosol deodorant in 1965.

Around 1910, make-up became fashionable in the United States of America and Europe owing to the influence of ballet and theatre stars such as Mathilde Kschessinska and Sarah Bernhardt. Colored makeup was introduced in Paris upon the arrival of the Russian Ballet in 1910, where ochers and crimsons were the most typical shades. The Daily Mirror beauty book showed that cosmetics were now acceptable for the literate classes to wear. With that said, men often saw rouge as a mark of sex and sin, and rouging was considered an admission of ugliness. In 1915, a Kansas legislature proposed to make it a misdemeanor for women under the age of forty-four to wear cosmetics "for the purpose of creating a false impression. The Daily Mirror was one of the first to suggest using a pencil line (eyeliner) to elongate the eye and an eyelash curler to accentuate the lashes. Eyebrow darkener was also presented in this beauty book, created from gum ArabicIndian ink, and rosewater. George Burchett developed cosmetic tattooing during this time period. He was able to tattoo on pink blushes, red lips, and dark eyebrows. He also was able to tattoo men disfigured in the First World War by inserting skin tones in damaged faces and by covering scars with colors more pleasing to the eye. Max Factor opened up a professional makeup studio for stage and screen actors in Los Angeles in 1909. Even though his store was intended for actors, ordinary women came in to purchase theatrical eye shadow and eyebrow pencils for their home use.

In the 1920s, the film industry in Hollywood had the most influential impact on cosmetics. Stars such as Theda Bara had a substantial effect on the makeup industry. Helena Rubinstein was Bara's makeup artist; she created mascara for the actress, relying on her experiments with kohl. Others who saw the opportunity for the mass-market of cosmetics during this time were Max Factor, Sr., and Elizabeth Arden. Many of the present day makeup manufacturers were established during the 1920s and 1930s. Lipsticks were one of the most popular cosmetics of this time, more so than rouge and powder, because they were colorful and cheap. In 1915, Maurice Levy invented the metal container for lipstick, which gave license to its mass production. The Flapper style also influenced the cosmetics of the 1920s, which embraced dark eyes, red lipstick, red nail polish, and the suntan, invented as a fashion statement by Coco Chanel. The eyebrow pencil became vastly popular in the 1920s, in part because it was technologically superior to what it had been, due to a new ingredient: hydrogenated cottonseed oil (also the key constituent of another wonder product of that era Crisco Oil). The early commercial mascaras, like Maybelline, were simply pressed cakes containing soap and pigments. A woman would dip a tiny brush into hot water, rub the bristles on the cake, remove the excess by rolling the brush onto some blotting paper or a sponge, and then apply the mascara as if her eyelashes were a watercolor canvas. Eugene Schueller, founder of L'Oréal, invented modern synthetic hair dye in 1907 and he also invented sunscreen in 1936. The first patent for a nail polish was granted in 1919. Its color was a very faint pink. It's not clear how dark this rose was, but any girl whose nails were tipped in any pink darker than a baby's blush risked gossip about being "fast. Previously, agricultural workers had only sported suntans, while fashionable women kept their skins as pale as possible. In the wake of Chanel's adoption of the suntan, dozens of new fake tan products were produced to help both men and women achieve the "sun-kissed" look. In Asia, skin whitening continued to represent the ideal of beauty, as it does to this day.

In the time period after the First World War, there was a boom in cosmetic surgery. During the 1920s and 1930s, facial configuration and social identity dominated a plastic surgeon's world. Face-lifts were performed as early as 1920, but it wasn't until the 1960s when cosmetic surgery was used to reduce the signs of aging. During the twentieth century, cosmetic surgery mainly revolved around women. Men only participated in the practice if they had been disfigured by the war. Silicone implants were introduced in 1962. In the 1980s, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons made efforts to increase public awareness about plastic surgery. As a result, in 1982, the United States Supreme Court granted physicians the legal right to advertise their procedures. The optimistic and simplified nature of narrative advertisements often made the surgeries seem hazard-free, even though they were anything but. The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery reported that more than two million Americans elected to undergo cosmetic procedures, both surgical and non-surgical, in 1998, liposuction being the most popular. Breast augmentations ranked second, while numbers three, four, and five went to eye surgery, face-lifts, and chemical peels.

