September 10, 2026 Holiday — Makeup Day: How Beauty Has Changed Over Thousands of Years
September 10 marks International Makeup Day—an unofficial holiday dedicated to cosmetics, makeup artists, creativity, and the art of creating a look. In 2026, this day falls on a Thursday. Makeup itself is much older than the modern beauty industry: people were already applying color to their eyes, lips, and skin thousands of years ago, and today cosmetics have become a form of self-expression, a profession, and a distinct part of popular culture.
International Makeup Day is observed annually on September 10. In calendars of unofficial holidays, this date is listed as International Make-Up Day. It is regularly celebrated by beauty brands, makeup artists, bloggers, and simply people who love cosmetics. In 2026, the holiday falls on a Thursday, so it can be celebrated either during the workday or in the evening.
At the same time, it’s important to understand the difference between the holiday’s international name and its official status. International Makeup Day is not an official UN holiday and does not have the status of a national or international day established by an intergovernmental organization. Its popularity has grown largely thanks to the beauty community, calendars of unofficial dates, and social media. This date has consistently appeared in international calendars since at least the 2010s.
There is also a theory that the modern tradition of celebrating this day is linked to the American makeup artist and beauty blogger James Charles. Ukrainian publications about this holiday note that in 2016, he used September 10 as an occasion to send professional greetings. At the same time, there is no independent official document in open sources confirming him as the founder of this international holiday. Therefore, it is more accurate to refer to this as a widely accepted theory regarding the origin of the date, rather than an officially established fact.
Why Makeup Day Came to Be
Today, it may seem that makeup is simply cosmetics that people use before work, a meeting, a party, or a photo shoot. But in reality, the history of facial adornment is much older than modern cosmetics companies. People used dyes, minerals, plant pigments, and other natural materials long before the advent of cosmetics stores. Makeup had different meanings in different cultures. It could highlight beauty, indicate social status, be used during religious rituals, or help create a certain image. Sometimes, the colors on the face even served a practical purpose.
That’s why today’s Makeup Day isn’t just an excuse to talk about lipstick or a new eyeshadow palette. It’s an opportunity to reflect on how long people have been trying to change and enhance their appearance. Over thousands of years, materials, techniques, and trends have changed, but the desire to create a certain look has remained. Today, makeup is also associated with creativity and self-expression. For some, it’s a few minutes with mascara and lip gloss; for others, it’s complex work with color, light, shape, and textures. That’s why professional makeup artistry is often compared to art.
The first makeup appeared thousands of years ago
It’s impossible to pinpoint exactly when humans first applied color to their faces. Archaeologists have uncovered artifacts and traces of cosmetic substances that show personal grooming existed in very ancient civilizations. One of the best-documented examples is Ancient Egypt. There, both women and men used cosmetics. Museums have preserved special containers for cosmetics, sticks for applying eye makeup, small boxes for dry pigments, and jars for oils and ointments.
Kohl—a dark powder used to line the eyes—was particularly well-known. Minerals, among other ingredients, were used to make it. The Egyptians applied cosmetics with special sticks, and the cosmetic sets themselves could be very expensive and beautifully designed. Cosmetics served more than just a decorative purpose. For example, dark makeup around the eyes helped protect them from the bright sun. Some cosmetic substances were also used for medicinal or ritual purposes.
In other words, thousands of years ago, cosmetics were much more than just a way to “become more beautiful.” They were part of everyday life, culture, and people’s ideas about personal care.
Makeup in Ancient Egypt
Egypt is often cited as one of the most important civilizations in the history of cosmetics. Here, people created elaborate cosmetic sets, used various pigments, and stored their products in special containers. Dark kohl was used for the eyes, and green pigment could be made from malachite. Archaeological finds show that cosmetic items were such a common part of daily life that they were even placed in tombs.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, for example, houses a cosmetic set from the New Kingdom period that included a kohl container, an applicator, a razor, tweezers, a whetstone, and a mirror. Such a set clearly demonstrates just how sophisticated personal grooming was in ancient times. The Egyptians also used aromatic oils and skin ointments. In a hot and dry climate, these were an essential part of their grooming routine. Cosmetics were stored in beautiful stone, wooden, glass, and other containers.
So modern makeup bags with dozens of jars and palettes actually have very ancient predecessors. It’s just that instead of foundation, bronzer, and eyeliner, people used natural pigments and oils.
The History of Makeup in Greece and Rome
In Ancient Greece, attitudes toward cosmetics were mixed. Women used products to enhance their appearance, but excessive use of makeup could be viewed negatively. Cosmetics were also common in Roman society. Archaeologists have uncovered small containers, mirrors, tools, and residues of substances associated with personal grooming.
