ABSTRACT
Humans have a basic need to change their appearance. The vastness of today’s cosmetics and toiletries industry clearly indicates this widespread and basic need for cosmetics. Perhaps this need arises because cosmetics allow us to make ourselves unique for rituals or societal reasons. We apparently have a primal need for cosmetics to provide for our well-being. Perhaps cosmetics serve as cures for the disease of being someone we prefer not to be. This chapter covers the history of cosmetics and of microbiology 4and how they merged into the new field of cosmetic microbiology. The intent of this chapter is to provide insight into this unique field of cosmetic microbiology. *
