About and History
Dedicated to the preservation, research and exhibition of cosmetics from antiquity through the 21st century, the Makeup Museum is a progressive, unique space that explores makeup design and packaging, culture and history from all eras. The Makeup Museum is the first comprehensive cosmetics museum in the U.S. and a leader in conceptualizing new ways of thinking about makeup and its cultural and artistic significance.
In 2006, the Museum's founder and curator had the idea to develop a coffee table book devoted to the most beautiful makeup from the 1990s and early 2000s. From that idea grew the bigger notion of an entire museum to display these objects, along with older pieces and a visual history of the beauty industry. In 2008 the Museum's website was launched as a way to chronicle new makeup releases, research cosmetic objects and champion the idea of a dedicated cosmetics museum on a global scale.
The Makeup Museum is a member of the International Perfume Bottle Association, the British Compact Collectors Society and the American Alliance of Museums.
Location and hours
There is no public physical space for the Museum yet, but private in-person tours of the collection can be arranged and admission is FREE! Plus, the magic of the internet means you can visit online 24/7. The collection as well as most exhibitions are displayed in the Curator's Baltimore, Maryland home, while more in-depth exhibitions can be found here. Temporary/pop-up spaces are continually being explored. Subscribe to the blog feed or sign up for email updates for Museum news and announcements.
Museum Services and Inquiries
The Museum welcomes all inquiries. Please contact the Curator with any loan requests or photography permissions. The Curator is also available for press interviews, speaking engagements, research assistance, book contributions and other projects.
If you have an object you'd like to learn more about, please email the Curator with photos and any information you have. However, the Museum cannot provide valuations of artifacts. See the FAQ's web page for details on object inquiries.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Makeup Museum is to:
- Preserve and document cosmetic objects from all eras and cultures, both for makeup consumers and the general public.
- Promote these objects as legitimate artifacts by examining the history, design, and artistic inspiration behind them.
- Explore the sociological and cultural significance of cosmetic objects, including their usage and advertising, along with makeup artistry and trends.
- Research and record the history of the cosmetic industry.
- Educate the public on the artistic, cultural, and historic value of makeup through exhibitions and publications.