1. Concept
Research into the history of cosmetics is still in its infancy. The word cosmetics (from the Greek kosmeín, “to arrange”, “to adorn”) only became current (originally as “cosmeticks”) in the 17th century (French cosmétique likewise; German Kosmetik from around 1800). From early periphrases on the “secrets of beauty” (German Geheimnisse, Italian secreti), terminology became more objective from the mid…