Gigi Guzman
Professor Carter
COMS 105
4 March 2020
Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder
Specific Purpose: I would like to inform my audience about the history, importance, and personal
significance that makeup has had on my life.
I. Introduction
a. Attention getter: Can you believe that the origin of makeup and cosmetics dates
all the way back to 10,000 BCE in Ancient Greece and Egypt?
b. Introduce culture and artifact: Although its origins began long ago, makeup, and
more specifically, eyeshadow, has made a lasting impact that is prevalent in even
today’s society.
c. Credibility statement: I started wearing makeup at the age of 13, and invested a
great deal of time to practice.
d. Thesis: In the world of makeup, eyeshadow has been used since ancient times as a
creative way to express oneself and to represent its culture, and carries on its
legacy to impact people like myself.
<Firstly, let’s review the history of makeup, and more specifically, eyeshadow.>
II. Body
a. Main point 1 (History of Artifact): Eyeshadow, or eyelid pigments, has its origins
in Ancient Egypt 12,000 years ago to bring attention to their eyes.
i. Egyptians invented kohl, a fine black or sometimes dark grey powder, to
accentuate their eye shapes, and it even helped give some protection from
the harsh sun.
1. As kohl gained popularity, its color palette expanded beyond the
standard black shade, to offer a multitude of colors made from
other minerals.
ii. Eye pigment was not only used to accentuate the eyes, but had medicinal
and religious purposes as well.
1. Kohl was applied to wounds or sensitive areas to promote healing,
and embodied the religious culture of Ancient Egypt, by wearing
such makeup to appease their gods.
<Now that I have discussed the history of eyeshadow, let’s explore how it is used in modern-day
life.>
b. Main point 2 (How the artifact represents your culture): In today’s society,
eyeshadow is used as a creative outlet for one to express themselves freely.
i. There are tens of thousands of eyeshadow palettes produced by companies
that offer a wide variety of shades, tones, and glitters to accommodate
most preferences.
1. Eyeshadow can allow the artist the ability to have fun, and show
the world their styles and techniques, that show a lot about their
values.
ii. Although in the past makeup used to be primarily just for women, as
society has progressed, it has become a more inclusive form of art in the
beauty community.
1. Now, it is common to see men wear eyeshadow and wear other
forms of makeup almost as much as women.
<Now that you have been informed about the usage of makeup in modern-day society, I would
now like to share why this artifact is significant to me.>
yeshadow is significant to me
c. Main point 3 (Personal significance of artifact): E
because it was something that I have used since I was thirteen years old, and has
stuck with me ever since.
i. Whether I am going out with my friends or going to school, I can always
look forward to doing my makeup the way I like it.
1. I can experiment with different trends that are “in style” and
recognize colors that compliment my eyes, and make me feel
confident.
ii. I have learned to take risks because of makeup.
1. Eyeshadow was something that genuinely scared me because of
how much could go wrong with so many colors. But, when I
learned to take risks with my eyeshadow, I never looked back. It
became a sort of canvas on my eyes and allowed me to express
myself with no limits or restrictions.
<Now that I have said why eyeshadow is significant to me, let me refresh everyone’s memory on
what I have previously said.>
III. Conclusion
a. Review of thesis and main points: Eyeshadow has been used since ancient times
as a creative outlet to express one’s personality and their culture, and carries on its
legacy to impact people like myself.
b. Tie back to introduction: Makeup has benefitted communities for medicinal,
religious, and of course, to accentuate one’s natural features.
c. Closing statement: It can be difficult to conform to worldly standards of beauty,
but it is important to note that makeup does not conceal or make a mask out of
one’s appearance, rather, it accentuates features that are already beautiful in their
own way. Thank you.
MLA Works Cited
CrystalEve. “The History of Eyeshadow. (And Modern Looks That Will Rock Your World!).”
CRYSTAL EVE, 14 Nov. 2019,
crystalevekelley.com/history-eyeshadow-modern-shades-will-rock-world/.
Lionesse Beauty Bar. “History of Eye Shadow.” Lionesse Beauty Bar, 6 Aug. 2015,
lionessebeautybar.org/history-eye-shadow/.
