Cosmetics, fragrances, and beauty products are the focus of this portion of our web guide, each with a rich cultural and historical significance that we aim to explore.
This is the shopping section of our guide, however; cosmetic surgery or other procedures would be listed in the Health & Well-Being section.
As far back as 10,000 BC, the ancient Egyptians used scented oils, ointments, and perfumes for hygiene, protection from the sun, and beauty enhancement. They used myrrh, chamomile, lavender, and various oils. Galena mesdemet, made of copper and lead ore, and kohl, a mixture of burnt almonds, copper, and other minerals, adorned their faces.
Around 3000 BC, Chinese citizens stained their fingernails with gum arabic and used rice powder to whiten their complexion. Eyebrows were shaved, and henna dyes were applied to the hair and face.
In 1000 BC, Greeks used chalk or lead face powder and lipstick made from ochre clays. Fake eyebrows made from oxen hair were fashionable.
Driven by consumer demand and innovation, cosmetics and other beauty products have become a significant industry. Moisturizers, serums, and sunscreens are used on the skin, while foundation, blush, mascara, eyeshadow, and lipstick are standard makeup products. Shampoos, conditioners, and styling products are used on the hair, and fragrances include perfumes and colognes.
Other products, used as tools for application, include makeup sponges, eye brushes, and mirrors.
Common ingredients in contemporary cosmetics include water as the base for most products, emulsifiers to bind oil and water, preservatives to extend shelf life, thickeners for texture, and colors and fragrances to enhance appeal.
Packaging includes jars, bottles, tubes, and droppers, often in custom shapes to match brand identity.
The industry is not without controversies. The use of animals for testing has led to ethical concerns, including bans on animal testing in some countries. Some beauty products have been found to contain harmful substances, leading to a trend toward those that lack controversial ingredients, such as those derived from petroleum or parabens.
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates cosmetics safety, while the European Union regulates the manufacture, labeling, and supply of cosmetics and personal care products by Regulation EC 1223/2009, which also applies to Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) publishes guidelines on the safe manufacturing of cosmetics products under a Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) regime.
The cosmetics industry encompasses a wide range of products, including skincare, fragrance, makeup, and haircare, catering to individual desires to enhance appearance, boost self-confidence, and express personal styles.
Despite a setback during the COVID-19 pandemic, the global cosmetics market as experienced growth since 2004, and is forecast to continue.
Categories
Bath & BodyCosmeticsFragrances | Hair CareSkin Care |
Recommended Resources
Activeskin is an Australian company carrying nearly a hundred and fifty professional and luxury skincare, makeup, body, and hair brands, which also operates a professional skin salon on Sydney's northern beaches in Balgowiah. Founded in 1999, the company began offering its products online in 2006. Its products and brands are featured, with prices and shipping information. Customers are invited to review a product and qualify to enter the drawing to win store credit.
https://www.activeskin.com.au/
Headquartered in New York City, Bliss is a multi-channel spa and retail product company that sells its line of bath, body, and skincare products through its website and other retailers, such as Amazon, Ulta, Walgreens, and Walmart. Founded in 1996, the company also has a headquarters in Hong Kong. Online shoppers can browse best sellers, shop by concern, view sets and kits, skincare products, body care products, or browse all of its products. A skin quiz is included.
https://www.blissworld.com/
Originating in Maine in the 1980s when Roxanne Quimby began making candles from Burt Shavitz's leftover beeswax, the company grew rapidly and is now a subsidiary of Clorox, making products for personal care, health, beauty, and personal hygiene, which are distributed globally, with its beeswax lip balm as a flagship product. Its products are available online, along with branded merchandise, exclusive offers, and sets. Trending products are highlighted. Affiliate opportunities are available.
https://www.burtsbees.com/
From its origins in Brooklyn, Carol's Daughter has retail stores in several states, and its products are available in many other stores throughout the country. Its online shopping area includes all of its hair, body, and bath products, hands and feet, face, and fragrances, including kids' items, collections, and gift sets. Online shoppers may view its hair products and collections, along with a curl-type chart, a curl quiz, a Brooklyn neighborhood quiz, and an informational blog.
https://www.carolsdaughter.com/
Cosmetics & Toiletries is a magazine that focuses on research and development in the cosmetics and personal care industry. Published by Allured Business Media, it is delivered to 97 countries monthly and is available in print and online formats. Originally published as "The American Perfumer" in 1906, its name changed a few times before taking its current name in 1979. Topics include cosmetic ingredients, formulas, products, research, regulations, and testing. A calendar of events is included.
https://www.cosmeticsandtoiletries.com/
A provider of premium beauty products in South Africa, Cosmetology was established in 2016 and currently has more than 160 curated beauty brands, including Nimue. Its products are available through its online shopping site, which promises secure checkouts, same-day shipping, and free samples with all orders. Customers can shop by brand, exclusive deals, or for gifts, haircare, skincare, makeup, fragrances, health, or dermocosmetics products. Its salons are identified, and contacts are available.
