This morning we had a special class which was teaching the cosmetics. This was the first time we learnt this, so all the students were quite and waiting for teacher’s coming. The atmosphere in class was a little weird in a certain degree.
Soon, teacher was coming in and begun his speech. Cosmetics, colloquially known as makeup or make-up, are care substances used to enhance the appearance or odor of the human body. They are generally mixtures of chemical compounds, some being derived from natural sources and many being synthetics. In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which regulates cosmetics, defines cosmetics as “intended to be applied to the human body for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering the appearance without affecting the body’s structure or functions.” This broad definition also includes any material intended for use as a component of a cosmetic product. The FDA specifically excludes soap from this category.
What he told us was so hard that no one could understand it but kept listening to his explanation. Later the class was carried to the history of cosmetics. And we go to know that an 1889 Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec painting of a woman applying facial cosmetics. The word cosmetics derives from the Greek, meaning “technique of dress and ornament” or “skilled in ordering or arranging”. The first archeological evidence of cosmetics comes from the hollowed out tombs of the Ancient Egyptian pharaohs. Archaeological evidence of cosmetics dates at least from ancient Egypt and Greece. According to one source, early major developments include: Castor oil used by ancient Egypt as a protective balm.
Furthermore, we knew that the Ancient Greeks also used cosmetics. Cosmetics are mentioned in the Old Testament, such as in 2 Kings, where Jezebel painted her eyelids—approximately 840 BC—and in the book of Esther, where various beauty treatments are described. One of the most popular Traditional Chinese Medicines is the fungus Tremella fuciformis; used as a beauty product by women in China and Japan. The fungus reportedly increases moisture retention in the skin and prevents senile degradation of micro-blood vessels in the skin, reducing wrinkles and smoothing fine lines. Other anti-ageing effects come from increasing the presence of superoxide dismutase in the brain and liver; it is an enzyme that acts as a potent antioxidant throughout the body, particularly in the skin.
As the bell rung, we still be immersed in teacher’s speaking. What an excellent class, we had learnt so much!
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