Makeup, as we know it, has only been commercially available in the last 100 years, but applying decoration to the face and body may be one of the oldest global social practices. In Face Paint, Lisa Eldridge reveals the entire history of the art form, from Egyptian and Classical times up through the Victorian age and golden era of Hollywood, and also surveys the cutting-edge makeup science of today and tomorrow. Face Paint explores the practical and idiosyncratic reasons behind makeup’s use, the actual materials employed over generations, and the glamorous icons that people emulate, it is also a social history of women and the ways in which we can understand their lives through the prism and impact of makeup.





Editorial Reviews

“Makeup artist and Lancome global creative director Lisa Eldridge drops serious knowledge in Face Paint, her book on the history of beautifying.”
(Marie Claire)

“Face Paint delves into the history of makeup, with glossy pictures to match . . . the book’s cover is striking.”
(New York Post)

“Clear your coffee table and turn off YouTube—Lisa Eldridge’s book is a must read.”
(Teen Vogue)










About the Author


Lisa Eldridge is one of the most respected and experienced makeup artists in the industry. She has worked on the faces of some the world's biggest and most glamorous stars, including Kate Winslet, Keira Knightley, Lily Collins, and Emma Watson, and with international publications such as Vogue, Elle, LOVE and Harper's Bazaar. Having previously held creative directorships, ambassadorial and developmental roles for leading brands including Shiseido, Chanel and Boots No7, Eldridge is currently Global Creative Director for Lancôme. The first professional makeup artist with her own dot com, since the launch of Eldridge's website, lisaeldridge.com, she has developed a large, global online following, while maintaining a high editorial profile. After living and working in Paris, New York and Los Angeles, Eldridge is now based in London. Her bestselling first book, FacePaint, is an accumulation of years of research into the history of makeup.