Nov 22, 2006 19:46
17 yrs ago
10 viewers *
French term

matière

French to English Marketing Cosmetics, Beauty make-up
From a make-up application workshop.
I'm having a block on matière. Matter, materials, sounds too scientific or construction site. In other cosmetic contexts, I have been able to use "texture/textural" (ex. effets de matière), but it won't work here since they already talk about texture in the French. Any brainstorming ideas are more than welcome! Substance maybe? arg!

Pour le maquilleur la maîtrise de la couleur passe par la matière !
Une belle couleur c’est avant tout une belle matière !
En maquillage la couleur est créée pour s’épanouir sur la peau, la matière est donc capitale.
Les textures servent de support à la couleur, elles en révèlent les vibrations et offrent une multitudes de contrastes supplémentaires : crèmes, poudres, mates, satinées, irisées, velours, pailletées, lamées…

LES MATIERES (faire produire le groupe)
Quelles sont les matières à la disposition du maquilleur ?
Des crèmes, des poudres, des gels…en bref des produits… mais pour le maquilleur la matière première essentielle : c’est la peau !
Votes to reclassify question as PRO/non-PRO:

Non-PRO (1): Julie Barber

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Proposed translations

17 hrs
Selected

nfg - I would go with texture

I've done a number of similar translations and my first instinct was texture as well before I read your context & comments. Materials could work in some instances, but makeup materials can also imply equipment, which could create some confusion in this context.

As you've evidently found "texture" is a common rendering for "matiere" in cosmetics...

And it seems to me the text uses "texture (fr)" as a synonym for "matiere" - i.e., crèmes, poudres, etc. follows both words... The only hitch is skin, which has a texture but is not one. You could get around that, as Sylvia suggests, by finding another way of translating "matiere premiere", or perhaps by rewording - i.e.,
The most essential texture of all, of course, is that of the skin!

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Note added at 17 hrs (2006-11-23 13:29:46 GMT)
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another idea:

...for the makeup artist, texture comes second to the base on which it rests: the skin!



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Note added at 17 hrs (2006-11-23 13:31:29 GMT)
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thanks, Mara - I'm happy that helped...

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Note added at 1 day19 hrs (2006-11-24 15:21:21 GMT) Post-grading
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Thanks, Mara - since you had mentioned texture yourself, I didn't see how I could post it for points, but if the rest of my post helped clarify I'm happy to have them ;-).
Note from asker:
Tamara, you seem to have found the words to convey what was bothering me about "materials".
Sorry, Tamara, even though you marked NFG, this really was the most helpful answer!
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
+1
5 mins

medium

the expression is used in art and could help you with all those synonyms :)
Peer comment(s):

agree Sandra C.
7 mins
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+2
33 mins

quality of the products or materials used

materials seems fine to me
Peer comment(s):

agree Carol Gullidge
48 mins
agree suezen : with materials
50 mins
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+2
1 hr

substance/basic materials

I think substance works well and comes up quite frequently but I agree with CMJ that materials is also a commonly used option. Also thought of element but am not convinced it would work as a heading
Cosmetics or make-up are substances used to enhance the beauty of the human body. ... the Aristowax balls or rolls up as the cream is rubbed into the skin. ...
makeup is an element that is best when it goes ... Black males and other males with dark skin may not need makeup at all. ...
www.cybercollege.com/makeup.htm - 24k
www.answers.com/topic/cosmetics - 97k
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmetics - 49k
Hyaluronic Acid is a naturally occurring substance that firms, tones and rehydrates skin ? More Like This. Find Other Eye Makeup... ...
www.nextag.com/Derma_-_E--2700065/brand-html - 77k
Peer comment(s):

agree Bourth (X) : Substance. I wish my daughter would not abuse it (in this sense). // Make-up.//And dads will be dads. Can't make her see that makeup only takes her down to the level of girls not as pretty as she is without it ...
3 hrs
thanks Bourth ... girls will be girls :-) well, if she's the pretty girl in the photo, I agree entirely ... you'll have to watch out!
agree iol : "basic substance"...although it might not be really suitable with "peau"....in the last sentence.
9 hrs
thanks iol
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1 hr

material

The last example you gave, matière première, is the clincher for me. The normal translation is 'raw material'. I can see where 'medium' might work in other places, but how you can get across the meaning of matière première without alluding to the chemicals involved in formulation, I'm not sure. Personally, I think materials is pretty standard in the cosmetic industry so I would use it throughout. Substance is the only alternative I can think of based on the core meaning of 'matière'.
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4 hrs

consistency/(raw) ingredient

maybe?
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11 hrs

application

You may want to consider using 2 different english words (scary, I know), to get the idea across.

For example, in the first phrase, you could say something like "perfect colour starts with a perfect application" - because they seem to be talking about how the "material" effects how the make-up (colour) is applied.

Then in the second part, "Les Matières" they seem to be talking more about the actual material, texture, etc.

Just an idea - hope it helps!
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