| Eye make up made easy |
| Written by Henry Johnson | |
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The eyes have been called the windows to the soul, and what's a set of windows without some curtains? That's what eye make up is all about. Eye make up has been used by humans almost ever since the first person to catch her glimpse in a lake or piece of polished metal got a look at her eyes. How eye make up has been perceived throughout history has been a mixed bag, at best. The Victorians hated make up, and the queen herself referred to it as frivolous, gaudy and immoral. Conversely, there are many passages in the Old Testament regarding its use by well-respected women. Ancient archeological evidence points out its use by the Greeks and Romans for not just cosmetic purposes, but also in religious ceremonies. Unfortunately, throughout history eye makeup and other cosmetics have had some adverse health impacts. In the past, eye make up and other cosmetics were made of poisonous mercury and lead, and overuse of eye make up and other cosmetics often contributed to blindness, deformities and fatal illnesses. Despite the moral hazards and health problems, use of eye make up and other cosmetics has endured, and luckily today chemists and other scientists have developed the means to produce eye make up and other cosmetics that are safe. The cosmetics industry is worth an estimated $19 billion per year and is lead by giants such as Estee Lauer, Revlon, and Loreal. There are a wide variety of eye make ups. Here are a few and their uses: Mascara is used to darken or lighten eyelashes and can also be used to make them appear thicker. The cosmetic was devised by Dutch inventor Eugene Rimmel in the 19th century. In its early days, mascara was formerly made of coal dust mixed with petroleum jelly. Today, modern chemicals make up the contents of mascara, which now comes in waterproof and water dissolvable form. Mascara today even has nylon fibers and provitamins that work as mini-extensions and conditioners, respectively. Tip: When applying mascara, two coats is usually enough. Eye liner is applied around the corners of the eyes and is used to give them definition. It was first used in ancient Egypt but today enjoys widespread use. Proper use of eye liner can make the user look years younger. Even men have gotten in on the act, as sales of "guyliner" have increased in recent years. There are four types of eyeliner commonly available, liquid eyeliner, which comes in a bottle and is applied by a pencil or wand; powder based eyeliner, which is basically sort of like solid deodorant; wax based eyeliner and kohl. Tip: For a truly eye-catching look, go thicker and darker. Eye shadow is applied to the eyelids, beneath the eye brows. It is used to draw attention to the eyes and comes in a wide variety of colors and shades. Theatrical productions use it to allow folks sitting in the nose bleed section to be able to better read the expressions of the actors. Tip: Neutral colors work best with eye shadow. Don't go Ziggy Stardust. Eye putty, or eye glue, is used to fix the eye lid to the upper part of the eye base. It gives the user a wide-eyed look, which is a mark of great beauty in some Asian cultures. Who would have thought there were so many ways to illuminate the eyes? But as evidenced by the many products on the market, people today and throughout history have set a tremendous value on the attractive presentation of their eyes. |
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