From Ancient Egypt to Madonna: the history of red lipstick. Lipstick (history of invention)

How lipstick changed in different eras: Ancient East, Antiquity, medieval Europe, New and Modern times. Interesting Facts from the history of lipstick.

Women's lips have always been an object of admiration for men. Poets and musicians compared them to rose petals, and artists tried to convey the sensuality and beauty of girlish lips on their canvases. This attention to women's lips was explained by the appearance of lipstick - essential attribute beauty and coquetry of a true lady.

The history of lipstick

Ancient world

The history of lipstick is a road laid through millennia. Since ancient times, women have sought to emphasize their beauty and attractiveness. It is known that even in Mesopotamia - the cradle of Eurasian civilization, bright color lips were achieved using semi-precious stones, crushed into powder.

In Ancient Egypt, graceful clothes were fashionable. thin lips bright red color: you can see this by looking at the portraits of the beautiful Nefertiti. Lip dyes were made from a mixture of bromine, iodine and red algae. They also added carmine to the lipstick, a pigment obtained from the dried cochineal insect.

Cleopatra was a big fan of lipstick: the queen used a mixture of red ocher and hematite. Egyptian women did not want to part with lipstick not only during life: even into the afterlife they took it with them. Antique beauties tinted their lips with color greasy clay, Old Russian women– raspberry, strawberry and beet juice.

Middle Ages

In the 17th century, lipstick was made from more gentle ingredients: beeswax, plant extracts, geranium petals. After French perfumers added coloring substances to the colorless fragrant ointment made for Cardinal Richelieu, the ladies of the court also paid attention to it.

Thanks to Queen Elizabeth I, bright red lips combined with pale skin became fashionable. And in the 18th century, at the court of Louis XVI, not only women, but also men used lipstick: with its help they emphasized the contours of their lips so that they would not get lost in the mustache and beard.

However, medieval Europe was full of contradictions. In the mid-17th century, the Christian Church condemned the use of cosmetics. Women with lipstick were called witches and condemned to eternal torment in hell. The very fact of tinting one’s lips was considered a crime, and lipstick was considered a “tool of the devil”, with the help of which unmarried girls seduced men. A law passed by the British Parliament in 1770 stated that these unholy individuals deserved to be burned at the stake for witchcraft.

This is interesting! The lipstick shades women preferred varied depending on the country and era. Hot pink color was very popular during the Renaissance - among wealthy Venetian women. Gold paint was used in ancient India (). African women painted their lips black. And the “nude” style, when the lips completely merge with the skin, was invented by Egyptians.

New time

Lipstick began to acquire its modern appearance at the end of the 19th century.

1883 is considered the birthday of lipstick in a tube: French perfumers at an exhibition in Amsterdam presented the world with their discovery - lipstick made from deer fat in the form of a miniature rod wrapped in a silk shred. The new item was immediately purchased by the Legendary Sarah Bernhardt (), fascinated by its seductive, bright cherry hue. True, lipstick in a tube was so expensive that for most women it was an unaffordable luxury.

Modern times

A real revolution in the fashion world was the Valaz Lip-Listre lipstick from the queen of cosmetics, Elena Rubinstein: it cost only a few dollars. This is how affordable lipstick appeared on the shelves of perfume stores. Manufacturers of the “cherished tubes,” including Elizabeth Arden, Elena Rubinstein, Max Factor, competed with each other for the right to make a woman fashionable, beautiful and unique. New lipstick colors appeared, its texture improved, and manufacturers came up with more convenient tube shapes. Max Factor invented lip gloss, and Elizabeth Arden founded the Beauty Institute, which taught women the intricacies of using decorative cosmetics.

Post-war years

After World War II, the little magic tube could be found in every woman's purse. And when in 1947 Paris gave the world “lipstick that allowed you to kiss”, called “Le Rouge Baiser” (“Red Kiss”), which in addition to durability had another advantage - a rich color palette, women began to paint their lips not only for evening going out, but also during the day, for example, to go shopping.

The production of lipstick was constantly improved, and in 1949 it was automated: the Americans came up with special machines for the production of plastic and metal tubes.

