The liberatory power of makeup

London-based makeup artiste, Lisa Eldridge has added another shade to her palette of achievements with her first book, ‘Face Paint: The Story of Makeup’. In the book, the red carpet specialist with over 20 years of experience in the industry reveals the history of makeup, from Egyptian ages through the Victorian age and the golden era of Hollywood, and surveys the science of cosmetics for what lies ahead in it.

Lisa Eldridge’s book, ‘Face Paint: The Story of Makeup’ is a reminder of human social obligations; of wanting to belong and feel accepted

She narrates a story, tracing the origins of makeup to its development over centuries citing anthropological, psychological, evolutionary and sexual significances as she uncovers the answer to one question – what drives us to paint ourselves?

‘Face Paint’ explores the reasons behind makeup’s use, the ingredients over generations; it is an engaging history of style, it is also a social history of women and the ways in which we can understand the lives of the gender from their reflections of made-up (or not made-up) faces in the mirror.

Interlaced in the book are Eldridge’s makeup muses that include names beginning from Marie Antoinette and traversing through history with Queen Alexandra, Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, Amy Winehouse, Brigitte Bardot, Madonna, our very own Meena Kumari and more. Lisa breaks down the distinctive style of these iconic women, who have inspired her work for all these years.

Eldridge has carried her “classic white background” style of her videos to the book giving it a fresh “come read me” feel. The imagery is a visual treat; a rich feast of seminal photography by renowned photographers, Richard Avedon and Irving Penn and a few photos are taken straight from the Condé Nast archives; famous illustrations including some of the first beauty adverts – it’s a reflection of trends and transitions of beauty through the ages.

From the invention of the world’s first mascara to the story behind our favourite brands like the genius of Helena Rubenstein, the rivalry of “Revlon-man” and Elizabeth Arden, here is what makes the Lisa book an absolute must-have.

History repeats itself
The book explores the history of makeup, but not in a chronological fashion. Think themes, not timelines. It reveals how ideologies recur through time. Certain traits deemed beautiful appear consistently throughout history, as illustrated by the styles of the Egyptian queen, Nefertiti (1370 BC – 1330 BC) and renowned Italian actress, Sophia Loren – the images taken millennia apart show both women with heavily defined, almond-shaped eyes, high cheekbones, full lips and a long neck.

On status and approval
Up until Queen Alexandra (19th century) openly wore powder and rouge and gave makeup the “royal stamp of approval”, cosmetic enhancement of features was unacceptable to the patriarchal society, meaning men didn’t want women to wear it. Although, the norm was to have nice “red” lips, “dark eyes” (black) and spotless “white” skin, wearing makeup was a hushed affair. It always went in extremes – either the high class would wear it in an elaborate parlour show for everyone to watch or it was shunned and seen as “cheap”, which only courtesans could indulge in.

“Interestingly, courtesans, professional mistresses and prostitutes being afforded more freedom and power than other women (in addition to wearing more makeup) is a pattern that has repeated throughout history,” writes Lisa.

Women in advertising
The onset of print media brought in a great change in the status of makeup. However, the major boost to it came with the emergence of the silent movies industry. Cosmetic companies began to advertise makeup looks from the movies using photos of the lead actresses giving makeup a respectable status in the society.

On the other hand, actresses themselves came forward to feature in the ads; they took to the medium as a brazen gesture of their rights and it clicked! More women started emulating their favourite stars and slowly, “cosmetics for the few became makeup for the masses”.

Women featuring in ads started as a revolutionary act; of liberating them and their right to wear makeup. However, much as it happens in patriarchal societies, the act soon became a business to objectify women so much so that now it is downright misogynistic.

Women’s rights and makeup
Lisa reveals, “If you explore the use of makeup through ancient times, it soon becomes clear that the freedom and rights accorded to women during a given period are very closely linked to the freedom with which they painted their faces”. In ancient Egypt, women and men wore makeup freely, and women enjoyed relative parity in terms of legal and economic rights.

Egyptian history is rich with kohl, its abundant usage coupled with formulations for lip strainers, and the general open use of makeup. However, in ancient Greece women were excluded from political life and were under the ownership of men, who deemed wearing of rouge “deceiving” and didn’t allow it.

Ironically, the two Wars had a liberating effect on lives of women. While WWI rendered on them an “obligatory” encouragement to “look good” using makeup - it was a patriotic act all of a sudden - the WWII gave women financial independence at large.
‘Face Paint’ delves into the paradoxes in every woman’s makeup bag and whether our choices, even now, are feminist statements or conforming to a standard.

Of wanting to belong
Why is it that a touch of blush makes you feel fresh? What is the power of red lipstick or the allure in the swish of blackest of the black mascara? Concepts such as these are taken for granted now, but there is a deep underlying reason to their development through the centuries. It is not just a psychological thing, but a struggle of women through ages, battling political ideologies that hindered their right to the freedom of expression; makeup, after all, is an expression of individuality.

Lisa concludes that the tribal mentality of wanting to belong is nothing new and face painting is beyond superficial beautification – adornment in this way is about sexual attraction and communicating the message of a group identity. “Whether we want to look like our favourite screen idol, we are communicating something about ourselves (through makeup) to the outside world,” she writes.

Most of us may not think why we do our makeup in a certain way. Sure, it is about expressing individuality and creativity, but most importantly, it’s about waking up in the morning and putting on a face that is acceptable to the one looking back at you in the mirror and as an extension, a face that is acceptable to the world. To make it empowering or not, is a choice we need to make for ourselves.