Chemistry behind Different Types of Makeup
Makeup is not only ubiquitous but also synonymous with femininity. Use of makeup to
enhance beauty; however, is as old as human civilization. In ancient Egypt, women held beauty
in high regard, and enhancement of the same was perceived to be a moral and divine obligation
(Lucas, 1930). Makeup is any substance applied mainly to the face, to alter the appearance or
enhance beauty. According to Forbes, the cosmetic industry is estimated to be worth
approximately $445 billion (Sorvino, 2003). The composition of makeup varies exceedingly;
from natural herbs, home products to complex industrial compounds. This essay will explore
various chemical compounds found in makeup, such as emulsifiers, preservatives, thickeners,
emollient, glimmers, colors and fragrance.
The function of emulsifiers is to bond water and oil and consequently create a
homogenous compound. Different types of emulsifiers exist; however, in cosmetics, they are
divided into two categories, ionic and nonionic. Ionic emulsifiers are either in negative or
positive ionic groups. On the other hand, nonionic emulsifiers (most of them have polar hydroxyl
(OH) and fatty acids), do not dissociate when charged (Castro, 2015). Preservatives integral
components of makeup; they prevent the development of microbes. Some of the most common
preservatives are formaldehyde, tocopherols, benzyl acids, and tetra-sodium compounds among
others; which are either natural and directly derivable from plants and animals or synthetic.
Thickeners are also incorporated during the manufacturing of makeup to create stability,
consistency and uniform flow. Thickeners are often in three categories: synthetic, natural, and
lipids. A huge percent of thickeners used in makeups are natural and synthetic polymers such as
