POSTED BY

Steven Leckart

AT 8:15 AM
Tuesday July 14, 2009

Accessories • Retro • Sex and Relationships • Theme Post • Tools

makeup • themes

A Visual History of Cosmetics Gadgetry

1989stencil.jpg Like the mobile phone, cosmetics is a fantastic example of a product category where the main design constraints are mobility and pocketability. From efficient, easier-to-use lipstick tubes to more compact compacts, we've proposed, then invented some pretty neat/wacky/seemingly-obvious/ingenious stuff for carrying, applying and removing makeup and other cosmetics.

Pictured is a patent for an eyebrow stencil kit from the late 1980's:

For the purpose of mobility a pair of wing shape stencils is connected by a nut and screw passing through the elongated slots which allows the stencils to move horizontally and vertically. This procedure allows the adjustment of horizontal distance and an angle of the eyebrow cut-outs simultaneously.

Seemingly helpful. I don't know why all eyebrow pencil pushers don't carry these today.

After the jump, check out inventions dating back to the late 1890s...*

*Note: this is by no means a complete history, just stuff I found intriguing. If you've got any particularly fun ones I missed, please leave info/links/suggestions in the comments.

1897.jpg
1897: A "curling-iron which may be heated and such heat maintained while the curling-iron is in use"
Patent number: 580877
Issue date: Apr 20, 1897


1898manicuring.jpg
1898: Combined Manicuring Device and Cigar-Cutter

Patent number: 612990
Filing date: May 11, 1898
Issue date: Oct 1898


1922crimper.jpg
1922: "Method and apparatus for curling eyelashes in several bunches"

Patent number: 1542014
Filing date: Jun 5, 1922
Issue date: Jun 16, 1925


1926compact.jpg
1926: a beauty compact with a "plurality of tubular parallel barrels [with] each socket member bearing a receptacle for beauty aids adapted to be partially and removably inserted within the respective receptacles"

Patent number: 1626312
Filing date: Dec 24, 1926
Issue date: Apr 1927


1927makeupbox.jpg
1927: "A theatrical makeup box for use by actors and actresses both as a handy carrying case for their makeup paraphernalia and as a dresser stand..."
Patent number: 1650241
Filing date: Jan 13, 1927
Issue date: Nov 1927


compact1933.jpg
1933: "a compact case cooperating with the said mascara brush such that the upper portion of the compact case is adapted to compress the protruding brush handle when the said upper portion latches with the lower portion of the compact case

Patent number: 1956936
Filing date: Apr 5, 1933
Issue date: May 1, 1934


1942.jpg
1942: A cartridge-type lipstick with a "means for preventing rotation"

Patent number: 2336328
Filing date: Jan 16, 1942
Issue date: Dec 1943


1960mask.jpg
1960: a face mask "designed to protect the face of the wearer from contact with atomized cosmetic preparations"
Patent number: 3060445
Filing date: Feb 10, 1960
Issue date: Oct 1962


1968finger brush.jpg
1968: "A finger-operated brush for the application of cosmetics"
Patent number: 3505700
Filing date: Jul 24, 1968
Issue date: Apr 1970


1972.jpg
1972: "A transfer for providing an eye shadow on an eyelid"

Patent number: 3568684
Issue date: Mar 1971


1986airbrush-thumb-275x316-23056.jpg
1986: "A portable aerosol airbrush type gun apparatus is used for applying liquid cosmetics."
Patent number: 4742963
Filing date: Feb 21, 1986
Issue date: May 10, 1988


1989stencil.jpg
1989: An eyebrow stencil kit for the "purpose of mobility a pair of wing shape stencils is connected by a nut and screw passing through the elongated slots which allows the stencils to move horizontally and vertically. This procedure allows the adjustment of horizontal distance and an angle of the eyebrow cut-outs simultaneously."
Patent number: 5186190
Filing date: Dec 7, 1989
Issue date: Feb 16, 1993


1991.jpg
1991: A disposable eye makeup shield
Patent number: 5050624

Filing date: Jan 2, 1991
Issue date: Sep 24, 1991

6 Comments

bazzargh

#1 – 9:18 AM July 14, 2009

How about this:

http://www.google.com/patents?id=uagoAAAAEBAJ&printsec=drawing&zoom=4

"A pedicure sock for keeping a foot warm during a pedicure. The pedicure sock having individual stalls for the toes which are truncated to leave the toe nails exposed. The stalls serving to separate the tops of the toes, where the toe nails are located, such that a pedicure can be easily performed"

I have to wonder where in the world is it warm enough that you can put your pedicured toes on show yet cold enough that you need to wear a sock while getting them done.

Kavuye

#2 – 10:27 AM July 14, 2009

Cool and harrowing

wonderama

#3 – 12:35 PM July 14, 2009

You can get eyebrow stencils at beauty supply stores. I've also seen them in some drug stores, but not many. Same idea as the one above, but they stick on. Example: http://www.eyebrowz.com/stencilcatalog.htm

Steven Leckart

#4 – 1:13 PM July 14, 2009

@wonderama:

I had no idea you could buy a stencil of Tyra Banks' eyebrow. Creepy!

wonderama

#5 – 6:59 AM July 15, 2009

A must have for smiling with your eyes!

missbaby0725

#6 – 10:13 PM October 15, 2009

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