substances used to enhance the appearance or odor of the human body From Wikiquote, the free quote compendium
Cosmetics, also known as make-up, are substances or products used to enhance the appearance or scent of the body.
Or he might say: 'Whereas some recluses and brahmins, while living on the food offered by the faithful, enjoy the use of such devices for embellishing and beautifying themselves as the following: rubbing scented powders into the body, massaging with oils, bathing in perfumed water, kneading the limbs, mirrors, ointments, garlands, scents, unguents, face-powders, make-up, bracelets, head-bands, decorated walking sticks, ornamented medicine-tubes, rapiers, sunshades, embroidered sandals, turbans, diadems, yaktail whisks, and long-fringed white robes — the recluse Gotama abstains from the use of such devices for embellishment and beautification.'
This is back in the days when you kind of look at the can and there's no major skull and crossbones on it. So you think, 'This is OK to spray on someone's face.' Nowadays it's a whole different ballgame when it comes to safety and safety data sheets and all that. But back then, you'd smell it and go, 'It's extremely flammable, and there's some smoke skull and crossbones down here, but I think we'll be OK.'
This Casket India’s glowing Gems unlocks, And all Arabia breathes from yonder Box. The Tortoise here and Elephant unite, Transform’d to Combs, the speckled and the white. Here Files of Pins extend their shining Rows, Puffs, Powders, Patches, Bibles, Billet-doux. Now awful Beauty puts on all its Arms; The Fair each moment rises in her Charms.
Go see the wholesome Country Girles make hay, Whose browne hath lovelier grace, Than any painted face, That I doe know Hyde-Parke can show.
Thomas Randolph, "An Ode to Mr. Anthony Stafford to hasten him into the Country" in Poems (1638)
Hamlet [to Yorick's skull]: Now get you to my lady's chamber, and tell her, let her paint an inch thick, to this favour she must come; make her laugh at that.
Hence away, you Sirens, leave me, And unclasp your wanton arms; Sug’red words shall ne’er deceive me Though you prove a thousand charms. Fie, fie, forbear; No common snare Could ever my affection chain; Your painted baits And poor deceits Are all bestowed on me in vain.
But one admirer has the painted lass; Nor finds that one, but in her looking-glass: Yet Laura’s beautiful to such excess, That all her art scarce makes her please us less. To deck the female cheek, he only knows, Who paints less fair the lily, and the rose.How gay they smile! Such blessings nature pours, O’erstock’d mankind enjoy but half her stores: In distant wilds, by human eyes unseen, She rears her flowers, and spreads her velvet green: Pure gurgling rills the lonely desert trace, And waste their music on the savage race. Is nature then a niggard of her bliss? Repine we guiltless in a world like this? But our lewd tastes her lawful charms refuse, And painted art’s depraved allurements choose.
Edward Young, "Satire V. On Women" in Love of Fame, the Universal Passion (1728)