Film actresses played a major role in the popularity of lipstick, including Gloria Svenson, Asta Nielsen, Mary Pickford, Marlene Dietrich, Elizabeth Taylor, Lara Turner. All women tried to imitate them, and the popularity of lipstick grew uncontrollably.

And let in Soviet times The range of lipsticks was very modest, but today there are no restrictions. In cosmetic stores there is a lipstick for every taste and budget. Cleopatra herself would envy modern women.

Time erases borders, changes the outlines of cities and dictates new rules. Stepping through the centuries, lipstick has changed and transformed. Only its purpose remains unchanged - .

Lipsticks of all kinds of colors and shades have long become an everyday necessity. Today it is difficult to imagine that once upon a time women did not know about its existence. After all, we women tend not to think about the origin of the most common things. Do you know what the history of lipstick is..... red lipstick?

The history of red lipstick goes back to Ancient Egypt, which was famous for its Egyptians used bright red ocher lipstick to make their lips more graceful and thinner. Was a big fan of red lipstick

In the Middle Age history of red lipstick is interrupted. At that time, using any cosmetic products could lead to being burned at the stake; a woman who used them was certainly considered a witch.

The history of red lipstick is being renewed during the Renaissance. At that time, cosmetics were in great demand. Proof of this is, for example, the fact that in England in the 17th century a law was passed stating that the husband had every right file for divorce if the wife after the wedding turns out to be not as beautiful as before marriage. Or the fact that in France at the same time, not only women, but also men used cosmetics. At the court of Louis XVI, this was a common occurrence: courtiers emphasized the contours of the mouth so that they would not be lost in the beard and mustache. Cardinal De Richelieu himself used this lipstick.

But, in 1800, Queen Victoria openly declared her rejection of any shades, claiming that wearing any kind of makeup was “vulgar.” Red lipstick was considered a sign of a frivolous woman.

The second birth of this red lipstick took place during the World Exhibition in Amsterdam, held in 1803, when French perfumers presented to the public a red lipstick in the form of a pencil.

Fashion designer Coco Chanel, who revolutionized the look, believed that red lipstick should accompany us, dear ladies, throughout our lives. After all, red lipstick is a symbol of a strong woman.

Marilyn Monroe, in general, never parted with red lipstick. Blonde strands, thick black eyelashes, and, in fact, dazzling scarlet lips themselves - this is how she went down in the history of cinema and fashion.

Red lipstick- This universal tool, which fits equally organically into the combination - “exquisite Evening Dress- elegant stiletto heels”, and in – “worn jeans-glamorous ankle boots”. The main thing is to choose the right tone! In fact, there is no girl who doesn't look good with red lipstick.

Today on the cosmetics market, red lipstick comes in a wide variety of textures and

The history of lipstick goes back to distant Ancient Egypt, which was famous for its cosmetics. Egyptian women used bright and dark lipstick and red ocher to make your lips more graceful and thin. The women of Egypt were so attached to their cosmetics that after their death, during burial, the cosmetics went with them to another world.

In the Middle Age history of lipstick is interrupted. At that time, using such cosmetics could lead to a bonfire in the central square, since a woman who used lipstick would certainly be considered a witch. Resumes history of lipstick during the Renaissance. At that time, the cult of beauty reigned, and cosmetics were in great demand. Proof of this is, for example, the fact that in England in the 17th century a law was passed stating that a husband has every right to file for divorce if his wife after the wedding turns out to be not as beautiful as before marriage. Or the fact that in France at the same time, not only women, but also men used cosmetics.

Modern history of lipstick

The history of lipstick in modern times began in 1883 in Amsterdam. At that time, the World Exhibition was taking place there. The first lipstick made from deer fat created a real sensation. It still bore little resemblance to modern lipstick - it was just a paint stick wrapped in a piece of silk. Not all women immediately appreciated this new product; it was both attractive and frightening at the same time. One of the first fans of lipstick was actress Sarah Bernhardt.

The usual lipstick tubes appeared only in 1915. After this, lipstick began to gain its current popularity. For a long time lipstick was produced only in red, since carmine was the only dye used in its production.

History of lipstick popularity

When lipstick first appeared, it was available only to wealthy women, since in modern terms it cost about $75. And in 1920, the history of lipstick began to gain momentum due to the fact that Elena Rubinstein began producing lipstick that was accessible to women of all segments of the population. Her lipstick cost no more than a few dollars. And a little later, the history of lipstick was replenished with another new product - Hazel Bishop released a lipstick that does not wear off when kissed.

