Curious about the Makeup Museum?  Hopefully this page will answer your queries! 

Does the world really need a beauty/makeup museum?  Why?

Of course!  Beauty is a multi-billion dollar-a-year industry.  Cosmetic history and objects need to be recorded and preserved to help us understand the industry's enormous influence on society.  On a superficial note,  makeup is pretty to look at!

Do you get any freebies from makeup companies?

Sadly, no.  Everything in the Museum is paid for with my own hard-earned cash.  Sometimes I receive items as gifts from friends and family, and I always acknowledge them as such.  When I refer to the Museum's "budget", it really just means my own personal money that I've set aside for Museum purchases.  If companies do ever want to throw free makeup at me, and I accept, I will definitely disclose it.

Collecting makeup is weird.  Aren't you supposed to actually USE it?  And won't it go bad after a while anyway?

Well, I don't think collecting it is so weird - no different than those who collect stamps or baseball cards.  There are people who collect staplers, teabags and pencils so having a collection of makeup, relatively speaking, isn't so strange.  I must also point out that there are museums devoted to things like water, toasters and Pez dispensers, so why not makeup?!  As for it going bad, most of the items in the collection are powder-based, which can hold up for many years  (provided you don't drop them, of course.)  If stored properly, cream and liquid-based items will last a long time as well.  Frankly, since the objects aren't being used, the issue of them going bad is moot.

I found an old compact/lipstick/other beauty item.  Can you identify it and/or tell me how much it's worth?

I LOVE getting inquiries and researching them.  I will do my best to identify the object and give you a ballpark figure in terms of value, but this is by no means definitive and should be taken with a grain of salt. Value depends on many factors, including the item's condition, rarity and the current market for such items.  Also, I reserve the right to share your inquiry (I won't use your name or any identifying information) and any pictures you might have at the Museum's website, unless you ask me not to.  Finally, please understand that since this isn't a full-time job for me I can't get back to you with an answer right away, but I always do respond eventually.  And if you have any other beauty-related questions I'm happy to help with those too.  I like to feel useful!

I'm interested in purchasing some of the items from the Museum.  Would you sell them to me?

No way, sorry.  I'd have to be on the verge of homelessness in order to deaccession any of the Museum's collection.