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hile mortuary makeup services normally come as part of a funeral service package that can cost millions of rupiah, a Jakarta-based mortuary makeup artist, Gloria Elsa Hutasoit has decided to provide her services for free.

Having previously worked as a makeup artist and freelance photographer, Gloria switched career direction after the death of her aunt in January last year.

“I don’t want people to pay me for this, especially poor people. I believe that everyone deserves to look gorgeous before they face God,” she told The Jakarta Post recently.

To serve her purpose, she posted on her Facebook page on Jan. 3, 2018 that she wanted to receive donations of unwanted and expired cosmetics.

“Those of you who have expired makeup. Don’t throw it away. You can give it to me to make the dead beautiful for free. And for those who have relatives or neighbors who have died around Jakarta, especially those in a difficult economic situation, please contact me for free makeup services.” Gloria wrote on her personal Facebook page, along with her phone number.

Besides makeup, she also provides other free services related to the mortuary, ranging from washing the dead body to taking funeral ceremony photographs.

The post received almost 400 responses on Facebook and went viral recently after some twitter and Instagram users posted screenshots of her post.

Gloria expressed her gratitude for the publicity. She said that by becoming better known, it would be easier for her to get and use the donated cosmetics for those who needed them.

“It’s like a relay of good deeds. People give me their used or unwanted cosmetics, and then I give those to another person that needs them for free. I’m the messenger of their virtue,” Gloria said.

One of the Instagram users that helped Gloria’s post go viral, Anna Sindarsin, said that after learning that someone could make good use of unwanted and expired cosmetics, she would gladly donate her unwanted cosmetics not only to serve a humanitarian purpose but also to reduce the number of items she owned to achieve minimalist living.

“I will donate most of my lipsticks,” said the university student in Tangerang, Banten.

Sharing the same view, Rade Eva Panjaitan, 30, who posted on her twitter account on Jan. 30 a screenshot of Gloria’s Facebook post and got 4,900 retweets and 1,900 likes, said that she had collected some of her cosmetics for Gloria.

“It doesn’t matter if it is expired as long as it is still applicable, has no strange smell, no color change or damage. It’s more about how we utilize our unwanted things for those in need,” Rade said.

Asked about the kind of cosmetic products that she uses the most as a mortician, Gloria said she frequently used color corrector palettes to neutralize wounds, bruises, and dark spots. She also hoped that someone would provide her with more contouring tools for her to paint lifelike shadows on the faces.

“So that when people look down on their loved ones, they can see that at least the deceased appears to be alive and merely asleep,” she said.

Having received some cosmetics like black and pink neon lipsticks, skincare and hair care products, Gloria said that she would only accept products that were fit for the dead.

“As long as it is useful, I will accept it. And I don’t mind about the brands. I wouldn’t even hesitate to use the great and expensive Naked eyeshadow palette for my dead clients,” she said humorously. (ggq)