Every woman has used this type of decorative cosmetics at least once in her life. WomanHit.ru offers to trace the evolution of the main "girlfriend" from the cosmetic world together
Probably the most popular type of make-up is lipstick. No wonder women are buying it up in such quantities. Scientists have calculated that a woman eats three kilograms of lipstick in her entire life, which is interesting - a man eats several times more. From the lips of women, naturally. We invite you to find out the history of this truly feminine product.
There is a popular theory that the ancient Egyptian queen Cleopatra invented lipstick. The version, of course, is exciting, but experts do not agree with it. According to historians, the first attempts to beautify lips were made by prehistoric women during the Ice Age. Yes, already at that time women wanted attention.
Ancient women used dyes and plant stems to make lipstick. Of course, such a composition did not last long on the lips.
During the reign of the pharaohs, lipstick was an invariable attribute that accompanied a noble woman to the next world, so that after death she could look great. An interesting fact: in ancient Egypt, lipstick was used not to add volume to the lips, but, on the contrary, to reduce them. It was at that time that dark shades began to become widespread, making the lips thinner.
In ancient times, when "the ball was ruled" with whitewash with mercury, lipstick did not give up its positions. But in this era, brown was a popular shade.
In Greece and Rome, lipstick found a new life: more ingredients, such as clay, were added to it.
However, in medieval Europe, such a female accessory was not welcome. The church considered lipstick a devilish product, and those who use it as his henchmen. There were brave women who secretly acquired lipstick and contrived to use it without fear of the wrath of the church.
The Renaissance was an auspicious time for women looking to beautify themselves. Another thing is that the fair sex went too far with the amount of cosmetics, but this was only in the hands of manufacturers. At this time, the palette of shades became much wider.
Cosmetics became so widespread that in 17th century England a law was passed: if a husband after the wedding sees his wife without makeup and she turns out to be not as beautiful as before marriage, he can demand a divorce.
French society has introduced a new rule: only men can use lipstick to highlight lips against a white face. It is good that this rule went away with the death of Louis XVI. Women gained access to cosmetics only in the 19th century, and then actresses whose reputation was at the lowest level could use it. Women of average income considered lipstick a vulgar product.
However, at the end of the 19th century, passions subsided, and women of all walks of life gained access to lipstick.
It is the French who have the idea to make the lipstick fragrant. For this, grape extract was used. By the beginning of the 20th century, lipstick had entered the cosmetic bag of every self-respecting French woman. But the long-neglected cosmetic triumph was an exhibition in the Netherlands in 1903, after which the lipstick was recognized by women from all over the world.
Cinematography played a huge role in popularizing lipstick. The "great mute" opened the world to fashion for a white face with huge glowing eyes and not only tinted, but downright painted mouth the color of the ripe grapes. Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich, Joan Crawford - the stars of black and white cinema - became the trendsetters of "fashionable lips", millions of women around the world tried to be like them.
With the advent of cinema, initially black and white, dark lipstick, mostly red shades, became widespread. Only the method of application was changed to give the lips a certain shape. It all started with the classic shape called "Rosebud". This form was introduced into fashion by Hollywood makeup artist Max Factor. Then followed a series of experiments with the shape: from "swollen" lips to well-defined.
All this time, manufacturers have been trying to find a way to make the lipstick more durable. This "feat" was accomplished by Max Factor Jr., who, by adding various synthetic components, achieved the relative stability of the lipstick. Now women could kiss without fear of makeup.
During World War II, lipstick production declined due to a lack of essential oils, but women continued to use it anyway, thereby giving themselves confidence.
Since the 70s, the color palette has grown and changed: “nude” shades have appeared, ten years later, in the era of punk and rock, dark purple lipstick gained popularity, however, the fashion for it has passed, but nowadays this shade is quite popular among the bold young ladies.
Today lipstick has become a fashion accessory. Great importance is attached to the case: if a woman takes out a golden tube of a famous brand, she emphasizes her status.
We highly recommend having at least a few shades in your cosmetic bag. Believe me, lipstick can come in handy at the most unexpected moment!
