Meaning and Importance of Makeup

Applying colour to the body, especially the face, has been a custom throughout recorded history.

Makeup was used for face and body to:

  1. Camouflage against a hostile environment
  2. To indicate status
  3. For important religious ceremonies

Importance of Makeup

  • Makeup helps to look best. Makeup is important for the following reasons:
  • Makeup is used to highlight the special features and hide the unattractive ones
  • Used for contouring to change the shape and size of the face
  • To make a person look beautiful and attractive
  • To increase confidence and self esteem
  • Impart a feeling of goodness and joy
  • To protect the skin from sun damage
  • To make the skin look flawless and picture perfect
  • Makeup provides protection against pollution, which is as importance as SPF protection, especially if you are living in a big industrial city

Cosmetics and Other Material for Makeup

Makeup is now a big industry, with a large number of products and cosmetics being available for customers of all economic means.

A. Cosmetics

Makeup cosmetics are available in liquid, cream, powder and stick forms. The following are some of the basic cosmetics used in makeup.

  1. Cleansers – Cleansers are available in milk and cream form and are used for cleansing the skin. Remember, makeup is always applied on a clean skin. Gel cleansers and astringent are used for cleansing oily skins.

  2. Concealers – Concealers are intended to cover up skin imperfections on the face such as blemishes and dark circles around the eyes. It can be applied using a brush and are typically used in conjunction with foundation.

  3. Foundation – It is used as a base for the makeup. It is available in water based formulas for normal or oily skin and in oil based formulas for dry skin. It provides an ideal surface to receive other cosmetics.

  4. Face Powder – It is used to help set the makeup and gives a dull matte finish. It comes in powder or compressed form.

  5. Cheek colour – It is used to highlight the cheek bones or cover up skin imperfections. It gives the cheeks a soft, warm glow. They are available in cream and powder form.

  6. Highlighter - It is used to highlight the high points of the face to make it look luminous and shiny. It is used on the bridge of the nose, cheeks and at the corners of the eyes. They are available in many colours such as silver, golden, bronze.

  7. Eye shadow – It is used to add colour to the eyelids. It is available in cream, pencil, powder and crayon form. It is applied using eye shadow applicators.

  8. Eye brow colour – It is used to draw fine lines in the eyebrow area. Eyebrow colour is available in many shades like grey, brown and black. It can be in pencil or compressed powder form.

  9. Eye liner – It is used to outline the eyes. They are available as liquid, pencil and cake form.

  10. Mascara – It is used to add colour and thickness to the eyelashes. The cake and cream types are applied with a brush. Liquid mascara comes in a tube. Water proof mascara is very popular.

  11. Lipstick, lip colour, and lip gloss – It is used on lips. Lip colour is available in stick and cream form. These are available in endless variety of colour. Lip liner pencils are used to outline the lips.

B. Material used for makeup

  • Head band
  • Cotton balls
  • Tissues
  • Sponges
  • Cleansing milk / cream / gel
  • Astringent
  • Eye lash curler
  • Beauty chair
  • Wood lamp
  • Magnifying glass