10 Things You May Not Know About Lipstick

by | Dec 1, 2022 | Style & Fashion

1. Lip paint was first used as far back as biblical times.

Both men and women wore lip color made from a mixture of red ochre, carmine, wax, or animal fat. In ancient Egypt, magenta, blue-black and red were the popular shades, and wearing lip color was a status symbol.

2. In Ancient Greece, lipstick became associated with prostitutes.

Eventually it became law that prostitutes must wear lip color, in order for men to be able to identify them. Prostitutes caught without lipstick would be prosecuted for “posing as ladies”.

3. In the ancient world, lipstick often contained ingredients like lead, iron ore and fucus (a type of algae) which made its wearers sick.

Less poisonous, but equally odd ingredients such as fish scales, crocodile excrement, human saliva and sheep sweat, as well as the less repulsive crushed gemstones, were also used.

4. Queen Elizabeth I believed that lipstick had magical healing powers so she made heavy use of lipstick at times when she was ill.

However, many of the lipsticks made during those times contained lead, which would slowly poison the user and cause death. The irony of this is that she was found to have half an inch of lipstick on her lips when she died.

5. In the Middle Ages, using lipstick was considered satanic and so its use was outlawed by the Church.

6. During the 1700s, some women in America would suck on lemons all day long in order to redden their lips.

7. Until the French Revolution, men also wore lipstick, especially during the Renaissance period.

8. The Lipstick Effect

This is an economic theory that says that in times of financial crisis, consumers spend more money on less expensive luxury items. This was also backed by the apparent rise in lipstick sales after the 9/11 attacks. Scientists believe this is because women are hard-wired from creation to make more of an effort to attract mates during a crisis as a means to preserve the human race.

During World War II, when resources were scarce and incomes were diminished, the sale of lipstick skyrocketed. After the 9/11 attacks in New York, the New York Times reported that lipstick sales in the state almost doubled. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic – in which the population was wearing face masks that covered our mouths – lipstick sales increased. Recently, CNN reported that lipstick sales in the US had increased by 80% in 2021!

9. Before the days of color television, when TV shows were in black and white, the cameras had red filters, which made red lipstick or natural lip color look dull and pale. To get the desired effect, actors used green lipstick.

10. Guerlain’s KissKiss Gold and Diamonds Lipstick, which comes in an 18-carat gold diamond studded case, is one of the most expensive lipsticks in the world, costing over $60,000!

Bonus facts: 

It has been estimated that women who wear lipstick daily eat 2 kg (4 lbs) of lipstick in their lifetime. While this may or may not be true, it is true that when you wear lipstick, you end up ingesting most of it. 

Expiration date: Did you know that lipstick has an expiration date? Yup! Lipstick contains oil-based ingredients that can go rancid. To prolong the life of your lipstick, keep it in the refrigerator.

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