Generally speaking, “make-up” is any cosmetic products used to enhance or improve the looks of a face. Mostly girls put make up on their face to look more attractive.
Make-up products were first used 3000 years before Christ by the Egyptians , who drew a line of black Kohl on their eyelids.
These products were metal-based cosmetics, and the toxic-based agents had negative effects on their skin. The worst side effect was probably that these products accelerated the ageing process of the skin.
Make-up products were exported to Europe. Kings, mostly during the romantic era, loved to put on their face a good quantity of white flower-scented powder. They seldom washed their face (and the rest of their body so to speak) and usually entered the vicious circle of having to put even more powder to cover up the skin damages done by the use of too much powder…
at least, they were trying to look good, hence this little black beauty spot they were delighted to draw on their chin.
Nowadays, make-up is mostly a girl’s thing. Skin care products are declined into a variety of items: lipstick, Kohl, powder, blush, foundation cream...
Girls develop strategies and tips to keep people from looking at one part of their face that they dislike ( too big nose, front, chin…): to conceal a large nose for instance, they put a darker foundation cream on their nose bridge. Small lips can be widen by drawing a line (a bit larger than the outlines of the lips) with a pencil. To widen a look, they play on different shade of colours.
But make-up products are also very often used by people working in the performance arts: clowns, stage actors…wear make up because they need to stress one specific expression of their face.
a clown with a made-up big smile, may look friendly and happy to an audience. A clown with a fake drop of water is a sad and clumsy clown that you expect to see in an awkward situation.