Lipstick history: from prehistoric times up to now.

Lipstick case - a subject familiar to both men, and women. In recent years lipstick practically did not change, packing remained the same, the same appearance, way of drawing also did not undergo any changes. Whether somebody thought sometime of history of this cosmetic product? Whether knew that history of lipstick is connected with davleny bugs?

Invention of lipstick

Historians consider that the first lipsticks appeared about five thousand years ago, attribute this invention to beauties of Mesopotamia. As ornament they used the crushed semiprecious stones which applied on lips and around eyes. Women who lived in the valley of Indus three thousand years B.C. made up lips in red color with a special pigment. The famous women of fashion of the Egyptian also could not do without lipstick. For giving to lips of color they used a purple-red pigment which was received from seaweed. Impurity of iodine and bromine did this dye unsafe for health. According to some information Cleopatra, the most famous Egyptian in the history, made up lips with the lipstick made of the red pigment received from grated red ants and bugs. Till the 16th century lipstick was the privilege of exclusively royal persons and the aristocracy. The queen Elizabeth I, the famous fashion-maker, entered fashion for the lips which are made up by dark lipstick. Lipstick which used at Elizabeth was much safer, than that with which made up lips at court of Cleopatra as the new version was made of beeswax and vegetable dye of red color.


By the time of ascension on the Queen Victoria's throne, cosmetics and lipstick in particular passed into the category of means, unworthy noble ladies. Only women of easy virtue and actresses used cosmetics. But times changed, customs were softened and women of the most different social groups began to use cosmetics. In 1884 the Parisian perfumers presented to public the first modern lipstick, the cosmetic made of cervine fat, castor oil and beeswax. Development and popularity of mute cinema promoted also popularity of lipstick, actresses reckoned with black lips as style icons, and such image without lipstick could not be created. Approximately in the same time there was a lipstick in the getting-out tuba. In the thirties color scale of lipsticks considerably extended, on counters of cosmetic shops it was possible to see lipsticks of light pink, lilac and red color.

Today lipstick, probably, one of the most known products of decorative cosmetics in the world. Modern lipstick does not contain so disgusting ingredients as bugs and ants of times of Cleopatra, but in the press appear exposing opening from time to time about what actually contains in a lipstick case. In 2007 results of the researches proving availability of lead in lipsticks, and in the doses exceeding standards of content of similar substances in cosmetics were published. The truths for the sake of should be noted that the alternative to "lead" lipstick is - it is organic cosmetics. Organic lipstick is made only of natural ingredients - beeswax, castor oil and jojoba oil. The composition of modern organic lipstick a little in what differs from that which used the woman of fashion of times Elizabeth I.

The interesting facts about lipstick

Natural lipstick in the form of color pulp of fruit and juice of plants was familiar to women already in prehistoric times.
The bright phraseological unit "Kiss of Death" is often associated with lipstick. Its origin is connected with image of "femme fatale" which was widely duplicated in cinema and literature. The fact that in ancient times toxic agents were a part of lipstick quite justifies such gloomy epithet.
In some cultures women are forbidden to appear in public without make-up, in particular similar traditions are widespread in Japan.
More than 25% of women cannot leave the house without lipstick on lips.
Lipstick has a certain period of storage. If you want to prolong life the to lipstick, store it in the refrigerator.
Different types of wax including natural beeswax, oils, pigments and the softening components are a part of modern lipsticks. For protection and food of lips include vitamin E, collagen, amino acids, an aloe in composition of lipstick belief, sun-protection filters and the moisturizing substances.
As a part of lipstick it is possible to find fish scales and castor oil which provides a brilliant film on lips and prevents lipstick spreading.
In the Middle Ages bright red lipstick was associated with a cult of service to the Satan.
Incorrectly picked up tone of lipstick is capable to make old visually the woman for five-ten years.
The first modern lip gloss appeared in 1930 under the MaxFactor brand.
The special contribution to popularity of lipstick was made by recognized beauties of the screen, Greta Garbo, Joan Crawford, Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor.
Lipstick of black color in the modern world is associated not with silent cinema, and with subculture of Goths and panks.
Results of researches showed that the sales level of lipstick considerably increases in cloudy and rainy days.