The History of Makeup and Its Role on Women’s Life

“I believe all women are pretty without makeup – but with the right about can be pretty powerful.” Bobbi Brown. Whether it is your wedding day, party, or even just a quick errand, putting on makeup is a major part of a girl’s daily routine. Makeup has affected women all over the world since the beginning of history, ever since then science makes a woman feel more powerful on confident.

The history of cosmetics spans at least 7,000 years and is present in almost every society on earth. It is argued that cosmetic body art was the earliest form of a ritual in human culture. The first cosmetics from copper and lead were developed by the Egyptians, which would later become what we use to cover pores and smooth complexions. Unlike today, the Egyptian women wouldn’t put on makeup to impress the cute boy at work, rather they would use it to impress the gods. They would apply a mixture of copper and lead oxide around their eyes called mesdement. The lower eyelids were lined with green shades; the lashes and upper eyelids were filled with black and dark gray It was said that dark colors ward off ‘evil eyes’. Later on, during the Victorian era, it was a period when Europe’s ladies started to embrace makeup and cosmetics. Ladies would sprinkle on rice powder to conceal blotches, redness, and freckles. Zinc oxide and pearl powder were used to create a highly popular cosmetic powder by the sophisticated ladies of the time. However, some of the products used by these women were dangerous to their health. For example, Women used arsenic, lead, mercury, and even leeches in some cultures to give themselves the pale appearance that was considered beautiful in the old days. The multibillion-dollar cosmetic industry of today must meet strict government rules regarding what it can and cannot include in cosmetics and must obey secure standards for manufacturing. Today, the most serious injury you’re likely to get from your makeup is irritation from a product that’s too rough for your body or an allergic rash from the product’s scent or preservative. Makeup is more common today than in history. Combined with the fact that most makeup consists of women’s skin-safe ingredients, their demand for beauty products has only increased. As time goes by, the beauty world will continue to expand.

The techniques ancient people used are being proven to be effective through evolving technology, that the mixing of chemicals scientifically shows two universal characteristics that contribute to the attractiveness of a woman’s face. The first biological factor contributing to a woman’s activeness is the amount of color contrast around the eyes and lips. Women naturally tend to have darker lips and skin around the eyes. So, our brains subconsciously note that as a sign of femininity. The more color contrast between a woman’s eyes and lips and her skin tone, the more feminine, and thus evolutionary attractive, she is seen. Lipstick and eyeshadow are makeup staples because they enhance those features. It is also proven that the symmetry of a woman’s face contributes to her activeness. The Association for Psychological Science explains that we like symmetrical faces, even when we can’t perceive the symmetry. You may not realize it, but the majority of faces are slightly asymmetrical – either one side will be wider than another, eye shapes will have minor differences, one cheekbone may be a bit less pronounced, etc. And the fewer of these variations a face has, the more attractive it is perceived. Makeup evens skin tone and contouring, eyeliner and lipliner also can make those features appear more symmetrical.

To prove these theories a very interesting experiment was performed to find out whether women received more tips while wearing makeup. A waitress served two groups of people (in total, one hundred and seventy-four people) for five days a week for six weeks. She served sixteen lunches with makeup and fifteen without makeup. After analyzing various components to this experiment, it was confirmed that the times in which the waitress wore makeup, she received a higher tip on average.

As makeup grows many women wear it for different reasons, but why does the common wear makeup? Approximately 44% of American women don’t like to leave their homes without makeup on. In a Buzzfeed article 14 women were asked to finish this statement, ‘I wear makeup because ______.’ Their answers help others understand what makeup can do for women. Answers ranged from, ‘Because it makes me feel more confident!’ to “I like the ritual and the precision and power.’ Makeup does more than alter a woman’s attractiveness; it also plays a role in her ability to form new relationships. While men look at a woman’s makeup or lack of to help determine her attractiveness, women use makeup to help judge other women’s personalities. Research has discovered three key findings about how women perceive each other’s makeup. Women rate other women who wear makeup as more dominant. This perception that women who wear makeup are more powerful plays a role in why makeup is important to help women have successful careers. Women also bond faster with other women who wear makeup that is similar to what they themselves wear. We’re naturally drawn to people who are like us. So, it’s no surprise that makeup is one of the characteristics that women look for in determining who to form friendships with. If you think about it, makeup says a lot about women, such as how much they value beauty, how much attention they desire, etc. So, all women have a different reason for wearing makeup, from feeling good to impressing others it is all about what makes them feel good.

Because of the history, science and effect on women’s confidence makeup has played a major role on women in America. Next time you are getting ready for your next birthday party or job interview you can remember these facts about makeup to help you become more confident and prepared!

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