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How Makeup Has Affected Culture

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Makeup has always been something I have been interested in. From the time I was six years old, I loved to sit at my grandma’s vanity and try on her different lipsticks and colored eyeliners. This is why I began learning how to use it correctly when I was eleven years old. It is additionally why I have decided to research this topic. This is incredibly important to me because I and so many others use makeup almost everyday. From the beginning of time, forms of makeup were used by women and sometimes men in many different ways. Today, makeup is used around the world and is free for anyone to use. I hope to discover how makeup and the cosmetic industry has affected culture in the past and how it does so today. When I began my research, I looked …show more content…

According to The History of Beauty and Cosmetics: Ancient Greece, the most common beauty trend in ancient Greece was to have pale skin, which was achieved by using white lead and chalk; this unfortunately lead to early deaths. Though women in Greece saw evidence of this, they continued to use these products in the name of beauty. Another common trend of the ancient Grecians was the use of honey and olive oil to moisturize and brighten the face. Much like the Ancient Egyptians, the Grecians used eyeliner made of olive oil and charcoal to darken their eyes and thicken their eyebrows, much like today’s trends (Barr). This information is significant because much of the trends in ancient times are like that of today’s. For example, thick, bold eyebrows are a trend today that has gone in and out of style throughout history. I feel that although makeup is always changing, trends are constantly being …show more content…

Of course, all women feel differently about makeup and can form their own opinions. First, I looked at makeup as a form of self expression, which is the most common. Often, a women does this in order to tell others who she is. According to Thought Catalogue, “When I see a woman with dramatic plum shadow, high-blushed cheekbones, and nude glossy lips, I can immediately sense a way in which she expresses herself” (Mathews). Generally, when a woman wears bright purple eyeshadow, the intention is not to look natural; it is just something to have fun and experiment with. Additionally, makeup can make a lot of women feel powerful and creative. According to Global Cosmetic Industry, “You cannot dictate to women what colors they can and cannot wear. I never followed any color rules, and I never believed in limiting color options” (Samuels). Personally, I think that this is true because makeup is free for anyone to experiment with and there are no rules, which is empowering for women. According to Bustle, makeup is a form of expression that is primarily for women. With men becoming more involved in fashion, makeup is all that is left that is mostly for women (King). To me, I feel that this too is empowering because women feel that they are involved in something that is just for them. In addition, women can just wear makeup because it is part of the routine. Some women started wearing makeup as

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