At the same time, attitudes toward makeup depended heavily on social norms. In different periods, a heavily made-up face could be perceived as a sign of luxury, theatricality, or even a dubious reputation. Because of this, women often tried to create an appearance of “natural” beauty, even though they used cosmetics to achieve it. This is an interesting detail that recurs throughout history. Society often simultaneously demanded that women look good and criticized them for wearing makeup that was too noticeable. In fact, this contradiction has not gone away even today. Fashion constantly fluctuates between the most natural look and bold, striking looks.
How Makeup Has Changed in Europe
In the centuries that followed, ideas about what constituted a beautiful face were constantly changing. During one period, very fair skin was in fashion; during another, a rosy complexion was popular; and later, bold lips and heavily accentuated eyes became the trend. Makeup became particularly prominent in European aristocratic circles. Cosmetics became an integral part of a person’s image and could serve as a sign of their wealth and status.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, the range of cosmetics gradually expanded. New formulas, packaging, and application methods emerged. With advances in chemistry, manufacturers were able to create more stable pigments. Trade played a significant role in the spread of cosmetics. Beauty products gradually ceased to be exclusively the preserve of royal courts and wealthy families. By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, cosmetics had already evolved into a major commercial market.
One of the key brands in this history was Guerlain, founded in Paris in 1828. The company worked not only with perfumes but also with creams and decorative cosmetics. In 1870, Guerlain introduced a lipstick in a case, which the brand calls the first lipstick in a tube format with a replaceable case.
When Makeup Went Mainstream
The real explosion in the popularity of color cosmetics took place in the 20th century. Several factors contributed to this—film, photography, advertising, mass production, and the development of the chemical industry. Hollywood had a particularly strong influence on fashion. Actresses on the big screen became role models for millions of women, and cosmetics companies actively used these popular looks in their advertising.
In the 1920s, dark eyes, thin eyebrows, full lips, and a noticeable blush became popular. The image of women at that time differed greatly from the fashion of previous decades. In 1915, Maurice Lévy patented a metal container for lipstick, making it more suitable for mass production. And in 1917, Maybelline released Cake Mascara, which is often referred to in the history of cosmetics as the first modern mascara for everyday use.
These changes may seem minor, but it was precisely this convenient packaging that made cosmetics much more accessible. Lipstick no longer had to be applied from a large jar or prepared by hand. It could be slipped into a purse and used throughout the day.
How Beauty Trends Have Changed
In the 1930s, thin eyebrows and neatly defined lips were in vogue. Women sought to create a feminine and well-groomed look, which was actively showcased by movie stars.
In the 1940s, makeup became more subdued, but bold lips remained an important part of the look. The postwar years brought a new perspective on femininity and fashion.
The 1960s were completely different. Large eyes, graphic eyeliner, false eyelashes, and light-colored lips came to the forefront. It was then that eye makeup became one of the main ways to create a fashionable look.
In the 1970s, very different styles coexisted. Hippies favored a natural look, while glam and punk enthusiasts used bright colors, glitter, and contrasting looks.
The 1980s became the era of bold makeup. Bright eyeshadows, noticeable blush, contrasting colors, and defined eyebrows were all part of the fashion of that time.
And in the 1990s, grunge looks, dark lips, matte skin, and the famous smoky eyes became popular. In the 2000s, trends shifted again—bringing plenty of glitter, glossy lips, colorful eyeshadows, and thin eyebrows.
Makeup Today
Modern makeup doesn’t really have one “right” style. One day, a completely natural look might be in fashion, and the next—bright eyeshadows, graphic eyeliner, or an unusual lipstick. Social media has made beauty trends spread much faster. Whereas magazines, television, or movies used to popularize new looks, today all it takes is a single video on TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube.
Entire online communities dedicated to makeup have sprung up. People share step-by-step tutorials, test cosmetics, compare products, and create elaborate looks right at home. Creative makeup has become a genre of its own. Here, the face can literally become a canvas. Makeup artists work with unusual colors, textures, glitter, decorative elements, and even create illusions. That’s why makeup today isn’t necessarily about hiding imperfections. For many, it has become a way to express their personality, mood, or personal style.
Why Makeup Is Considered an Art
In professional makeup, it’s not enough to simply apply cosmetics to the face. A makeup artist works with shape, proportions, color, light, and shadow. The same person can look completely different depending on the technique used. Makeup can soften features, accentuate the eyes, alter the visual perception of facial shape, or create an entirely new look.