For the first time, residents of Mesopotamia thought of highlighting lips against the background of the face. Their lipstick consisted of red pigment, animal fat and beeswax

Among fashionistas who lived on the banks of the Nile many centuries ago, lipstick, blush and mascara were not uncommon. Dark shades of lipstick were popular back then. Following the ideas of the ancient Egyptians about beauty, women with the help of lipstick tried not to enlarge their lips, but rather to reduce them so that they merged into an elegant thin line.nu. It was obtained from red ocher and natural iron oxides

Lipstick was loved by all women Ancient Egypt- from simple people to empresses themselves! For example, Nefertiti preferred lipstick made from mother-of-pearl of sea mollusk shells, and Cleopatra from the same red ocher. But, unfortunately, such lipstick was not harmless...

The Egyptian queen Hatshepsut in 1450 BC organized a large military campaign in the country of Punt in East Africa. The mistress wanted to get there safe paint for the mouth - carmine, which was made from small insects. They were boiled, ground with goat fat and poured into small clay pots. Due to the shortage of this expensive substance, ancient Egyptians painted their lips with a mixture of beeswax and red lead - iron oxide. Cinnabar, a mercury sulfide, was also used. The lips merged into a fragile thin line and purchased beautiful colour, but their kisses usually turned deadly. And, as you know, medicine was not particularly developed at that time... But what beautiful lips could be obtained by painting them with this magic remedy!!! Egyptian women loved lipstick so much that they took it with them to the Underworld so that they could look beautiful even after death...

Women Ancient Greece were also captivated by lipstick.They kept it in small gold boxes, and painted on the lips with special sticks or a finger. Roman girls and matrons began to dilute carmine with lead white. The color of the lips became more natural, but because of this lipstick, women were often poisoned by lead salts. Roman physician Galen in the 2nd century. AD wrote that lipstick makes women's breath unclean and their lips become covered with ulcers.

Ancient beauties tinted their lips with colored, oily clay. And in Rus', beautiful girls enhanced the freshness and brightness of their already sugary lips with the help of natural products: beets, raspberries, strawberries

Today it’s hard to believe that five hundred years ago a young lady with painted lips was considered a sinner and a frivolous person. The use of lipstick could easily become a reason to accuse a woman of witchcraft. Therefore, even a minor make-up often served as a pretext for the bloody torture of the Inquisition and the public burning of the culprit

Lipstick began to be considered a sign of vulgarity. She was not favored by the great enlighteners and was angrily condemned by the Church. In this regard, this historical fact is curious. At the end of the 16th century, the English parliament passed a verdict: if a man, after the wedding, notices that his wife is not as beautiful as during the matchmaking period, since she then painted her lips and face, then the husband has the right to divorce, leaving the deceiver not the slightest chance for “correction.” »

The revival in the field of cosmetics happened only during the Renaissance, when the cult of beauty began. The fashion for scarlet lips has been revived British Queen Elizabeth I. She painted her lips with a mixture of fig juice, egg white and ground red cochineal grains, thereby highlighting the pallor of the face

However, we still owe the appearance of lipstick in its current form not to a woman, but... to a man - the French cardinal Duke Richelieu, who had a weakness for apple scent.He loved it so much that he always kept apples in his desk drawer. One day, a doctor prepared a fragrant ointment for Richelieu, which he called lipstick (from the French pomme - apple - author's note). His Eminence was very pleased: he began to lubricate the tip of his nose or upper lip new product while enjoying your favorite scent. Of course, the cardinal's lipstick was colorless, but adding a coloring agent to a suitable oily base is mere trifles

In France at that time, lipstick was made only from natural products, and it was intended not only for women: for example, at the court of Louis XVI, men also painted their lips so that the contours of the mouth were visible and did not merge with the beard and mustache

And the deer fat-based lipstick that appeared in the arsenal of many noble maidens is associated with an anecdotal incident. These cosmetics were brought to Amsterdam in 1803 by slave traders who noticed that some slaves painted their lips bright scarlet. Subsequently, it turned out that in this way the inhabitants of wild African tribes informed their men about futile flirtations due to their menstrual periods.

