Cosmetics

Make up (gandhavilepana) is cosmetic or perfumed substances put on the body for the purposes of beautification by masking blemishes and covering odours.

One of the eight Precepts which committed Buddhists practice on half and full-moon days is not to use makeup or personal adornment. Harmless in themselves, makeup and adornment represent the desire to make things appear different from what they actually are. At least twice a month serious lay Buddhists abstain from applying makeup and give themselves to recognising, accepting and being content with the present reality. Monks and nuns are asked not to use ‘garlands, perfumes, cosmetics, ornaments and adornments’ for the reasons stated above but also because they require so much time and expense (D.I,5).

References

• Buddhism A to Z. Ven. Dhammika, 2007.