Cosmetics

Cosmetics are constituted mixtures of chemical compounds derived from either natural sources, or synthetically created ones. Cosmetics have various purposes. Those designed for personal care and skin care can be used to cleanse or protect the body or skin. Cosmetics designed to enhance or alter one's appearance (makeup) can be used to conceal blemishes, enhance one's natural features (such as the eyebrows and eyelashes), add color to a person's face, or change the appearance of the face entirely to resemble a different person, creature or object. Cosmetics can also be designed to add fragrance to the body.

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"[2] and that from κόσμος ("kosmos"), meaning "order" and "ornament".[3] Cosmetics are constituted from a mixture of chemical compounds derived from either natural sources, or synthetically created ones.[1]

Though the legal definition of cosmetics in most countries is broader, in some Western countries, cosmetics are commonly taken to mean only makeup products, such as lipstick, mascara, eye shadow, foundation, blush, highlighter, bronzer, and several other product types.

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which regulates cosmetics,[4] defines cosmetics as products "intended to be applied to the human body for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering the appearance without affecting the body's structure or functions". This broad definition includes any material intended for use as an ingredient of a cosmetic product, with the FDA specifically excluding pure soap from this category.[5]

Cosmetics designed for skin care can be used to cleanse, exfoliate and protect the skin, as well as replenishing it, through the use of cleansers, toners, serums, moisturizers, and balms. Cosmetics designed for more general personal care, such as shampoo and body wash, can be used to cleanse the body.

Cosmetics designed to enhance one's appearance (makeup) can be used to conceal blemishes, enhance one's natural features (such as the eyebrows and eyelashes), add color to a person's face and—in the case of more extreme forms of makeup used for performances, fashion shows and people in costume—can be used to change the appearance of the face entirely to resemble a different person, creature or object. Techniques for changing appearance include contouring, which aims to give shape to an area of the face.

Cosmetics can also be designed to add fragrance to the body.

Cosmetics have been in use for thousands of years, with ancient Egyptians and Sumerians using them. In Europe, use of cosmetics continued into the Middle Ages—where the face was whitened and the cheeks rouged—[6] though attitudes towards cosmetics varied throughout time, with the use of cosmetics being openly frowned upon at many points in Western history.[7] Regardless of the changes in social attitudes towards cosmetics, ideals of appearance were occasionally achieved through the use of cosmetics by many.

According to one source, early major developments in cosmetics include:[1]

Kohl used by ancient Egyptians

Castor oil also used in ancient Egypt as a protective balm

Skin creams made of beeswax, olive oil, and rose water, described by the Romans

Vaseline and lanolin in the nineteenth century.

Historically, the absence of regulation of the manufacture and use of cosmetics, as well as the absence of scientific knowledge regarding the effects of various compounds on the human body for much of this time period, led to a number of negative adverse effects upon those who used cosmetics, including deformities, blindness and in some cases death. Many cosmetic products available at this time were still either chemically dubious or derived from natural resources commonly found in the kitchen, such as food colouring, berries and beetroot. Examples of the prevalent usage of harmful cosmetics include the use of ceruse (white lead) throughout a number of different cultures, such as during the Renaissance in the West, and blindness caused by the mascara Lash Lure during the early 20th century.

During the 19th century, there was a high number of incidences of lead poisoning due to the fashion for red and white lead makeup and powder, leading to swelling and inflammation of the eyes, weakened tooth enamel and blackening skin, with heavy use known to lead to death. Usage of white lead was not confined only to the West, with the white Japanese face makeup known as oshiroi also produced using white lead. In the second part of the 19th century, scientific advances in the production of makeup lead to the creation of makeup free of hazardous substances such as lead.

Throughout the later 19th century and early 20th century, changes in the prevailing attitudes towards cosmetics led to the wider expansion of the cosmetics industry, with the market developed in the US during the 1910s by figures such as Elizabeth Arden, Helena Rubinstein, and Max Factor. These firms were joined by Revlon just before World War II and Estée Lauder just after. By the middle of the 20th century, cosmetics were in widespread use by women in nearly all industrial societies around the world, with the cosmetics industry becoming a multibillion-dollar enterprise by the beginning of the 21st century.The wider acceptance of the use of cosmetics led some to see makeup as a tool utilised in the oppression and subjection of women to unfair societal standards. In 1968 at the feminist Miss America protest, protestors symbolically threw a number of feminine products into a "Freedom Trash Can",[8] with cosmetics among the items the protestors called "instruments of female torture"[9] and accoutrements of what they perceived to be enforced femininity.

