Why Was Lipstick Invented -

We all know lipstick has become a staple in today’s beauty world. A quick swipe with a red tube exudes confidence. Everyone in their soft-girl era has a tube of light pink lipstick as a staple. Lipstick has evolved to become lip gloss, lip crayons, lip oil, and every other lip product you can envision, but why was lipstick invented in the first place? This article will tell you everything you need to know about the fascinating history of lipstick.

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Ancient Beginnings

Ancient civilizations are responsible for the origins of this cosmetic staple. Sumerian men and women were among the first to put crushed gemstones on their lips about 5,000 years ago. Ancient Egypt saw men and women use copper and lead ore to paint their lips. Cleopatra famously wore red lipstick made with crushed carmine beetles to showcase her status.

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Status and Wealth

Cleopatra was well-known for using lipstick to showcase her wealth, but she started a trend that would never end. Most people realize one of the many answers to why was lipstick invented is to show your status.

Lipstick was carefully created using rare ingredients that most people couldn’t access. Carmine beetles were often used to make red lipstick, but this process required a lot of labor and, therefore, a significant amount of wealth.

Throughout ancient times, the answer to why lipstick was invented was that it was usually a status symbol. Red lipstick was a clear sign of someone’s social status, even if you didn’t know who they were.

Cultural Rituals

Lipstick was well-known for various purposes in various cultures. The answer to why lipstick was invented had a lot to do with location. Greek courtesans were known to wear bright red lipstick to recognize them easily.

Japanese geishas created their unique bright red lipstick using a combination of safflower petals and beeswax. Lipstick was used for ceremonies to symbolize a divine connection, protection, or fertility. It was often reserved for these rituals to enhance their power.

Lipstick Evolution

As with everything, the purpose of lipstick continued to evolve, as did the ingredients and perception. Throughout the Renaissance, many people avoided lipstick. No one cared why lipstick was invented. It was widely believed throughout Europe that anything you did to alter your appearance meant you were a witch. People quickly ditched their bright red lipstick in favor of a natural appearance to avoid accusations.

However, it didn’t take long for people like Queen Elizabeth to start wearing lipstick again by the 16th century. As soon as lipstick was worn by the royal family, it quickly made a comeback. The myth that lipstick meant someone was a witch was, for the most part, debunked.

This quickly saw an increase in the popularity of this cosmetic favorite. However, it was more than just people wearing lipstick. Instead, it no longer was seen as a sign of status or wealth. Instead, lipstick was on it’s way to becoming a well-known beauty staple.

The Lipstick Tube

Figuring out why lipstick was invented helps you understand the significance of the invention of the lipstick tube. Maurice Levy’s claim to fame in 1915 was the swivel-up lipstick tube that made it easier than ever before to carry and apply lipstick.

This quickly led to everyone wearing lipstick. It wasn’t long before it was mass-produced, commercialized, and a staple in everyone’s handbag.

Today’s Lipstick

Today’s lipstick brings elements of every previous version of lipstick with it. Although lipstick isn’t a well-known status symbol, certain beauty brands are. For example, some people insist on only having MAC lipstick tubes in their bags.

The myth that witches wore lipstick remains well-known. Many people know that lipstick is for everyone, but they also still believe that all witches wore lipstick during the era of the Salem Witch Trials.

More than anything, lipstick has become a beauty staple. It’s evolved into a cosmetic that’s used to display your personal style. Innovative formulas encourage healthy lips and include SPF. Lipstick is more about having fun and feeling confident than how much you spend on a lipstick tube.