Makeup once illegal, but Iran now hosting cosmetics fair

Published February 8th, 2001 - 03:00 GMT

Islamic Iran, where makeup was once considered a sign of depravity on a woman, will host its first-ever beauty and cosmetics fair in February.

The seven-day expo, beginning Saturday in Iran's Gulf free-trade zone of Kish Island, will feature the latest in textiles and cosmetics from local manufacturers as well as firms from Azerbaijan, South Africa, Syria and the United Arab Emirates.

"In addition to looking at possible cooperation between foreign and domestic producers, the other goal of the fair is to make women aware of the dangers of counterfeit products," organizers were quoted as saying.

Authorities outlawed makeup in the early years after the 1979 Islamic revolution, but beauty products from leading brands worldwide are now available throughout the country. — (AFP, Tehran)