I couldn't believe the volume of heart- or love-themed items this spring. And these aren't specifically for Valentine's Day either – these are just part of the company's regular seasonal lines. I've rounded up some of the best examples.
Anything catching your eye? Seeing them all together makes me think they're a little too precious for my taste, but I do enjoy the Etude House heart blush since they remind me of candy hearts!
As in 2009 and 2010 Clé de Peau released a vintage jewely-inspired palette this year. And as in the past 2 years I failed to get my hands on it before it sold out everywhere. :( E-bay here I come.
(image from nordstrom.com)
I love the way the "jewels" are set in a pretty mosaic pattern. Of course, the shimmer, which you can't really see so well in this stock photo, makes it even more gorgeous.
About and History
Dedicated to the preservation, research and exhibition of cosmetics from antiquity through the 21st century, the Makeup Museum® is a progressive, unique space that explores makeup history, culture, design and packaging from all eras. The Makeup Museum is the first museum in the U.S. devoted exclusively to cosmetics and a leader in conceptualizing new ways of thinking about makeup and its cultural and artistic significance. Particular focus is given to previously hidden or little-known about histories and topics, offering an alternative account of makeup that challenges conventional narratives and highlights the voices of marginalized communities. Using an interdisciplinary approach that blends a variety of fields, especially material culture, art history, sociology, business, race and gender studies, the Makeup Museum offers a truly original perspective on makeup that goes beyond the canon.
In 2006, the Museum’s founder and curator had the idea to develop a coffee table book devoted to the most beautiful makeup from the 1990s and early 2000s. From that idea grew the bigger notion of an entire museum to display these objects, along with older pieces and a visual history of the makeup industry. In 2008 the Museum’s website was launched as a way to chronicle new makeup releases, research cosmetic objects and champion the idea of a dedicated cosmetics museum on a global scale. Over time the Museum evolved from a repository for well-designed makeup to a vital educational resource and agent for change.
There is no public physical space for the Museum yet, but private in-person tours of the collection can be arranged and admission is FREE! (Donations are greatly appreciated but certainly not expected.) As of September 2022, private in-person tours are no longer available due to COVID. But the magic of the internet means you can visit online 24/7. The collection as well as most exhibitions are displayed in the Curator’s Baltimore, Maryland home, while more in-depth exhibitions can be found here. Temporary/pop-up spaces are continually being explored. Subscribe to the blog feed or sign up for email updates for Museum news and announcements.
Museum Services and Inquiries
The Museum welcomes all inquiries. Please contact the Curator with any loan requests or photography permissions. The Curator is also available for press interviews, speaking engagements, consulting, research assistance, book contributions and other projects. If you have an object you’d like to learn more about, please email the Curator with photos and any information you have. However, the Museum cannot provide valuations of artifacts. See the FAQ’s for details on object inquiries.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Makeup Museum is to:
– Preserve and document cosmetic objects from all eras and cultures for a variety of audiences: scholars, historians, makeup artists and enthusiasts, and the general public.
– Promote these objects as legitimate artifacts by examining the history, design, and artistic inspiration behind them.
– Explore the sociological and cultural impact of cosmetic artifacts, including their usage and advertising, along with makeup artistry and trends.
– Study and record the history of makeup, and serve as a worldwide research hub.
– Educate the public on the artistic, cultural, and historic value of makeup through exhibitions, publications, presentations, and workshops. – Effect social change by displaying problematic artifacts and styles, discussing the harmful aspects of makeup history and beauty culture – both past and present – and recommending ways to take action.
Land Acknowledgement
The Makeup Museum is situated on the unceded ancestral land of the Susquehannock, Nentego (Nanticoke) and Piscataway peoples, now commonly known as Baltimore, MD. Please join the Museum in acknowledging the Native community, their elders both past and present, as well as future generations. The Makeup Museum recognizes the continued oppression of our country’s Native peoples and the role museums often play in this oppression. It also acknowledges the painful history of genocide and forced occupation of their territory, and that the Museum was founded upon exclusions and erasures of many Native peoples, including those on whose land this institution is located. This acknowledgement demonstrates a commitment to beginning the process of working to dismantle the ongoing legacies of settler colonialism. We strive to establish The Makeup Museum as an institute that develops and nurture positive relationships with the Indigenous peoples of this region as well as globally.
