Cosmetic close-up: Make-up now comes in high-def

NEW YORK -- Makeup sellers seeking to stand out amid crowded cosmetic counters are expanding into a niche once confined to those living under the scrutiny of the lens: high-definition makeup.

The cosmetics, once used just for newscasters, models and actors, are becoming more popular among women who want to appear like they would in HDTV: lifelike, flawless and picture-perfect.

Initially, professional makeup artists used HD cosmetics on celebrities filming in the new system so precise that every detail is magnified more than on standard television. Now, the makers of HD cosmetics are focusing on expanding their use among regular makeup wearers — although not everyone is convinced that consumers should be using HD makeup every day.

The cosmetics, which work when particles in them reflect light instead of absorbing it, are one of the latest trends to hit the industry as companies vie for market share. Morningstar analyst Michelle Chang says there is a "push for innovation" because the industry is so saturated with products.

"There's always companies trying to find a niche that they can fill," Chang says. "This is probably one of them, much like how mineral makeup took off in the past two years."

That form of makeup gained popularity with consumers seeking cosmetics made with natural ingredients, versus preservatives and other chemicals.

More makeup artists are learning how to apply HD makeup in advance of February, when the nation's broadcasters switch from analog to digital transmission. While not all digital broadcasts are in HD, even standard-definition programming looks sharper when it's sent digitally.

The better the image, the thinking goes, the more exquisite skin needs to look.

Cosmetic companies are already reporting a rise in the number of makeup artists coming for training on how to apply HD cosmetics by airbrush, a technique that gained popularity decades ago when MGM used it to paint extras as tan Romans for Ben Hur.

"The airbrush applies the makeup to the surface in a dot pattern and replicates the pixels that HD uses," says Samantha Mandor, a spokeswoman for cosmetics company Temptu. "With traditional makeup, you can see brush strokes; it really shows every flaw."