As of 2016, the world's largest cosmetics company is L'Oréal, founded by Eugène 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).

Although modern makeup has been traditionally used mainly by women, an increasing number of men are using makeup to enhance their own facial features or cover blemishes and dark circles. Cosmetics brands have increasingly targeted men in the sale of cosmetics, with some products targeted specifically at men.

Though there are a large number of differing cosmetics used for a variety of different purposes, all cosmetics are typically intended to be applied externally. These products can be applied to the face (on the skin, lips, eyebrows and eyes), to the body (on the skin, in particular the hands and nails), and to the hair. These products may be intended for use as skincare, personal care or to alter the appearance, with the subset of cosmetics known as makeup primarily referring to products containing colour pigments intended for the purpose of altering the wearer's appearance; some manufacturers will distinguish only between "decorative" cosmetics intended to alter the appearance and "care" cosmetics designed for skincare and personal care

Most cosmetics are also distinguished by the area of the body intended for application, with cosmetics designed to be used on the face and eye area usually applied with a brush, a makeup sponge, or the fingertips. Cosmetics can be also described by the physical composition of the product. Cosmetics can be liquid or cream emulsions, powders (pressed or loose), dispersions, or anhydrous creams or sticks.

• Primers are used on the face before makeup is applied, creating a typically transparent, smooth layer over the top of the skin, allowing for makeup to be applied smoothly and evenly. Some primers may also be tinted, and this tint may match the wearer's skin tone, or may colour correct it, using greens, oranges and purples to even out the wearer's skin tone and correct redness, purple shadows or orange discolouration respectively.
• Concealer is a cream or liquid product used to conceal marks or blemishes of the skin. Concealer is typically the colour of the user's skin tone, and is generally applied after the face has been primed to even out the wearer's skin tone before foundation can be applied. Concealer is usually more heavily pigmented, higher coverage and thicker than foundation or tinted primers. Though concealer is often more heavy duty in terms of pigment and consistency than foundation, a number of different formulations intended for different styles of use - such as a lighter concealer for the eyes and a heavier concealer for stage makeup - are available, as well as colour correcting concealers intended to balance out discolouration of the skin specifically.
• Foundation is a cream, liquid, mousse or powder product applied to the entirety of the face to create a smooth and even base in the user's skin tone. Foundation provides a generally lower amount of coverage than concealer, and is sold in formulations that can provide sheer, matte, dewy or full coverage to the skin.[4]
• Rouge, blush, or blusher is a liquid, cream or powder product applied to the centre of the cheeks with the intention of adding or enhancing their natural colour. Blushers are typically available in shades of pink or warm tan and brown, and may also be used to make the cheekbones appear more defined.[4]
• Bronzer is a powder, cream or liquid product that adds colour to the skin, typically in bronze or tan shades intended to give the skin a tanned appearance and enhance the colour of the face. Bronzer, like highlighter, may also contain substances providing a shimmer or glitter effect,[4] and comes in either matte, semi-matte, satin, or shimmer finishes.
• Highlighter is a liquid, cream or powder product applied to the high points of the face such as the eyebrows, nose and cheekbones. Highlighter commonly has substances added providing a shimmer or glitter effect. Alternatively, a lighter toned foundation or concealer can be used as a highlighter.
• Eyebrow pencils, creams, waxes, gels, and powders are used to color, fill in, and define the brows.[4][12][13] Eyebrow tinting treatments are also used to dye the eyebrow hairs a darker colour, either temporarily or permanently, without staining and colouring the skin underneath the eyebrows.
• Eyeshadow is a powder, cream or liquid pigmented product used to draw attention to, accentuate and change the shape of the area around the eyes, on the eyelid and the space below the eyebrows. Eyeshadow is typically applied using an eyeshadow brush, with generally small and rounded bristles, though liquid and cream formulations may also be applied with the fingers. Eyeshadow is available in almost every colour, as well as being sold in a number of different finishes, ranging from matte finishes with sheer coverage to glossy, shimmery, glittery and highly pigmented finishes. Many different colours and finishes of eyeshadow may be combined in one look and blended together to achieve different effects.
• Eyeliner is used to enhance and elongate the apparent size or depth of the eye; though eyeliner is commonly black, it can come in many different colours, including brown, white and blue. Eyeliner can come in the form of a pencil, a gel or a liquid.
• False eyelashes are used to extend, exaggerate and add volume to the eyelashes. Consisting generally of a small strip to which hair - either human, mink or synthetic - is attached, false eyelashes are typically applied to the lash line using glue, which can come in latex and latex free varieties; magnetic false eyelashes, which attach to the eyelid after magnetic eyeliner is applied, are also available.False eyelash patterns include rhinestones, gems, feathers, and lace, and come in a variety of lengths and colors. False eyelashes are non-permanent and can be removed with your fingertips. Eyelash extensions are a better long-term solution for this style. Each set lasts two to three weeks before needing to be filled, similar to how artificial nails are maintained. The professional lash artist would begin by taping down the bottom eyelashes before applying the extensions.
• Moisturizers are creams or lotions that hydrate and help the skin maintain moisture; they may contain essential oils, herbal extracts, or chemicals to help with oil control or irritation reduction. Night creams are usually more moisturizing than day creams, yet they can be too thick or heavy to wear during the day, hence the name. Tinted moisturizers have a little bit of foundation in them, which can be used to hide minor imperfections or balance out skin tones. They're normally applied to the entire face using the fingertips or a cotton pad, avoiding the lips and the area around the eyes. When opposed to the rest of the face, the eyes require a particular type of moisturizer. The skin surrounding the eyes is delicate and thin, and it is generally the first to exhibit symptoms of aging. Eye creams are often light lotions or gels that are very soothing; some may contain caffeine or Vitamin K to help minimize puffiness and dark circles beneath the eyes. Eye creams or gels should be patted into place over the whole eye region with a finger. To avoid wrinkles and aging, look for a moisturizer that has SPF.
• Sunscreens are creams, lotions, sprays, gels, sticks, or other topical applications that include organic or inorganic filters that absorb or reflect damaging UV radiation. Sunscreens are labeled with the letter'spf,' which stands for'sun protection factor,' and indicates that the product protects against UVB rays. UVA ratings on sunscreens are indicated by the number of stars or plus symbols, which varies by country. It should be noted that UVA ratings do not indicate the quantity of UVA protection provided by a sunscreen, but rather the ratio of equal UVA and UVB protection. A sunscreen should have at least SPF 30 and at least 4 stars or plus symbols, according to the 'gold standard.'Daily sunscreen application is very important but uses of shade, clothing, and hats are as important and more effective for sun protection.

