Why Do We Call It Makeup, But Not War Paint

 So apparently in 1920 Max Factor created a line of makeup for Hollywood actresses that he called Society Makeup.  

Checking into the term a little bit deeper, I find that stage actors for a couple of hundred years had been calling their getting their act together including costume and face altering paint...their make up.  So, it looks like the commercial product Society Makeup would have been sold to all.  https://www.etymonline.com/word/make-up

As with anything having to do with the activities of human beings over a long time period, it is obviously a huge subject.  I had to figure out my take on it.  I think my interest lay in why we use makeup.  Another big subject, just about as big as human psychology period.  Oh dear!  

Why indeed?

• To extend the illusion of youth.
• To indicate sexual interest.  (prove me wrong!)
• To show allegiance to a group or culture, or even a religion, back in history, ie Egypt.
• Getting a bit deeper, to hide behind a symbolic persona?
• For attention.  Hey look at me, not her!  Competition.
• To create terror in opposing warriors.  Wode?  Blue warriors?  Indian warriors also.
• To show emotion better from the stage.
• To photograph better in general.

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As a personal aside, my most precious makeup artical is a small vial of handmade kohl created especially for blue eyed women by a French lady in Morocco who was the mother of a black lady I was friends with back on the Res.  Her mom made it for black ladies and white ladies, but slightly different recipes.  For blue eyes it is a bit greyer, not so very very black and it has a silvery effect almost.  It was made by burning rose petals and spices, some hot pepper.  Then of course, she had to grind the resulting ashes really fine. Really!  The idea is to make you cry a bit when you apply it, which sets it deeply in the eyelids. 

Traditionally, it is applied with a little carved pointed stick. You dip the little stick in the powder and then close the lids on the little stick and draw it outward toward the side of the eye.  This is done every day, so that effect never goes away and just gets better and deeper.  It is also thought to be protective against infection and perhaps it is!

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I know that in general, more or less, depending, if a woman who normally uses makeup stops it, she may be depressed.  Its a sign of distress or exhaustion.

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But Remember!

That is my new color. 

I smooched a 3x5 card and took a picture of it.

Because Red Really Is Best!