Happy cosmetics have been applied? (4,2)
I believe the answer is:
made up
'applied?' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are adjectives. Maybe there's an association between them I don't understand?
'happy cosmetics have been' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'happy' could be 'up' (I've seen this in other clues) and 'up' is located in the answer.
'been' could be 'made' (making is a kind of being) and 'made' is found in the answer.
No letters remain.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for made up that I've seen before include "Supplied" , "Put together" , "brought quarrel to an end" , "painted" , "Not true" .)