The major packaging for our makeup needs today comes in compact form. They vary - from plastic, to pewter, upwards from solid silver to gold plated. They come engraved with beautiful flowers or modern geometric designs or they can even be personalized with your own name or initials.

Compacts also come in many different shapes: oval, round, square and oblong. Many compacts if not all have mirrors in the lids so we can check our makeup for flaws throughout the day. All major and minor makeup companies sell their makeup blends in compact form.
 
Compacts are convenient in various ways, they take up less room in your makeup purse and they can hold many different products at one time. For instance, one compact may hold eyeliner, multiple eye shadow colors and eyebrow color all in the one compact palette, while yet another compact may contain foundation, blush, concealer, and face bronzer. So practically compacts are very economical.  But nothing says practical can’t be pretty even beautiful, and makeup companies have gone out of their way to make them just that.

When you get to the higher end of compact heaven, Shiseido, Givenchey, Yves St. Laurent, the humble compact becomes a work of art. Makeup companies compete for your business by displaying the most eye catching and beautiful compact designs they can envision. So all in all, the world of  makeup is a very “compact world.”