"Throughout history, women (and men) have applied make-up to enhance, alter, conceal and even to disguise their appearance. Also, to a greater or lesser degree over time, cosmetics have been used as a visible marker of social status, gender, wealth, and well-being. A closer look at the world of make-up gives us not only a mirror reflecting day-to-day life in the past, but also an indicator of the culture and politics of earlier periods in history."--Book jacket.
1. Introduction: Make-up matters -- 2. The ancient world: prehistory -- Egyptians, Greeks and Romans -- 3. The Middle Ages: East meets West, literature for women and the Church against cosmetics -- 4. The late fifteenth and sixteenth centuries: the Classical revival, books of secrets and the printing press -- 5. The seventeenth century: witches, wizards and patches -- 6. The eighteenth century: counterfeit cosmetics, the French Revolution, and the importance of being seen -- 7. The nineteenth century: the Victorians, ladies' magazines, crime and cosmetics -- 8. The twentieth century: the magic of the movies, make-up and the war effort, and mass media advertising -- 9. The twenty-first century: making up in public with make-up from the past -- Glossary of cosmetic ingredients.