Curious about the Makeup Museum? Hopefully this page will answer your queries!
Does the world really need a makeup museum? Why?
Of course! Makeup brings in trillions of dollars a year. Cosmetic history, styles and objects need to be researched and preserved to help us understand the industry’s enormous influence on society and effect change within it. On a superficial note, makeup is pretty to look at!
I found an old compact/lipstick/other beauty item. Can you identify it and/or tell me how much it’s worth?
I LOVE getting inquiries and researching them. I will do my best to identify the object and provide as much information as possible. However, as museums do not provide valuations, I cannot appraise the object’s monetary value. Also, I reserve the right to share your inquiry (I won’t use your name or any identifying information) and any pictures you might have at the Museum’s website, unless you ask me not to. Please understand that since I can’t devote all my time to the Museum, I’m not able to get back to you with an answer right away, but I always do respond eventually. And if you have any other beauty-related questions I’m happy to help with those too. I like to feel useful. Finally, researching inquiries is free, but donations are tremendously appreciated if you’re able. 🙂
Collecting makeup is weird. Aren’t you supposed to actually USE it? And won’t it go bad after a while anyway?
Well, collecting it isn’t so weird – no different than those who collect stamps or baseball cards. There are people who collect staplers, teabags and pencils so having a collection of makeup, relatively speaking, isn’t so strange. I must also point out that there are museums devoted to things like water, memes and mustard, so why not makeup?! As for it going bad, most of the items in the collection are powder-based, which can hold up for many years (provided you don’t drop them, of course.) If stored properly, cream and liquid-based items will last a long time as well. Frankly, since the objects aren’t being used, the issue of them going bad is moot.
So I get collecting the vintage stuff, but why contemporary makeup too?
Current makeup items are just as important as vintage as they tell us where the beauty industry is and where it’s going. They also speak volumes on contemporary views on not just makeup, but cultural and political values as well. If nothing else, new makeup will be vintage eventually, right?
Do you get any freebies from makeup companies?
Sadly, no. Nearly all of the objects in the Museum are paid for with my own hard-earned cash. Sometimes I receive items as gifts from friends and family, and I always acknowledge them as such. I’ve also been fortunate enough to receive some incredible donations from fellow makeup aficionados over the years. When I refer to the Museum’s “budget”, it really just means my own personal money that I’ve set aside for Museum acquisitions. If companies do ever want to throw free makeup at me, and I accept, I will definitely disclose it.
I’d love to work at the Makeup Museum! Any jobs available?
I appreciate your enthusiasm! And there’s nothing I’d like more than having a hard-working, dedicated (and ideally, well-paid) staff. But the Museum is currently a volunteer effort/labor of love on my part. I’m not employed or paid by the Museum – I have a completely unrelated full-time job, which I need so that I can afford to build the collection. Thus, there are no paid employment opportunities right now. However, if you’d like to volunteer, that would be amazing. I would fully credit you for your work and I may even be able to scrounge up a Sephora gift card in exchange for your help. 😉
I’m interested in purchasing some of the objects from the Museum. Would you sell them to me?
Apologies, but no. None of the Museum’s objects are up for deaccessioning at the moment.
Woohoo! During the hiatus my business cards got finished. They're pretty sweet.
With a Bachelor’s degree in art history and a Master’s degree in cultural studies, as well as professional experience in several major cultural institutions including the Walters Art Museum and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Hillary ensures the Makeup Museum solidifies makeup’s rightful place in museums and academia. Above all, she strives for for the Museum to be an agent of change within the cosmetics industry and beyond through analyzing both makeup history and contemporary beauty culture. Specialties include the overlap of fine art, art history and makeup, ‘90s/Y2K cosmetics, and little-known makeup histories.