Hair care is a cosmetics category dedicated to items that improve the look of hair.

• Shampoos clean the hair and scalp by kneading them into wet hair and then washing them off.
• Hair conditioners are used after shampooing to improve the look of hair by smoothing it and making it glossy.
• Gels, waxes, foams, creams, mousse, serum, and pomades are examples of styling products that are used to create and maintain hairstyles.

Various tools are used to apply cosmetics.

• Makeup is applied to the face with a makeup brush. Makeup brushes are divided into two categories: synthetic and natural. Natural brushes are great for powder goods, whereas synthetic brushes are best for cream products. [22] When applying a product with the correct brush, the product blends into the skin smoothly and evenly.
• A foundation brush is a thick brush that uniformly distributes product while smoothing down the skin. The easiest way to get complete coverage with this brush is to utilize it.
• The thin, tapered tip of a concealer brush enables for exact spot repair of imperfections or discolouration.
• The soft, synthetic bristles of a stippling brush provide an airbrushed look. It's ideal to use this brush for light to medium coverage.
• A powder brush is often broad and fluffy, and it's used to rapidly and easily sprinkle powder all over the face. Powder gives the appearance of a matte finish.
• An angled bronzer blush brush, which may also be used as a contour brush, gives dimension and illusion to the face by allowing cosmetics to replace bone structure. This brush may also be used to create a shimmering highlight effect on the cheekbones, nose, and chin.
• An eyeshadow brush is a thick brush used to pack shadow onto the eyelid.
• A blending eyeshadow brush is used to soften the eyeshadow look by smoothing out any sharp lines from the eyeshadow.
• An eyeliner brush with an exceptionally fine point is used for gel eyeliners and enables for precise lining of the eyes.
• A spoolie is a brush for removing brow hairs that may also be used as a mascara wand.
• A lip brush is a tiny brush that is used to evenly apply lipstick to the lips.
• An eyebrow brush is tapered and slants from the top, defining the brows and filling in the gaps between them to give them a fuller, thicker appearance.
• A Kabuki brush is used to apply powder cosmetics to the face's broad surfaces (loose powder, foundation, face powder, blush, bronzer). This brush is used to make the skin seem even.