What is lipstick? Now it’s hard to imagine a person who doesn’t know what it is. Only a small amount of people know what it is for, when it appeared and what it is made of. Not only is it famous for its purpose, to decorate a woman’s image, but it also has useful moisturizing properties for the lips. After all, lips are the only place where there are no sebaceous glands.

The history of lipstick

The first lipstick, like large quantity similar cosmetic products, was invented in Egypt. At first, lipstick was made from red ocher, as well as from natural iron oxides of the brightest and dark shades. She gave the lips subtlety and elegance.

Women in Egypt loved their lipstick so much that they always wore it with
themselves, and even after death, lipstick was placed in the tomb so that the woman had the opportunity to other world to be beautiful.

The lipstick borrowed by the Greeks gained no less popularity among Greek women. Evidence of this is the famous myth about the “apple of discord”. According to the myth, three goddesses - Athena, Aphrodite and Hera started a dispute about “Which of them is the most beautiful.” Zeus ordered the Trojan prince Paris to judge the girls. Paris gave preference to Aphrodite, but the dispute was not considered fair, since Aphrodite used a forbidden “technique”: she painted her lips with lipstick.

But in the Middle Ages, women used lipstick to increase their strength when practicing magic. Lipstick was declared by the church as a sign of witchcraft and devilish power, and those women who could not refuse to use lipstick were burned at the stake.

With the advent of the Renaissance, the popularity of decorative cosmetics only increased, because this era was famous for the cult of human beauty.

In the 17th century, cosmetics were used with such force that in England a law was passed that a man had the right to divorce his wife if she was not as beautiful as she seemed before the wedding.

During the time of Louis 16, men could also paint their lips, lipstick made French masters only from natural products, made the contours of the mouth more visible and noticeable from under the beard and mustache.

The appearance of modern lipstick occurred in 1903; a new product was presented at a world-wide exhibition in Amsterdam, which became a real sensation. In composition, it was very similar to the lipstick that has survived to this day; the main component was deer fat. Women appreciated this remedy, among whom was the famous actress Sarah Bernhardt. This lipstick came in a small box; you had to apply it to your lips with your finger or a brush.

The first lipstick in a tube belongs to well-known company GUERLAIN. And in 1915, lipstick in metal packaging appeared in the USA, which became much more convenient to use and this gave birth to a new “lipstick boom”.

Lipstick composition

The production of high quality products gives us achievements modern technologies. Over the past 20 years, lipsticks have been produced mostly in rich shades, the base was solid and adhered well to the lips. Compared to modern lipsticks, the old ones contained mainly soluble dyes.

Eosin is a synthetic substance that dissolves in fat and oil. Fat-soluble dyes are not used in pure form, because there is a danger of fixation in the superficial tissues and a “red lips effect” is obtained after removing lipstick.

Carmine was the first historical dye used in lipsticks. Color palette it can vary from gray to purple. This coloring matter is obtained from dried red-brown cochineal beetles or false scale insects. The habitat of these bugs is on the lands of Armenia, Honduras, El Salvador, and Azerbaijan.

Powder with chemical reagents creates a bright scarlet color, so that’s what it is, carmine dye. Considered safe for humans and provides long-lasting color.

Perfume substances included in the composition require careful handling, as they are perceived by taste.

Fat, wax, natural and synthetic oils are the basis that determines the consistency of lipstick.

The most popular of waxes is without a doubt beeswax.
It gives the mixture properties of compatibility with other components, determines its shape, hardness or tenderness.

Spermaceti obtained from sperm whale fat. Plasticity will come, restoration of the delicate structure of the skin of the lips.

Hydrocarbons, liquid and solid paraffin are some of the substances used in the production of lipstick. They are chemically stabilized and inactive during long-term storage.

Castor oil is the most suitable vegetable oils for lipstick, it is resistant to oxidation and has nutritional properties.

Thanks to the movie stars of the 20s and 30s, Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich, Joan Crawford, lipstick entered the daily life women, ceasing to be the lot of the elite. Now most ladies can afford to carry lipstick in their bags.

WITH for a long time Hundreds of different tones and color variations of lipstick are known.

Lipstick and before today is the most common cosmetic product, which is used by most women around the world.