The Advisory Committee has been around since the Museum’s earliest days, although some of the members have been changed. It consists mostly of Babos, but since they get distracted by talking about cookies instead of new acquisitions, Jeero is there to keep them on task. Original Babo (a.k.a. the Grand Poobah since he was the first Babo hired by the Museum) serves as Committee Chair.
Art Handler Secret Mission Babo
There’s nothing stealthier than a ninja, and Secret Mission Babo can move objects out of storage to the display shelves and back like nobody’s business. Sometimes he can’t figure out where he is if he ends up on a solid black background (like a black shirt) but usually he’s pretty sharp.
Chief Technology Officer Little Ice Lodge Babo
Since he is the same color as many Apple products and about the size of an iPhone (he’s mini!) we figured he might know what he’s doing in terms of the latest blog technology and social media. Okay, so his only technological skill is how to look up cookie recipes online, but maybe eventually he’ll get better.
Communications/PR Director Yoyamart Babo
His grey wings allow him to get to meetings and press events easily and he can hypnotize anyone with his crazy different-colored eyes, making Yoyamart Babo a star at schmoozing and creating good PR for the museum.
Conservation Director Poe
Poe is similar to Icebat in that he comes from a cave and enjoys ice cream, but he’s a bit lazier. His small stature and miniature wings allow him to be gentle and meticulous with the Museum’s objects, making him an excellent conservator.
Director of Development Icebat
When he’s not flagging down ice cream trucks or concocting new recipes for our ice cream maker, Icebat tries to raise some moolah for the Museum. He’s not very successful because whenever he meets with funders he insists that they turn up the air conditioning and turn off the lights to create cave-like conditions, but he does try.
Docent Barney
Barney is essentially a Babo in dog form (pugs are apparently not that bright but very loving) so we had no choice but to hire him. Follow his little curly tail around the Museum as he barks out the background of some of the key pieces.
Education Specialist Cookie Dream Babo
He’s little, but he has big dreams. In addition to cookies, this Babo dreams about exciting new educational programs that will fully engage and enthrall Museum visitors.
Exhibition Designers Power Babo and Super Babo
This super hero duo helps the curator to envision awesomely designed exhibitions, thereby making sure the makeup reaches its full potential in wowing visitors. And their capes allow them to fly so they can easily scout cool new exhibition spaces. Power Babo and Super Babo: saving the world from boring exhibitions, one display at a time!
General Counsel Ice Lodge Babo
Ice Lodge Babo is the Museum’s expert on all things legal. He tries to work with Icebat on money matters but the two of them usually just end up hunting for ice cream.
Gift Shop Manager Mummy Babo
If you want some really cool souvenirs to commemorate your visit to the Makeup Museum, Mummy Babo has you covered. He really prefers Halloween stores to the Museum’s shop, but he’ll still help you out.
Creative Director Glenn
With nearly 20 years of experience and his own successful business, Glenn is more than capable of handling all the Museum’s design needs. He enjoys sandwiches, the color blue and doing MM work for free spending time with his lovely wife Hillary.
Head Chef, Museum Cafe Cookie Chef Babo
When he’s not making treats for the rest of the Museum staff, Cookie Chef Babo creates delicious cookies and other sweets at the Museum’s cafe.
HR Director Ugly Yeti
If Museum employees get too out of control we can rely on Yeti to handle things and make sure they stop getting into mischief by enveloping them in one of his trademark “bear hugs”. Just looking at those big powerful arms is usually enough to prevent other staff from acting up!
Intern Babo Bear
Babo Bear is very special, since he’s a Babo AND a bear. Actually he’s just a little cub, so because he’s only a baby we don’t want him doing any real work and thus, he is an intern. He mostly hangs out and eats honey.