Cosmetics are made up of a variety of organic and inorganic substances. Modified natural oils and fats, as well as a range of petrochemically generated agents, are common organic molecules. Processed minerals such as iron oxides, talc, and zinc oxide are examples of inorganic compounds. Zinc and iron oxides are pigments, meaning they are colorants that are not soluble in water.

Because some chemicals in some skincare products might be dangerous if absorbed through the skin, handmade and certified organic goods are growing increasingly popular. In the United States, products claiming to be organic must be certified "USDA Organic." Tremella fuciformis, a fungus used as a cosmetic product by women in China and Japan, is one of the most popular traditional Chinese remedies.

The phrase "mineral makeup" refers to a type of face makeup that uses loose, dry mineral powders to create foundation, eye shadow, blush, and bronzer. These particles are frequently used with emulsions of oil and water. If they include the same main elements as dry mineral makeups, lipsticks, liquid foundations, and other liquid cosmetics, as well as compressed makeups like eye shadow and blush in compacts, are commonly referred to as mineral makeup. Preservatives and binders are required in liquid and compressed makeups, but not in dry mineral makeups.

Porous minerals are a type of mineral cosmetics component that has a higher absorption capacity than non-porous mineral materials due to the porosity of the mineral particles. When used in cosmetics, this characteristic helps sebum management and provides a long-lasting mattifying effect or a matte texture. Porous minerals can also serve as transporters, absorbing a variety of chemicals through their porous network.

While certain cosmetics chemicals may cause worry, others are thought to be healthy. Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, both prevalent in sunscreens, have anti-inflammatory effects. Many mineral-based cosmetics act as a barrier between the skin and the elements, providing some protection from the sun and its potentially damaging effects.

Cosmetic packaging refers to both the primary and supplemental packaging of cosmetic items.

The cosmetic product is housed in primary packaging, also known as a cosmetic container. It comes into contact with the cosmetic product directly. The exterior wrapping of one or more cosmetic containers is referred to as secondary packaging (s). A significant distinction between primary and secondary packaging is that any information required to clarify the product's safety must be included on the primary container. If not, most of the needed information can be found on the secondary package alone.

Cosmetics manufacturing is controlled by a limited number of global enterprises that date back to the early twentieth century, while cosmetics distribution and sales are scattered among a wide variety of companies. L'Oréal, Procter & Gamble, Unilever, Shiseido, and Estée Lauder are the world's largest cosmetic firms. In 2005, the cosmetics sector in the United States, Europe, and Japan had a market volume of around EUR 70 billion per year. In 2008, Germany's cosmetic sector earned €12.6 billion in retail sales, making it the world's third biggest cosmetic industry behind Japan and the United States. In 2008, German cosmetics exports were €5.8 billion, while imports of cosmetics totaled €3 billion.

According to Eurostaf (May 2007), the global cosmetics and fragrances sector has an estimated annual revenue of US$170 billion. According to FIPAR (Fédération des Industries de la Parfumerie - the French federation for the perfume business), Europe is the largest market, accounting for around €63 billion, with sales in France reaching €6.5 billion in 2006. France is another country where the cosmetic sector has a significant national and worldwide presence. According to data from 2008, the cosmetics sector in France has expanded for 40 years in a row. This industrial sector achieved a new high of €6.5 billion in 2006. Vichy, Yves Saint Laurent, Yves Rocher, and many more well-known cosmetic brands are all made in France.

According to Eurostaf (May 2007), the global cosmetics and fragrances sector has an estimated annual revenue of US$170 billion. According to FIPAR (Fédération des Industries de la Parfumerie - the French federation for the perfume business), Europe is the largest market, accounting for around €63 billion, with sales in France reaching €6.5 billion in 2006. France is another country where the cosmetic sector has a significant national and worldwide presence. According to data from 2008, the cosmetics sector in France has expanded for 40 years in a row. This industrial sector achieved a new high of €6.5 billion in 2006. Vichy, Yves Saint Laurent, Yves Rocher, and many more well-known cosmetic brands are all made in France.