How Does Makeup Affect Natural Looks?
- Makeup has been around for thousands of years and can be traced back to several ancient civilizations including the Egyptians and Assyrians. Over the years, the use of makeup has taken on different meanings. Ancient cultures used makeup to signify their status in society. In the 1800s, makeup was considered inappropriate for high-class women, and was associate with loose women. During the 20th century, makeup entered the mainstream and was used from all types of backgrounds. Today, makeup is a billion-dollar-a-year industry that continues to grow.
- The main function of makeup is to enhance a person's natural features and beauty in a subtle way. Eyeliner, mascara and eyeshadow are used to give a person's eyes more depth and definition, and to make them look bigger. Lip makeup such as lipstick, lip liner and gloss is meant to make the lips look plumper and pinker. Makeup products for the face such as foundation, concealer and powder improve overall skin tone by masking blemishes and evening out any discoloration.
Other makeup products such as blush, bronzer and brow liners also enhance a person's natural appearance by giving the skin a subtle, healthy glow, and defining the brows for a stronger look. Makeup is essentially used minimally to enhance, define and bring out a person's natural features and improve her natural looks. - Makeup can also be used to completely alter natural looks by using unnatural shades such as green eyeshadow or black nail polish. These extreme colors don't enhance a person's natural beauty because they are hues that don't occur in nature. Some people use dark-colored makeup products in blue or deep red to completely change the way they look.
Actors and stage performers will often use makeup to alter their natural looks for a role that might call for them to look older to fit into their characters. In some stage performances, an actor may use makeup to play the role of a supernatural being, cartoon character or a type of animal. In these instances, makeup is used to mask natural looks and create an entirely new look.
