What was lipstick first made of

There, chemist worked tirelessly on finding out new recipes for various cosmetic products that changed the shape and look of entire civilizations. Effects of their work can be found in the China, Japan and many other Asian countries, where lipsticks and other cosmetic products are heavily in use even today stark white Geishas with red or black painted lips for example.

Even though we have some proofs that various ancient civilizations used artificial means of improving their body look up to even 12 thousand years ago, manmade lipsticks that are not created directly from natural sources fruit or plant juices was created 5 thousand years ago in Mesopotamia current day Iraq. There, women grinded precious and semi-precious gems into dust that was carefully applied to their lips and eyelids. The biggest evolution of lipstick manufacture happened in Ancient Egypt , where entire population embraced cosmetic not only as a means to make them more beautiful, but also as a means to protect themselves from harsh sun and desert wind.

Their lipsticks became part of natural daily attire, except for the poorest classes who did not have the funds to procure even cheapest cosmetics.

Ancient Egyptians also wore red lipstick as an indicator of social status. Egyptian red lipstick was made from crushed bugs — an ingredient that still appears in many lipsticks today. In Ancient Greece, prostitutes were required by law to sport red lip pigment, lest they be confused for a respectable woman of the upper class.

Ancient Greek lipstick was made from a combination of red dye, sheep sweat, and crocodile droppings. At this time, red lipstick was made from beeswax and red plant-based dyes, and was worn only by upper class women.

However, by the s, red lipstick was outlawed in England on the basis that women were using cosmetics as a tool to seduce men into marriage. The charge? Similar laws prevailed in the United States, where a marriage could be annulled if it was found that the woman had been wearing red lipstick during courtship.

Until the late s, most lipstick was DIY, made with carmine dye extracted from insects called cochineal. The first commercially produced lipstick was invented in by French perfumers. This lipstick was formulated from a combination of deer tallow, castor oil, and beeswax. At this time, lipstick was not sold in the metal or plastic tubes we know today. Instead, it was sold in paper tubes, small pots, or wrapped in paper.

In the late s, Guerlain began to manufacture red lipstick made from grapefruit, butter, and wax. The Sears Roebuck catalog was selling rouge for the lips and cheeks in the late s. By , undisguised use of cosmetics was popular with fashionable women in Western culture. Metal lipstick tubes became available in , making it easier for women to reapply their lipstick on the go.

An interesting fact about ancient Egyptian lipstick—and makeup, in general, was that it was believed to have healing powers. As we mentioned earlier, this idea of cosmetics possessing strange powers is everywhere throughout our history as humans. Even in our modern age, we believe that the right look, the right combination of cosmetics can turn heads and expand the reach of our presence. Can it really be said that this is incorrect?

A woman wearing a sleek black dress and potent red lipstick is an iconic and commanding look to this day. Interestingly, the makeup that ancient Egyptians used DID have some kind of powers. While it was still poisonous because it was comprised of four lead-based chemicals: galena, cerussite, laurionite, and phosgenite.

It makes a great deal of sense as to why many ancient and even relatively recent civilizations had turned to using lead in their cosmetics.

It is quite easy to make a powder out of them and many metals create appealing colors that are difficult to obtain through organic nature. We take our understanding of science today for granted, without any foundational knowledge we too would be wearing lead and marveling its beauty of it. The geisha of Japan are a very well known aspect of cultural history. These women were entertainers who were well versed in the ways of dancing, singing, and entertaining guests.

In western culture, geisha were often confused with courtesans but they are not the same. The subtle grace, strength, and elegance of the geisha in social matters are what gave the impact behind the makeup that was used to create their white faces and stark red lipstick.

This lipstick in Japan at the time was created by mixing tar and beeswax and it created a very thick mixture. In ancient China, lipstick was originally used for religious ceremony but increasingly became used for its cosmetic purposes as time went on. In prehistoric times in ancient China, lipstick was more akin to a lip balm that was used by both women and men.

They were sourced from animal blood, minerals, and plant juices. Vermillion—a red pigment which is essentially mercuric sulfide was used to achieve a highly striking red pigment. This was mixed with animal fats and mineral wax. Boy, it looked really good, but as you can probably guess, it too was unbeknownst to them toxic.