Text For History Poster

The origin of lipstick can be traced to 5000 years ago, in the ancient city of Ur, near Babylon. During this time, semi-precious stones were crushed and smeared on the lips as lipstick.

EGYPTIANS: Egyptian women squeezed out purple-red color from iodine and bromine, leading to serious diseases. With time, it came to be known as ‘the kiss of death’. It is said that Cleopatra’s lipstick were made from carmine beetles, which when worked with pestle gave a strong red color pigment. This was mixed with ant’s eggs, which provided the base. Apart from this, henna was also one of the preferred substances amongst Egyptians. To provide the shimmer to the lipstick, fish scales were used.

QUEEN ELIZABETH I: During the 16th century, the lipsticks became quite popular in England, under the rule of Queen Elizabeth I. She introduced the trend of chalk white faces, teamed with blood red lipstick. At this time, lipstick was made from beeswax and plants.

QUEEN VICTORIA: In 1770, the British Parliament passed a law that said a woman wearing lipstick could be tried for witch craft. Queen Victoria of Britain said it was considered “impolite” to wear any make-up. In the 1800’s wearing red on your lips meant you were “fast”.

In 1884, the history's first modern lipstick was introduced by perfumers in Paris - it was wrapped in silk paper and made with deer tallow, caster oil and beeswax.

20's: In 1920’s, women's rights groups wore red as a symbol of their new found power.

30's: Hollywood actresses such as Gloria Swanson and Lana Turner helped increase the popularity of the lipstick. Elizabeth Arden opened a beauty parlor in the 1930’s that helped the average woman access make-up. Lipstick producers in the US produced a range of colors like light pink, dark lilac and bright red.

50's: Women wore bright red lipstick, often a more orange toned red due to the source of color (cochineal) popular during the ration times of the war in the previous decade.

80's: In the 1980's fuchsia lip color was very popular.

PRESENT DAY: These days, lipstick is everywhere and is arguably the most popular cosmetic in the world.