A Complete History Of Lipsticks (2 of 6)

Egyptians were also avid lipstick wearers, and often wore shades of black and purple. They used carmine dye from cochineal insects for their lipsticks, which is still used in formulas to this day. But the Egyptians also used dangerous substances like iodine and bromine man-nite.

Japanese cultures also used lipstick, which they derived from tar and beeswax and resulted in a thicker formula.

In 9 AD, Arab scientist Abulcasis actually discovered how to make solid lipstick by chance through his invention of a solid approach to perfume application. He then used the same mold and method for solid lipstick.

Lipstick for Prostitution in the Middle Ages

As the puritanical beliefs of Christianity became more widely accepted, the church condemned lipstick and any other use of makeup. Red lips became a symbol of Satanic worship, and thus were associated with witches and sorcery. Because of this, women had to resort to stealthy ways of adding some color to their lips. They would secretly add color to the acceptable lip salves, or pitch, bite or rub their lips for some added rouge.

Queen Elizabeth in the 16th Century

Lipstick began to make a reappearance and underwent a shift in perception in England during Queen Elizabeth’s reign. She was one of the pioneers of the popular look of white skin and red lips. Throughout that time period and centuries later, lipstick was only available and acceptable for use by noble ladies, actors, and actresses on stage.