Often cosmetics means a formulation, like powder or a skin cream, meant to beautify the body by applying directly or using something external to hide a flaw.
Cosmetics aim to make the body beautiful, mainly the face and hair. Cosmetic surgery aims to change or better the look of a physical feature, flaw or irregularity. Cosmetics can be applied to things besides humans, but it would be more esthetic instead of functional like cosmetic fenders on cars.
Cosmetics also implies absence of depth or importance or superficial. E.g. anybody can undergo some cosmetic changes to change the look, so as to mask identity.
Cosmetologists/beauticians/beauty specialists are the largest users of cosmetic products. They specialize in offering beauty treatments, especially to women. A cosmetologist is an expert in hair treatments; facials and other skin and nail treatments.
Some cosmetologists are experts in only one of these domains. The sub-divisions of cosmetologist are: hair stylist, shampooer, manicurist, estheticians and electrologists. Mostly cosmetologists have expertise in more than one of these areas.
Cosmetic products are formulations, applied externally to alter or improve the look of skin, hair, nails, lips, and eyes. Using body paint for decorative and religious purposes has been regular among ancestors from prehistoric times. Body-marking, painting, tattooing, or scarification by chopping or burning the body for ritual, artistic, medicinal, magic, or religious purposes are very common.
Ointments, balms, powders, and hair dyes too have been used from ancient times. Many cosmetics were invented in Asia, but their ingredients and use first found mention in Egypt. Kohl pots or cosmetic jars and applicators or cosmetic spoons were found in Egyptian tombs. The Egyptians darkened their eyes with kohl. A raw paint was applied on the face, and palms were usually colored with henna. Charcoal pencils and rouge sticks of alkanet were used by Greek women. They applied powder to their faces, and this powder usually contained toxic lead compounds. Beauty products found the maximum use in imperial Rome. They applied chalk to their face and rouge known as fucus.
In Asia, especially in India, Ayurvedic preparations are used as against the artificial ones. Ayurvedic preparations mostly use the raw materials from natural sources like herbs, shrubs, trees or earth elements and water.
Many cosmetics continued throughout Middle Ages, and Crusaders reintroduced rare Eastern oils and perfumes. In the Renaissance, cosmetics mainly white-lead powder and vermilion, were used plentifully. From the 17th cent, recipes and books on cosmetics were introduced. Luxurious prescriptions usually consisting of a bath in wine or milk of various animals were formulated. But when the French revolution occurred, using cosmetics nearly vanished.
In 1900, people started reusing cosmetics, along with the scientific production of beauty aids in France. Since then, the industry has witnessed rapid growth with products being launched for every imaginable use. The cosmetics business thrived throughout the second part of 20th cent. At the start of the 21st cent, the cosmetics industry was chiefly run by big corporates and has become a multibillion-dollar industry. |
