Costmetics

Cosmetics are substances applied to a person's body to cleanse, promote attractiveness, or alter the appearance. Cosmetics include underarm deodorants, face powder, lipstick, nail polish, perfume, skin creams, most  shampoos, and some toothpastes.

More than 5,000 ingredients are used in the manufacturing of cosmetics. These ingredients include alcohols, alkalis, detergents, dyes, glycerol, oils, talc, and waxes.

A person who manufactures or sells cosmetics, or who applies them to others, is called a cosmetician. The study of cosmetics and their uses is called cosmetology.

Kinds of cosmetics. Most cosmetics can be classified into four main groups, according to the part of the body for which they are used:

(1) skin,

(2) hair,

(3) nails, and

(4) mouth.

Skin cosmetics include such makeup as blushers, rouge, face powder, foundations, and lipstick. Also in this group are eyeliners, eye shadow, and mascara, as well as bubble baths, cold cream, underarm deodorants, foot powder, hair-removal substances, perfume, shaving cream, moisturizers, and suntan lotion.

Hair cosmetics include hair conditioners, mousses, sprays, styling lotions, straighteners, and permanent waves. Such hair-colouring products as dyes and bleaches are also hair cosmetics, as are shampoos that do not contain antidandruff ingredients.

Nail cosmetics. Nail polish and cuticle softeners are the chief products in this group.

Mouth cosmetics, also called oral cosmetics, include toothpastes and other substances that clean the teeth and gums but do not have cavity-fighting ingredients. Mouthwashes and sprays are also oral cosmetics.

Other cosmetics. Performers in motion pictures, tele­vision, theatre, and circuses wear special cosmetics that must withstand the heat from powerful lights without melting or running. They also must be visible to the au­dience. Many people use special medicinal cosmetics to conceal birthmarks, scars, or other skin blemishes.

Cosmetics regulations. Many governments require that cosmetics be safe and properly labeled. They test products to determine if unsafe ingredients are present, and they inspect cosmetics factories. Some regulations require cosmetics manufacturers to list on each package the names of the ingredients used in the product, in order of descending concentration.

History. Men and women have used cosmetics for thousands of years. The ancient Egyptians applied per­fumes and anointing oils to the body as early as 4000 B.C. They used these cosmetics for decoration, for pro­tection against the hot, dry climate, and for religious reasons. The Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans made cos­metics from plants. They also used powdered minerals to make face and eye makeup and hair dyes.

By the A.D. 1100s, the use of cosmetics had spread to Western Europe. Africans of about the same period painted their bodies for war and for magical ceremo­nies. In North America, the first cosmetics were animal fats used by Indians long before Europeans arrived. The Indians applied these substances as a base for body paint and as protection against insects and the cold.

By the early 1900's, most people used only such basic cosmetics as face powder, rouge, and shampoos. De­mand for a wider variety of cosmetics grew tremen­dously after the 1930s, as did widespread advertising and promotion of these products.