The Make Up Archive (MUA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded by renowned makeup artist and beauty historian Erin Parsons.

MUA preserves her historic cosmetic collection, which includes more than 4,000 unique items, continuously expanding through new acquisitions and ongoing research on each individual piece.

The collection spans centuries of beauty history, with objects ranging from the early 1700s through the 1990s, and includes rare products, packaging, press archives, publications, and other printed ephemera related to the cultural and commercial history of makeup.

The archive is currently undergoing item-level cataloging, documentation, and description. All collected data is being integrated into a publicly accessible database, available through the foundation’s website. Once complete, this database will be the first comprehensive resource of its kind in the field of cosmetics history, offering an unparalleled tool for scholars, brands, collectors, journalists, and anyone interested in beauty’s evolution.

Our long-term mission is to open the first public makeup archive in New York City, providing access to this collection for all.

Team & contact