Lipstick: The Evolution & History of this Cosmetic

Ancient Egypt comes to mind when I think about the evolution of lipstick and other makeup, it is true. Not to mention the other places like Samaria, Greece and Babylonia where women wore makeup, years ago. This was long before it was introduced to the Western world. Elizabeth I wore mercuric sulfide to color her lips. The ladies of her court were even encouraged to wear it. Also known as Cinnabar, mercuric sulfide, is a red lead type crystal.

Up and Coming

In our society, makeup in general was wore by street walkers and just promiscuous women in general, back in the early nineteenth century. It wasn't accepted by society until the twentieth century. I wear very little makeup and very rarely wear lipstick, unless it is a cool earth tone that you cannot hardly see. That is only on certain occasions. I am a believer of 'if they can tell that you are wearing it, then you shouldn't be'. I wear it only to bring out facial features and to smooth out facial flaws. Like I said only on certain occasion. My lipstick is lip gloss, usually.

On the subject of lipstick, you remember those old black and white movies where the women had 'black' lipstick. Well in fact, that was bright red lipstick. They went all out didn't they? Haha. Also, I will throw in a tid-bit from a previous article I wrote... women didn't start cutting their hair until this era as well. See where 'society' has taken us? My opinion: women's libs went too liberal. Sad but face it, it is true!! Women have become another sex, I am sorry. Sometimes I don't even want to be classified as a woman. To be truthful, I would rather much be classified as a lady, because that is what I am. Okay this is way off but I had to include it. It's not about makeup, it's about ATTITUDE (another article).

The first push-up lipstick came out in 1915. It is made up of dyes and pigments in an oil-wax base. Sound tasty? Lipstick now and days can range from about $4.00 to $50.00. They can be bought in plastic or metallic containers. The tube is about three inches in length. It is made of two parts. The actual container that holds the stick of lipstick and the cover that protects it.

What's In It?