Peiss, Kathy Lee

Explores the origins of the beauty culture and reveals its central role in the creation of modern American womanhood.

Discusses how young working women in New York City spent their free time and money at the beginning of the twentieth century.

A social history of cosmetics, looking at the ways in which women have used make-up to express their own sense of self and their role in society, and discussing the reasons why cosmetics--once primarily concocted in home kitchens--has grown to be a multi-billion dollar industry.