Why women apply makeup on face?

Around 4000 years ago in Egypt, pyramid workers went on strike for a reason that might sound unbelievable for most of modern population. Those workers went on strike because they were running out of makeup. Yeah! Only a thin layer of cream prepared from herbs, fruit extracts and fat protected their skin under harsh temperature and intense sun rays in desert. In fact, today's skin conditioners, anti-aging creams and sun blocks have almost same ingredients. Thanks to ancient Egyptians to invent makeup!

Due to invention and expansion of textile industry, we are able cover our skin and body parts to protect them from sun rays, cold weather, rain and snow fall due. We shouldn't need to put on makeup in modern era but modern women spend a lot of money and time on makeup - both at home and beauty parlors. For many husbands in this world, it’s quite irritating to wait for hours for their wives who are busy applying makeup, sitting in front of mirror with bunch of bottles, brushes, tubes and containers. If you ask to your wife, she may not answer that why she applies makeup at first place.

Why women apply makeup on face? For them, it’s not about to protect skin most of time but what men unconsciously like them to look as. Sounds strange at first place? Let’s check that why we all love little kids and what exactly for.

Large eyes, very thin (and almost invisible) eyebrows, thick eyes lashes, silky soft - curly hairs, spotless - evenly toned skin, smooth - full lips and puffy cheeks that turns red after getting emotionally aroused. Isn’t it cute? These facial features are survival gift from our evolution to babies and we all tempt to protect and pamper them because of same. Cuteness of childhood play almost same role in youth for (fecund) women.

Indian bride with makeup

If we closely examine single or group of makeup products, they help to a woman to mimic baby face. Products like foundation, moisturizer and face powder offers spotless, soft and tight skin and also hide uneven counters, pigmentation, wrinkles, dullness and dark spots. They turn most of facial skin into a canvas by which attention of an observer can be drawn to most attractive and appealing features of face – eyes, cheeks and lips. They play very dramatic and nerve sparking role during courtship and romance. Bridal makeup can transform ordinarily looking girl into a queen who woos his groom.

Eye Liner, Kajal (Indian eye liner) and Surma (Middle-Eastern eye liner) draws outlines of eyes to make them look very large and attractive. Plucker and Eyebrow Pencil shape eye brows to look very thin, curvy and dark. Concealer hides wrinkles and dark circles under eyes. Eye Shadower paints area between eye lids and eye eyebrows to look darker to convey state of submission and tranquility during romance (Reference: Paul Ekman). Mascara makes eye lashes more thick, long and curly.

Blusher paints cheeks as if they convey the state of arousal and excitement. Flushed cheeks also convey innocence and shyness during courtship (Reference: Paul Ekman). Lip Liner, Lip Stick and Lip Gloss makes lips more attractive and appealing and also to look big if they are naturally thin and vice a verse. Flushed lips convey vitality of a woman (Reference: David Buss).

Bollywood actresses before and after makeup (Courtesy: msn.com)

What we see is what we likely to believe by most hence makeup does the same. If somebody looks at a woman at first time and from an observable distance, facial makeup compels the person to assume it as her natural look. Applying makeup is all about of creating artificial effect of attractiveness, youth and vitality. Moreover, contrasting colors and shades bring very dramatic effect and thus makes face to look more appealing to an (first time) observer.

(This article doesn’t advocate makeup and publicize makeup products at all. Reader’s discretion is kindly solicited before arriving to any conclusion.)

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