First Draft of Project 1

“I love the confidence make-up gives me”, this was said by one of the most popular models of the United States, Tyra Banks. Makeup is so well known in today’s society. I wake up bright and early or late at night to put on what we call as a “full face”. I get complements on how beautiful I look when the sunlight hits our shining highlight, or when our bright ruby red lipsticks sticks out at night. Makeup is what I call an escape from reality when I put on makeup. As a makeup user, makeup was a way for me to be confident in myself or simply to look pretty to those who looked at me. As much as makeup has been such a benefit to me, it seems to be that makeup is starting to be a huge controversy. In this paper, I will be researching, what is the problem with cosmetics in the women’s society, when it was intended purpose was for a good cause?

Makeup was first introduced in Egypt. Egyptians would use scented oils as a form of a healing remedy. Cosmetics then became part of religion. Women had to wear makeup whenever they wanted to pray to the Gods. They wore makeup because it was a way to enhance their features in front of those they worshipped. Lacking sophisticated materials, makeup was very poisonous, however women still wore them. Makeup in ancient history was made up of lead and copper. When makeup left Egypt, it spread to Rome and Greece. There was a period where if women decided not to wear makeup they were not beautiful. As a result, majority of women decided to wear makeup every day, not considering how dangerous the makeup is according to it’s ingredients. During this period, people began to suffer from lead poisoning. According to UCL department of Museums and Collections, people that used makeup had swollen eyes, destruction of the teeth, and changed the texture of their skin. As a result, it could be a possibility that makeup could have some time of harm to people that use it today because of the history of makeup in the past.

The ingredients in makeup has been a controversy today. I have assumptions that there is nothing harmful in makeup, simply because its an everyday thing. Two researchers, has said otherwise. Sujatha Jahagirdar, an advocate for Environment California, says that cosmetics including, makeup could be a medium for potential health concerns. Jahagirdar says that a toxic chemical called phthalates. Phthalates are usually found in plastics and they are rarely mentioned in labels of cosmetics. Phthalates are knowns to cause ashma, breast cancer, ADHD, and more. Opposers say that there is a low concentration of phthalates, and it is nothing to be worried about. However, supporters say that it’s a “chronic low level exposure”. Studies that support Jahagirdar, was conducted by CDC. CDC tested 2,540 individuals and at least 90% of people were exposed to phthalates.