ColorAcademy 2005 - Cosmetics

Cosmetics

Introduction By Carol Anna Ferris

In many cultures and throughout history man has decorated and modified his body using colour.

This has had many purposes including denoting rank, group identity, sexual attraction and creating fear or excitement. Using colour increases the visibility of our relatively neutral selves, like the displays in nature.

In British history we have experienced times of excess, as during the 17th and 18th century, when both men and women of certain classes used the extreme contrast of pale faces and reddened lips and beauty spots. This kind of contrast was also seen in the portraits of Elizabeth 1. The Puritans and Victorians were not so disposed and the use of facial cosmetics were then associated with those that were Cavalier or theatrical.

In the 20th century make-up has, as usual, followed fashion trends. There is a greater freedom now as to how we use cosmetics and personality and natural colouring may dictate its application as well as fashion formulae.

There have been four distinct looks:
• The Romantic round eyes and cheeks and pastel shades of the 20's.

• The Classic look of the 40's, a more sophisticated look using neutral colouring for the eyes, accentuated, angular cheek bones and red-lips.
• The Glamorous 50's, where the use of eye liner, accentuated eyelashes and eyebrows and colourful lips echoed the post-war need for more colour in dress.
• The Earthy 60's, a more dramatic and youthful look with dark eyes and pale lips typified by Dusty Springfield.
• The 70's developed this look to a more natural, outdoors, sun-tanned look which echoed an ethnic trend in clothes and a leaning toward nature. Neutral tones were used on the eyes and lips and a bronzed look on the face.
• The 80's made a return, via power dressing, to a glamorous/classic look and the punk look took the 60's drama to a new and extreme version.
• The 90's trend toward personal development has allowed us to choose any of these looks and use them to our personal taste and natural appearance. Colour consultants now give advice on how to use your own colouring in relation to cosmetics and clothes. There are still fashion trends, but the demand for individual freedom has eliminated the rather limited view of fashion in the past. There is also an increasing use of cosmetics by men started by such as David Bowie and Boy George, but now increasingly more mainstream. This is also an sign of freedom of choice and maybe a return to the 17/18th century idea of cosmetics used by both sexes.

The Lipstick Says it All!

In an amusing article in a January 1966 issue of "Reveille" (a pop-culture newspaper of the day), Audrey Bowen demonstrates how the shape of a girl's lipstick could be used to assess her character! ColorAcademy could not resist reviving these theories!

Practical

While fools are rushing in, the owner of this lipstick tackles life without fuss or great dramas. She may not "think big" or "talk big", but she can win friends and influence people and events effectively in her quiet way.

Planner

You will never find this woman tip-toeing through the tulips, unless she has a reason for it. She lives and works to a plan, watches every detail. She is born to oil life's wheels, for others as well as herself.

Erratic

This woman drives at life, full speed ahead. Then doubts set in, and she slams on the brakes. She is inclined to mistrust, but can be carried away on a romantic wave by champagne, soft lights and sweet music.

Selfish

Life for this woman revolves around herself. She likes to do things in her own way and in her own time. But though she thrives on compliments, she privately admits to a weakness for the strong, silent man.

Impatient

Appearances mean little to this type. She is direct, always eager to get straight to the heart of the matter. This can make her tactless, though never intentionally. Her saving grace is that she is basically well-meaning.

Complex

This lipstick reveals a complicated character. On the surface she is contented, but beneath lies a serious, artistic streak. She is torn between a love of comfort and a longing to escape from the material values of life.

Versatile

Enterprising, creative - that is the owner of this lipstick. But she is not very practical, and will lose herself in a maze of ideas. She does not suffer fools gladly and this applies especially to ones of her own sex.

Adaptable

Like the chameleon, this woman changes to suit circumstances and surroundings. Entertaining her is no problem, and people instinctively trust her. But she is human and her great failing is jealousy.