Skin Care Essays - Cosmetics, Eye Shadow, Lipstick, Human Skin Color

Skin Care Essays - Cosmetics, Eye Shadow, Lipstick, Human Skin Color Skin Care Throughout the late 1800's and until the present, cosmetics and skin care have been important in the lives of women in America. Certain trends have come and gone, just as some have remained. In the past 100 years, the roles and lives of women have changed drastically, but their cosmetics have always been around. Charm books along with step-by-step manuals give us today a look into the past. Advertisements are also a great source of history. Using these means, central themes in cosmetics can be determined, almost simply. Throughout the past century, pleasing your man, looking natural, and being a sophisticated, contemporary woman with a fresh young look, have been important to the cosmetic companies and to their female consumers. In the late 1800's, cosmetics were being produced and sold to college-aged women and older. However, a large hypocrisy was occurring. Women were being told that it was necessary to wear cosmetics, however, it was vain to wear noticeable make-up. It was quoted from St. Paul's Magazine that, "If a girl has the trial of a complexion so bad that the sight of it gives one a turn, it is simply a duty for her either not to go into society at all, or, if she does, to conceal it?you have no right to inflict your misfortunes on everybody-it is an unpardonable offense against good taste" (Williams 113). The women of this time were being bombarded with mixed messages. Their problems with this hypocrisy were settled to only wearing a light powder and rouge. Colors worn were usually corals and peaches because brighter colors would not provide the appropriate image that the woman was trying to convey. Their goal was to convey a natural glow that healthy women possessed. There were the years when women were slapping their cheeks and biting their lips to draw 'natural' color to their face. It was also quoted that, "Every college girl's room should be fitted with a mirror, so that even when immersed in her studies the young lady should not be negligent of her appearance" (Williams 113). Even 100 years ago, women were being forced to be aware of their appearance at all times. The early 1900's brought about a slight change in women's cosmetics. Lipsticks were the norm and mascara and eyeshadow were emphasized as necessary for eveningwear. This came about after the First World War. Also, in the 1920's, class lines were being broken. The flappers came out smoking cigarettes, cutting their hair, and wearing cosmetics that "did not harmonize their facial make-up" (Williams 134). Many other women followed parts of these trends and it was no longer possible to tell a woman's social position from her appearance. Then again in the 1930's, women went back to more natural and softer hues. Women were being told that the older they were, the more make-up they were using would help them look their best (Williams 147). The goal at this time was to keep your man guessing if your complexion was natural or not. Depilatories were used to remove unwanted hair sprouting from the face and bleaches were used to fade aging spots. Here, pleasing your man and reverting back to youth play an important role in the cosmetics being used by women. In the 1950's, charm and the essence of being a 'perfect little woman' were important. Inner beauty was seen as one's charm, where outer beauty was their passport to the world (McLeod 37). Step-by- step charm books gave women the instructions to be pretty and popular. Never forget, "perfect make-up is date bait" (McLeod 52). Home skin care remedies were used as well as following a strict daily regimen, including diet, hair care, and housework. Following a regimen was seen as good for one's health (McLeod 41). On into the 1960's, skin care was a big issue. However, many misconceptions were going around. Women were told that oily skin resulted from their improper mental attitude and improper breathing, just as dry skin was caused by poor function of the master gland (Jones 8). In the 1960's, the art of camouflage was necessary to perfect one's facial features and provide a natural look (Jones 32). Since skin care was such