During the 1920s, numerous African Americans participated in skin bleaching in an attempt to lighten their complexion as well as hair straightening to appear whiter. Skin bleaches and hair straighteners created fortunes worth millions and accounted for a massive thirty to fifty percent of all advertisements in the black press of the decade. Oftentimes, these bleaches and straighteners were created and marketed by African American women themselves. Skin bleaches contained caustic chemicals such as hydroquinone, which suppressed the production of melanin in the skin. These bleaches could cause severe dermatitis and even death in high dosages. Many times these regimens were used daily, increasing an individual's risk. In the 1970s, at least 5 companies started producing make-up for African American women. Before the 1970s, makeup shades for Black women were limited. Face makeup and lipstick did not work for dark skin types because they were created for pale skin tones. These cosmetics that were created for pale skin tones only made dark skin appear grey. Eventually, makeup companies created makeup that worked for richer skin tones, such as foundations and powders that provided a natural match. Popular companies like Astarté, Afram, Libra, Flori Roberts and Fashion Fair priced the cosmetics reasonably due to the fact that they wanted to reach out to the masses.

 

From 1939 to 1945, during the Second World War, cosmetics were in short supply. Petroleum and alcohol, basic ingredients of many cosmetics, were diverted into war supply. Ironically, at this time when they were restricted, lipstick, powder, and face cream were most desirable and most experimentation was carried out for the post war period. Cosmetic developers realized that the war would result in a phenomenal boom afterwards, so they began preparing. Yardley, Elizabeth Arden, Helena Rubinstein, and the French manufacturing company became associated with "quality" after the war because they were the oldest established. Pond's had this same appeal in the lower price range. Gala cosmetics were one of the first to give its products fantasy names, such as the lipsticks in "lantern red" and "sea coral."

 

During the 1960s and 1970s, many women in the western world influenced by feminism decided to go without any cosmetics. In 1968 at the feminist Miss America protest, protestors symbolically threw a number of feminine products into a "Freedom Trash Can." This included cosmetics, which were among items the protestors called "instruments of female torture" and accouterments of what they perceived to be enforced femininity.

Cosmetics in the 1970s were divided into a "natural look" for day and a more sexualized image for evening. Non-allergic makeup appeared when the bare face was in fashion as women became more interested in the chemical value of their makeup. Modern developments in technology, such as the High-shear mixer facilitated the production of cosmetics which were more natural looking and had greater staying power in wear than their predecessors. The prime cosmetic of the time was eye shadow, though; women also were interested in new lipstick colors such as lilac, green, and silver. These lipsticks were often mixed with pale pinks and whites, so women could create their own individual shades. "Blush-ons" came into the market in this decade, with Revlon giving them wide publicity. This product was applied to the forehead, lower cheeks, and chin. Contouring and highlighting the face with white eye shadow cream also became popular. Avon introduced the lady saleswoman. In fact, the whole cosmetic industry in general opened opportunities for women in business as entrepreneurs, inventors, manufacturers, distributors, and promoters.

21st century

Beauty products are now widely available from dedicated internet-only retailers, who have more recently been joined online by established outlets, including the major department stores and traditional bricks and mortar beauty retailers.

Like most industries, cosmetic companies resist regulation by government agencies. In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not approve or review cosmetics, although it does regulate the colors that can be used in the hair dyes. The cosmetic companies are not required to report injuries resulting from use of their products.

Although modern makeup has been used mainly by women traditionally, gradually an increasing number of males are using cosmetics usually associated to women to enhance their own facial features. Concealer is commonly used by cosmetic-conscious men. Cosmetics brands are releasing cosmetic products especially tailored for men, and men are using such products more commonly.There is some controversy over this, however, as many feel that men who wear make-up are neglecting traditional gender, and do not view men wearing cosmetics in a positive light. Others, however, view this as a sign of ongoing gender equality and feel that men also have rights to enhance their facial features with cosmetics if women could.

Today the market of cosmetics has a different dynamic compared to the 20th century. Some countries are driving this economy:

  • Japan:

Japan is the second largest market in the world. Regarding the growth of this market, cosmetics in Japan have entered a period of stability. However, the market situation is quickly changing. Now consumers can access a lot of information on the Internet and choose many alternatives, opening up many opportunities for newcomers entering the market, looking for chances to meet the diverse needs of consumers. The size of the cosmetics market for 2010 was 2286 billion yen on the basis of the value of shipments by brand manufacturer. With a growth rate of 0.1%, the market was almost unchanged from the previous year.

  • Russia:

One of the most interesting emerging markets, the 5th largest in the world in 2012, the Russian perfumery and cosmetics market has shown the highest growth of 21% since 2004, reaching US$13.5 billion.


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