‘Cosmetics’ loosely refer to any chemical or natural product that is used solely with the intention of enhancing a person’s odour or appearance. Combinations of both naturally occurring and synthesised chemicals that are usually applied directly to the skin to achieve a variety of effects (to mask blemishes, to enhance certain features or to disguise aspects of our bodies entirely) beauty products (as they are known colloquially) have been a large part of civilised society now for nearly 100 years.
Initially (in the first 50 years of the 20th century at least) there was an ethical debate as to whether or not beauty products were strictly necessary and as it was young girls who first started gravitating towards them, it was also thought by many social groups that the beautification of girls barely out of puberty was wilfully amoral. In the first years of the 20th century, beauty products were initially marketed to young girls specifically by using young models and packaging and colours that would appeal to a younger market. Although the first days of the cosmetics industry might have been ever so slightly amoral, the industry is now fully regulated and there are guidelines put into place to waylay any fears of potential pandering.
There are countless varieties of beauty products available that are aimed at all socio-economic groups, age ranges and genders and to list them all would be a waste of both my time and yours. However to give an example of how many products are grouped under the rough category of ‘cosmetics’ it should be noted that besides obvious products such as mascara, eye-liner, lipstick and foundation, even deodorant and colognes are technically considered as beauty products.
Moisturisers and cleansers too are technically beauty products even though their effects are largely invisible to the naked eye (at least initially). A moisturiser’s job is essentially to replace water lost from the skin and protect it from drying out and your ‘skin type’ needs to be taken into consideration when choosing the right one for you. Normal skin generally has smaller pores and so does not lose water as easily so won’t need as heavy a moisturiser whereas dry skin will require a far richer cream. Meanwhile oily skin tends to draw dust and dirt, and is prone to black heads and pimples. This type of skin will require a specific kind of ‘non oily’ moisturiser. Sensitive skin is easily irritated and those with sensitive skin should be careful when applying any kind of beauty products.
The ingredients used in most modern beauty products tend to vary but they are generally made up of a combination of organic and synthesised ingredients. Completely organic beauty products (which were once little more than a niche concern) are however becoming increasingly more popular and ‘mainstream’. Organic beauty products are generally more expensive than their counterparts and when purchasing you should make sure they are ‘USDA’ certified, as many companies will attempt to pass of combination products as organic due to loopholes that ‘technically’ allow products containing omega acids to proclaim themselves as organic (even though they are most certainly not) because the acids are derived from egg oil.
Quartz are specialist retailers of health and beauty products. Be sure to visit their site for more information.
