It’s called the “makeup tax” – referring to the time, money, and energy spent by those who wear makeup.
On this edition of Talk of Iowa, Charity Nebbe hosts a discussion on makeup culture in the U.S. and why the cosmetic industry in the country is worth more than $62 billion.
Joining the show: Gigi Durham, professor and collegiate scholar at the University of Iowa, Rachel Weingarten, beauty historian and author of Hello Gorgeous!: Beauty Products in America '40s-'60s, and Caty Leonetti, a makeup artist from Des Moines.
They discuss the evolution of makeup use, how it plays into expectations and norms in our society, as well as research on how wearing makeup affects the success of women in the business world. They also delve into the history of cosmetics, including poisonous beginnings and periods of history when men were the trend setters.
