Distinctions of race in ageing.

As society becomes more culturally and ethnically diverse the impact of race on ageing is becoming more and more diluted. The clearly defined descriptions of different races have begun to blur making it more difficult to predict how people will age.

There are three major racial/ancestral groups that have a distinct physical appearance:
- Caucasoid (European)
-  Negroid (African
- Mongoloid (Asian)
There are also a multplicity of physical appearances that exist within each of these groups.

56 - face shapes and bone distinctions between each major group

 European
Caucasian people are generally referred to as white (this is not necessarily true) Many Caucasian skulls preesent a seemingly flat profile, with retreating or backwards slanting zygomatic bones. Anterior skull shows longer and narrower nasal openings than its African or Asian derived counterparts.
 - Mediterranean
 short, olive complexion, dark hair and eyes, long head, oval face, small mouth
- Alpine
round head, broad face, dark complexion, dark wavy hair, thick eyebrows, brown eyes, heavy body hair
 - Nordic
- tall, light complexion, fair hair, blue eyes, long head and face, prominent nose and chin.

African
 - West African
long headed, medium statue, well developed long arms, short legs, projecting chin, broad nose, think lips, dark eyes
 - Nilotic
tall, slender, longer head
- Pygmies
short, dark hair, light brown with yellow to very dark chocolate brown, average stature of 4ft 6 in. round head, full lips, flat broad nose.
- Bushmen
short frizzy hair, yellow to olive skin, wrinkles at early age, small head, flat broad nose, below 5ft

Asian
- Chinese
medium stature, long to round head, yellow-brown pigmentation, oblique eyes with mongolian fold, black straight hair
- Japanese (fine)
tall and slender, elongated face, n arrow arched nose, straight or oblique eyes
- Japanese (course)
short, broad face, rounded nostrils, oblique eyes, darker complexions.

Knowing these traits is important for makeup artists not only so they can do racial transformations but also so you ca tell what race/combination of races people are and thereofore how they will age etc. For example doing an age sculpt for a Japenese face would be very different to how I will do my age sculpt and it is essential makeup artists know they differences and not just their own.

Debreceni, T (2013) Special Makeup Effects for stage and screen. 2^nd edition. Abingdon. Focal Press