https://www.cosmetology.co.za/
Marketed under the Rexona name in most countries, the Australian deodorant and antiperspirant brand is known as Rexena in Japan and South Korea, as Sure in the UK, Ireland, and India, Shield in South Africa, and Degree in the United States and Canada. Owned by Unilever, its aerosol spray deodorant is manufactured in Australia, while its other types are made in the Philippines. Its product catalog is posted, along with an overview of the company and where to buy its products.
https://www.degreedeodorant.com/
Estée Lauder Companies is an American multinational cosmetics company that manufactures and markets makeup, skincare products, perfume, and hair care products. The company owns several brands, including La Mer, Jo Malone, Clinique, and Tom Ford Beauty. The company's website introduces its founder and namesake, Estée Lauder, and provides corporate information, an ingredient glossary, and a catalog of products and offers, which may be ordered through the website.
https://www.esteelauder.com/
Gillette is an American brand of safety razors and other personal care products. Currently owned by Procter & Gamble, the company was owned by the Gillette Company until 2005 when it was acquired by P&G. The website, which includes online shopping capabilities, provides an overview of the brand, its history, and practices. A free starter kit is available with a subscription for new blades every two weeks. Shaving tips are provided, and a product catalog is included.
https://gillette.com/
Glow Up Tanning & Wellness Limited
Glow Up Tanning & Wellness Lounge offers premium tanning sessions with Ergoline sunbeds, alongside personalized fitness and weight loss programs. Their services also include refreshing smoothies to complement a wellness routine. Customers can choose from various tanning options and weight loss plans, ranging from 8 to 24 weeks. Glow Up provides a complete wellness experience designed to help clients look and feel their best.
https://www.glowuplounge.co.uk/
Based in New Zealand, Keraplast is a biotechnology company specializing in creating ingredients for beauty and personal care products. Keraplast recovers bioactive keratin proteins from regeneratively farmed New Zealand wool, which are blended to create ingredients used in these products. An overview of the science, process, and benefits is set forth. Its products are introduced, along with their key benefits and other details, and an online inquiry form is presented.
https://keraplast.com/
Latisse: Eyelash Growth Products
Latisse is an FDA-approved prescription treatment to grow eyelashes for people with inadequate or insufficient lashes. It is believed to prolong the active eyelash growth phase and deliver fuller, longer, and darker lashes at sixteen weeks. The product is introduced, with information on its use, safety factors, and several photographs showing its effectiveness. Users of the medication can sign up for a company rewards program, or locate a provider near them on a map.
https://www.latisse.com/
Independently owned and operated in Warren, Michigan, Mario Beauty Supply is a national e-commerce distributor of hair, nail, and spa supplies, selling to licensed professionals only. The company's website features its products and brands, where customers can view featured tools, shop by brand, or view their order history. It also provides customer reviews, contacts, and a warehouse guide. Client testimonials are posted, and purchases may be made online.
https://www.marlobeauty.com/
Located in Idaho Falls, Idaho, the company was founded in 1985 and offers products for home cleaning and laundry, personal care and beauty, pure essential oils, food supplements, and food items. The company uses natural ingredients, conducting research to determine the best sources, the safest and most effective forms, and optimal extraction processes to create or isolate natural extracts, essential oils, minerals, enzymes, and other compounds. Melaleuca members are referred by other members.
https://www.melaleuca.com/
Situated in Coventry, England, the family-operated business sells a wide variety of products worldwide, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. Its products include hair products, cosmetics, incense, homewares, clothing, and gifts. Customers can shop in its physical store in England, on its eBay store, or through its online store pages. Shipping, returns, and refund policies are posted, and contacts are available.
https://www.neonmegastore.com/
The Neutrogena Corporation is a US-based company that produces cosmetics, skincare, and hair care products. Founded in 1930, it originally supplied its products to department stores and salons catering to the Hollywood film industry. The company is known for its namesake Neutrogena products, although its product lines are not the same globally. Known as "Skin University," its site includes an informational blog and glossary. Quizzes and an online shopping catalog are available.
https://www.neutrogena.com/
Based on Ayurveda, a holistic health modality from India that emphasizes the relationship between our mind, body, and spirit, along with trust that our belief systems, behaviors, and actions will significantly influence the state of our health and physical appearance. The company has seven spa locations in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area in Ontario, Canada, and its products are available through its online shopping catalog. Its locations, services, and brands are specified.
https://pureandsimple.ca/
Known initially as Giesee, Sun Laboratories by Giesee, established in 1983, was the first professional self-tanning product manufacturer and distributor. The company offers tanning lotions, sprays, and mists, as well as applicators, kits, bundles, and tanning accessories, for personal use and use in professional salons. The company also produces a line of cosmetic mineral makeup kits and a tan maintainer intended to prolong actual tans. Online shopping is supported.
https://www.sunlabsonline.com/
Formerly known as Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance Company, and before that, as Ulta3, Ulta Beauty is an American chain of cosmetic stores headquartered in Illinois. It carries cosmetics, fragrances, nail products, bath and body products, beauty tools, and haircare products. Each store has a beauty salon open to the public. Founded in 1990, Ulta has stores in all fifty American states, some of them inside Target stores. Its online product catalog allows for purchases through the website.
https://www.ulta.com/