This is especially evident in film and on stage. There, makeup often has to work in harmony with the costume, hairstyle, lighting, and the character’s personality. A photo shoot also requires a special approach. What looks great in real life can look completely different under studio lights or in front of a camera. That’s why a professional makeup artist isn’t just someone who “paints.” They’re a specialist who must understand composition, color, and how makeup behaves on the skin under different conditions.
Interesting Facts About Makeup
Cosmetics weren’t used only by women. In Ancient Egypt, men also used cosmetics, particularly eye makeup. Archaeological finds clearly confirm this.
Kohl has a very long history. Egyptian cosmetic sticks and containers for kohl date back to the second millennium BCE.
Ancient cosmetic kits could be quite elaborate. The Metropolitan Museum of Art houses a kit that included eye makeup, tweezers, a razor, a whetstone, and a mirror.
Lipstick took on its convenient format over a hundred years ago. Maurice Levy’s metal lipstick container appeared in 1915 and helped make the product more suitable for mass marketing.
Cosmetics became part of popular culture thanks to the movies. Hollywood actresses and studio makeup artists had a major influence on which looks became popular among ordinary people.
There are no timeless trends in cosmetics. What seems beautiful and modern today may look outdated in ten years. And vice versa—fashion regularly brings back old techniques, such as graphic eyeliner, thin eyebrows, or glossy lips.
How to Celebrate International Makeup Day
The easiest way to celebrate this day is to try a makeup look you’ve been wanting to try for a long time. It could be a bold lipstick, unusual eyeshadow, colored eyeliner, or a new technique. You don’t have to create a complex, professional look right away. You can simply change one familiar detail. For example, swap black eyeliner for brown or a colored one, try a different shade of blush, or highlight your lips.
Another popular option is to have a beauty day with your friends. You can test out makeup together, take photos, exchange tips, and recreate interesting looks from social media. For professional makeup artists, this date can be an opportunity to showcase their work. Beauty bloggers post tutorials, makeup reviews, and photos of looks. Brands often hold promotions, workshops, and presentations of new products. These types of celebrations truly reflect how this date is observed in the modern beauty community.
It’s also a good day to go through your makeup bag. It’s best to throw away old mascara, expired cream products, and cosmetics that have changed in smell or texture. Celebrating beauty definitely shouldn’t lead to skin problems.
Makeup doesn’t necessarily mean a lot of products
One of the key features of the modern approach to makeup is that people are increasingly deciding for themselves how much makeup they need. Some feel comfortable with a full face of makeup, while others opt for just mascara or lip gloss. Makeup shouldn’t be a chore. It can be a way to enjoy the process, try something new, or simply highlight what a person likes about their own appearance.
That’s exactly why Makeup Day can be seen not as a call to use cosmetics, but as an opportunity to talk about beauty without strict rules. There’s no single “right” look. For one person, the best makeup might be a bold red accent. For another, it might be foundation, mascara, and a touch of blush. And some people might even spend September 10 without any makeup at all. That’s the main idea behind modern makeup—the freedom to choose. Makeup can change your appearance, but it shouldn’t define a person’s worth.
What You Can Do on September 10
Try a new technique. For example, colored eyeliner, an unusual blush placement, or a different way to do your eyes.
Have a photo shoot. Even simple makeup can look completely different under the right lighting.
Go through your makeup bag. It’s worth checking the expiration dates of your products and getting rid of anything you no longer use.
Check out the work of professional makeup artists. It’s a great way to find inspiration and discover new techniques.
Sign up for a workshop. If you’ve been wanting to learn how to do winged eyeliner, work with foundation, or choose colors correctly, September 10 could be a great place to start.
Try something out of the ordinary. Makeup Day is the perfect time for experiments you might not usually dare to try on a regular day.
Why This Holiday Remains Popular
Makeup has long since ceased to be just a set of cosmetic products. It has become part of fashion, film, photography, music, advertising, and social media. Over thousands of years, formulas, tools, and concepts of beauty have changed. Ancient Egyptian kohl, aristocratic white face powder, Hollywood red lipstick, the bold looks of the 1980s, and modern natural makeup seem like completely different things. But they all serve one basic function—they help people create their desired look.
That’s exactly why September 10 can be called a day not only of cosmetics but also of creativity. For some, it’s a profession; for others, a hobby; and for still others, a few pleasant minutes in front of the mirror. And if on this day you feel like picking up your brushes, opening your palette, and finally trying out that look you’ve seen on Pinterest or TikTok—that’s entirely in the spirit of the holiday.
International Makeup Day on September 10 reminds us of a simple truth: there’s no single template for beauty. Makeup can be subtle or bold, almost imperceptible or theatrical. The main thing is that it helps a person feel like themselves—or, for just one day, become someone completely different.
