Today's words · 💄 Beauty & skincare
Beauty aisle German: 10 words
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Once you can read the labels, a trip to a German drugstore gets twice as fun.
Browsing a German drugstore is a small joy of life here. Rows of creams, lipsticks and perfumes — but what does trockene Haut on the label mean, and how do you ask for something for spots?
Today's ten words are all about make-up and skincare. You'll be able to read the labels and ask for exactly what you want. 💄
📋 The ten words at a glance
🧠 Words, examples and memory tricks
die Kosmetik
[koss-MAY-tik]cosmetics; beauty care(sg.)
📌 Sie kauft Kosmetik in der Drogerie.
→ She buys cosmetics at the drugstore.
💡 From Greek kosmos (order, adornment) ✨ Basically cosmetics!
Bonus natural cosmetics = die Naturkosmetik
das Make-up
[mayk-AP]make-up(Pl. die Make-ups)
📌 Sie trägt heute kaum Make-up.
→ She is wearing hardly any make-up today.
💡 Borrowed straight from English 💋 It's das in German.
Bonus to take off your make-up = sich abschminken
schminken
[SHMING-ken]to put on make-up(schminkt – hat geschminkt)
📌 Sie schminkt sich vor dem Spiegel.
→ She's putting on her make-up in front of the mirror.
💡 The shhh of a brush as you put on make-up 🖌️
⚠ Usually reflexive: Ich schminke mich.
die Creme
[KREHM]cream (cosmetic; cooking)(Pl. die Cremes)
📌 Diese Creme ist gut für trockene Haut.
→ This cream is good for dry skin.
💡 From French crème 🧴 The cream you put on your face.
⚠ Cream for cooking or cake is usually die Sahne.
die Haut
[HOWT]skin(Pl. die Häute)
📌 Im Sommer brauche ich Creme für meine Haut.
→ In summer I need cream for my skin.
💡 Same root as English hide (skin) 🧖 It's what hides you!
Bonus dry skin = trockene Haut · oily = fettige Haut · sensitive = empfindliche Haut
das Parfüm
[par-FÜM]perfume(Pl. die Parfüms)
📌 Dein Parfüm riecht gut.
→ Your perfume smells nice.
💡 French parfum with a German ü 🌸 Round your lips for it!
der Lippenstift
[LIP-en-shtift]lipstick(Pl. die Lippenstifte)
📌 Sie trägt heute roten Lippenstift.
→ She's wearing red lipstick today.
💡 Lippe (lip) + Stift (pen) = a pen for your lips 💄
der Spiegel
[SHPEE-gel]mirror(Pl. die Spiegel)
📌 Er schaut in den Spiegel.
→ He looks in the mirror.
💡 From Latin speculum (mirror) 🪞 Also the name of a famous German news magazine.
die Drogerie
[dro-guh-REE]chemist's, drugstore (toiletries, cosmetics)(Pl. die Drogerien)
📌 Ich hole schnell Zahnpasta in der Drogerie.
→ I'll quickly get some toothpaste at the drugstore.
💡 Droge (herb, drug) + -erie (shop) 🛍️ Make-up, shampoo and cleaning stuff all in one place.
⚠ It's not a pharmacy! Prescription medicine comes from die Apotheke.
der Pickel
[PIK-el]spot, pimple, zit(Pl. die Pickel)
📌 Vor wichtigen Terminen bekomme ich immer einen Pickel.
→ I always get a spot before important appointments.
💡 A Pickel is a spot, not a pickle 😖
Bonus blemished skin = unreine Haut
🇩🇪 A spoonful of German culture
A German Drogerie sells make-up, shampoo, cleaning products and even organic snacks. Their own-brand products are cheap and decent, so lots of people swear by them.
For skin problems, a pharmacy (Apotheke) is worth a visit too. Pharmacies also sell skincare, and you can ask the pharmacist for advice.
Many people in Germany prefer a natural look with light make-up. Plenty also check ingredients carefully, which is why the Naturkosmetik shelves are often big. 🌿
✅ Quick quiz
Q. You want toothpaste, shampoo and a cheap hand cream in one go. Where do you go? “Ich gehe ___.”
- ① in die Apotheke
- ② in die Drogerie
- ③ zum Metzger
Show the answer
② in die Drogerie
For toiletries and cosmetics all at once, die Drogerie is the place.
Tonight in front of the mirror, say “Ich schminke mich ab.” and “Ich creme mein Gesicht ein.” out loud. 💆
🔜 Tomorrow's topic: 🧱 Materials & objects