cosmetic
n. countablen. a substance like cream, powder, or paint that you put on your face or body to improve your appearance. People often use these to hide marks or highlight their features.
n. a preparation or substance applied to the human body for cleansing, beautifying, or altering the appearance. Often used in the plural to refer to the general category of makeup products.
She keeps all her cosmetics in a small bag.
The store sells a wide range of natural cosmetics made without any synthetic chemicals or perfumes.
While the marketing focuses on the aesthetic benefits of the cosmetic, the underlying formula contains active ingredients designed to protect the skin from environmental pollutants.
From French cosmétique, from Ancient Greek κοσμητική (kosmētikḗ, “the art of dress and ornament”), κοσμητικός (kosmētikós), from κοσμητής (kosmētḗs, “orderer, director, decorator”), from κοσμέω (kosméō, “to order, to arrange, to rule, to adorn, to equip, to dress, to embellish”), from κόσμος (kósmos, “order”). By surface analysis, cosmos + -etic.
Frequently used in the plural form ('cosmetics') when referring to makeup in general.