WHAT ARE COSMETICS MADE OF AND HOW ARE THEY MADE? - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The cosmetics are produced using different processes and different kinds of ingredients. The products used require special attention due to their contact with the skin and hair, as well as their proximity to the eyes and mouth.

The manufacture of cosmetics has a very old history. In IV BC, makeup was already being made in Ancient Egypt. At that time natural substances were used to darken the eyelids, redden the cheeks or even out the skin tone.

In the same way, in China, since III BC a lacquer was used to make up the nails. This product was made from gum arabic, gelatin, beeswax and egg whites.

Over the centuries, the natural or synthetic ingredients used for beautification have expanded. In the same way, the techniques have been modernized in order to produce products that are less aggressive with the skin and more responsible with the environment.

What are cosmetics made of?

The ingredients of cosmetics vary according to their function, their manufacturing process and even their color and perfume. However, there are some basic components that are part of most of them.

Oils and waxes

One of the main components of cosmetics such as lipsticks, mascara or waxes, are oils and waxes. Castor, castor, walnut or almond oils and beeswax are some of them.

These components play an important role in different types of cosmetics. In the case of creams, for example, they prevent the skin from losing its natural moisture.

Pigments

Color is one of the most important components of cosmetics. In products such as lipstick, mascara, powders and blushes, color is decisive in its function of covering or beautifying the face.

Therefore, a wide variety of natural and synthetic pigments have traditionally been used to achieve the different colors.

Among them you can find very curious ingredients. For example, the cochineal beetles that when crushed release a red pigment used in the manufacture of lipsticks or the charcoal that is used to give mascara its black color.

Other ingredients

In addition to the oils and pigments, there are other components that fulfill different functions.

These ingredients are responsible for making cosmetics have the desired consistency, perfume or appearance.

For example, salt is used in shampoos and cleansers to make them bubble. Emulsifiers are also used to dilute oils in water and fragrances to hide the odor of some components.

Controversial ingredients

Over the years there have been controversies around certain ingredients, due to their influence on human health or the environment.

Some ingredients traditionally used in the manufacture of cosmetics have been shown to have negative implications for human health. Among them are components such as nitrosmusks and parabens.

In parallel, there are environmental movements that have been manifested by the use of certain animal resources used in the manufacture of cosmetics.

These ingredients include carmine obtained from the cochineal beetle, beeswax or brushes made from animal hair.

For this reason, cosmetic brands have been born that focus on carefully choosing the components with which they work.

Thanks to this, today there are hypoallergenic products on the market that avoid the use of toxic substances, and vegan products that avoid the use of products of animal origin.

How are cosmetics made?

Manufacturing procedures vary depending on the function of each cosmetic and the manufacturer's techniques. However, there are some common procedures:

Creams

Creams are emulsions, that is, mixtures of oils diluted in water. Therefore, the most complicated part of its creation consists of merging the water with the oil, an effect that is achieved thanks to products called emulsifiers.

The first part of the process is to mix the water with the products that are soluble in it, including emulsifiers, pigments and perfumes. Then the oils are added and mixed until it becomes an emulsion.

The lipstick

To make lipsticks, the first step is to make a base blend. This mixture contains oil, wax, and alcohol, and machines are used to make the texture even and smooth.

Then, this mixture is divided into different parts and a different pigment is added to each part, depending on the variety of colors to be produced.

Finally, it is poured into tube-shaped molds that are responsible for the traditional lipstick shape. These molds are frozen and when they are extracted they already have the shape and the consistency to be used.

Mascara

The most common method of making mascara is emulsion. This technique consists of mixing water with special thickeners to form a creamy substance.

This mixture is divided into different parts to which the corresponding pigments are added, according to the desired colors. This final product is bottled and ready to be used.

Cosmetics testing

Cosmetics are very delicate products because they come into contact with the skin, hair, mouth and eyes.

For this reason, before entering the market, they must be subjected to laboratory tests to verify that they do not have harmful effects on human health.

These tests have long been applied to animals. This has prevented humans from suffering the potential negative consequences of the products, but has subjected many small and fragile animals to those risks.

However, thanks to the activism of animal groups, in some countries the testing of cosmetics on animals has been banned.

Because of these bans, many companies now employ other strategies to ensure the safety of their products.

However, it is estimated that despite current regulations, more than 500,000 animals are still used for cosmetic testing worldwide.

References

1. Encyclopedia of Children and Childhood in History and Society. (2004). Cosmetics. Recovered from: encyclopedia.com.
2. Engebretson, M. (2016). Ending Cosmetic Testing On Animals Is Good Business. Recovered from: huffingtonpost.com.
3. History of cosmetics. (SF). The Most Common Ingredients of Cosmetics. Recovered from: historyofcosmetics.net.
4. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2016). Cosmetic. Recovered from: britannica.com.
5. Warta, T. (SF). How are cosmetics made. Recovered from: makeup.lovetoknow.com.