Book Review: ‘Eyeliner' examines the staple makeup product's revolutionary role in global society

Zahra Hankir's "Eyeliner: A Cultural History" takes readers on a global investigation of how the cosmetic product is used worldwide. Through intimate narratives with varied characters from different cultures and communities, we learn more about the product’s rise in prominence while having a fly-on-the-wall inside look at the ways it serves medicinal purposes, fuels spiritual practices and uplifts self-expression, says Associated Press reviewer Leslie Ambriz. For Hankir, eyeliner is more than just a cosmetic product. It provides protection and empowerment. It provides cultural connection. It exists beyond borders, gender roles and Western beauty standards.