I don’t know about you but I am fascinated by how the ‘little’ things we use every day actually come about. This factual account about Lipsticks and the ‘stories’ around them is quite interesting! Of course today there are pros and cons about using it based on its ingredients, see what you think…….

Interesting Facts and Tips about Lipstick

• First manmade lipsticks appeared around four to five thousand years ago in Ancient Mesopotamia. Women there used to grind precious gems and decorate lips with their dust.

• Powerful and wealthy Ancient Egyptians used lipsticks regularly. It is said that Cleopatra liked red lipstick.

• Lipsticks can be separated in several types – ordinary lipstick, glossy or glittery lipsticks, chapstick, moisturizing lipsticks, lip gloss and lip balm.

• Natural based lipsticks (colorful fruit and plant juices) were used by women since the prehistoric times.

• “Kiss of Death” is a term that is commonly associated with lipstick. It was coined because of the “femme fatale” phenomenon in fiction, but also because some ancient civilizations unknowingly used poisonous materials for making of lipstick.

• Some civilizations did not allow women to appear in public without extensive facial makeup. Japanese for example.

• 80% of the American women regularly wear lipstick and over 25% won’t leave house without wearing it.

• Lipsticks have expiration date and can become rancid. Storing them in fridges can prolong their life.

• Main ingredients of modern lipsticks are waxes (even natural beeswax), oils, pigments and emollients. For protecting lips against elements, lipsticks and lip gloss can also have vitamin E, collagen, amino acids, aloe vera, sunscreen and moisturizers.

• Lipsticks can contain fish scales, and castor oil that provides lips with shiny film that can’t be smeared easily.

• One of the most important factors in the popularization of lipstick among women were early 20th century advances in photography and film.

“Pour yourself a drink,

put on some lipstick,

and pull yourself together.” -

Elizabeth Taylor

• For the long time in European Middle Ages, red lipsticks was associated with Satan worshiping.

• Life in moist, windy and desert environments led to the widespread adoption of lip gloss in some ancient cultures. Most famously, Egyptian population used lip gloss regularly to protect their lips from heat and wind.

• Many women think that wrong shade of lipstick can age them. Choose carefully what color best suit you.

• During dark and middle ages in Europe, lipsticks were often viewed as a fashion accessory of prostitutes and lower class women. The only time when it was used in high circles was during and shortly after the reign of English Queen Elizabeth I.

• Clear lip balm is one of the most popular lipstick product in the modern market.

• Lip Gloss was introduced to the public in 1930 by Max Factor Company.

• 1998 survey of American women showed that 32% of them owned more than 20 lipsticks.

• Lipsticks became widely popular among female population after the rise of black and white movies in Hollywood.

• The most famous Actresses that popularized lipsticks were Greta Garbo, Joan Crawford, Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor.

• First swivel up lipstick in a tube appeared in 1923.

• Some of the most popular brands of lipstick are Revlon, Urban Decay, Cover Girl, Max Factor, Chanel, Christian Dior, Nina Ricci, and MAC Cosmetics.

• Black lipstick is associated with Goth and Punk subculture.

• Studies have shown that lipstick sales tend to rise during gloomy or rainy days.

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