Intern Origins Babo
Like Babo Bear, Origins Babo is just a baby – he’s so little he hasn’t even fully grown his webby paws! In light of that we decided he should also be an intern as he’s not ready for any real work yet.
Membership Services Cowardly Lion Babo
We’d be “lion” if we said this little guy wasn’t great at encouraging visitors to get memberships and keeping track of all of the Museum’s members. Then again, as we don’t have any right now, it’s not that hard of a job – perfect for someone who might lack the courage to deal with strangers.
Registrars Zeke and Dot
We found Zeke and Dot at the Charm City Craft Mafia’s Pile of Craft show a few years ago, courtesy of Cotton Monster. They can keep track of all the Museum’s objects very easily due through the magical powers of their stripes (in the case of Zeke) and dots (in the case of Dot – she has black polka dots all over her back.)
Research Assistant Mer-Babo
A rare catch indeed, Mer-Babo’s curiosity about life on land makes him a natural for research assistance. While he’s usually splashing around in the tub, occasionally he’ll help the curator with her research on various Museum objects.
Rights and Reproductions Seasick Babo
Seasick Babo was originally hired to be the senior conservationist, but he kept puking on the Museum’s objects so we had to put him in charge of photography rights. Poor little guy. He is easily distracted by cookies and boats, but he does appreciate the shiny, sparkly objects in the collection.
Security King “Kingsley” Albino and Domo Kun
While Kingsley doesn’t have any limbs, his big teeth are enough to scare away any potential art thief. And Domo can be pretty ferocious. Should you visit the Museum, remember to take the flash off your camera or else you will get quite the growl from Domo!
Chief Financial Officer Mathlete Babo
He primarily uses his math skills to count cookies, but Mathlete Babo isn’t bad at crunching numbers either. The only problem is that he’s always pushing for a higher portion of the Museum’s budget to go to cookies rather than makeup.
Visitor Services Associate Space Babo
Need a museum map? Not sure where the bathrooms are? Space Babo can help you with all questions upon your arrival at the Makeup Museum. Well…he might not since he’s a little spacey, reminiscing about the times he’s circled the earth and how tricky it is to munch on cookies in zero gravity. Nevertheless, if you manage to get his attention he will help you as best he can.
As the year comes to a close I felt the need to share my top three items/collections from 2009 – three because, come on, I couldn’t pick just one! Companies put out some really beautiful and thoughtfully designed pieces this year. It was so hard for me to narrow it down to 3, but here they are, in no particular order.
In September 2008 I mused about how cool it would be if a company came out with a paint-splattered compact or palette. Lo and behold, Smashbox released their “Artist Muse” collection in early 2009. If this isn’t directly inspired by Jackson Pollock I don’t know what is.
Oh, this was so lovely. I adored the way the delicate white flowers were replicas of the paper headpieces worn by the models on the runway for Chanel’s spring collection. This palette definitely captured the fashion house’s design and spirit for the spring season.
Not only was the packaging totally gorgeous and so culturally appropriate (a manga artist designing for a Japanese makeup line? Too perfect!), each girl actually had a little personality all her own. Plus I always love how Shu’s collaboration with relatively obscure designers exposes makeup consumers to artists that they never would have heard of otherwise.
What were your faves from 2009? (Hint: if you need ideas just go through the archives at the right.)
I'm pleased to announce the birth of the Makeup Museum's web presence! The Museum is dedicated to a broad range of cosmetic items, from couture false eyelashes and palettes illustrated with retro images to vintage compacts. Most people appreciate the art in cosmetic application, but rarely do people see that the objects alone can be considered art and history in and of themselves. In addition to celebrating makeup items as art objects, this blog will also feature posts with a more academic focus, weaving cosmetics with art history, cultural studies and feminist theory, to name a few. I'm striving for an intellectual perspective on the cosmetics industry and its role in U.S. culture as well as the cosmetics themselves.
In a few months there will be an actual websiteup and running, but for now a blog will have to suffice.
