National Lipstick Day: The Tale Of The Wonder Cosmetic

By

Mallika Chakrawarti

“Lipstick on your collar, told a tale on you!”

Remember this song!? Connie Francis’s evergreen number from the late 50s accurately sums up the adulterous ways of men. It also mentions the tell-tale lipstick. That one must-have makeup accessory every woman swears by. But does the exquisite lipstick have a tale of its own? It sure does!

It’s National Lipstick Day, so it’s only natural that our favorite color bar is having a moment. Don’t be fooled by its size. This little lipstick has a big legacy. It has journeyed all the way from the (earliest-known) Sumerian Civilization right into every girl’s vanity bag. Our lips are lovelorn without a pop of color. Color that comes from a trusted tube of lipstick! 

Since we’re celebrating our love affair with lipsticks today, you’ll be served some lip-smacking bites about the history of lipstick and its evolution. Get to know your beauty BFF a little better!

Mespotamians were the first to be charmed by Red Lips! 

It seems that beauty was as relevant in ancient times as it is now. In Mesopotamia, after a few interesting experiments with red rocks and gemstones, a vibrant powder emerged. That was the very first version of the rocking red lipstick you now own! This was around 5000 years back.

Soon, the red lipstick and other shades gained popularity and bold, hued lips became a symbol of power and status.

Red Lipstick Gets The Heart Racing! 

A study was conducted by the University of Manchester on this very subject, and something very interesting surfaced!

It was discovered that men are totally enamored with red lipstick on women and can stare at reddened lips for an average of 7.3 seconds.

Pink Lipstick is another attention-grabber and gets around 6.7 seconds of undivided male attention. And bare lips? Sadly, just about 2.2 seconds! 

Of course, this isn’t any real incentive to wear lipstick.

Not that we girls need one!  We’re all too familiar with the sorcery of bold red lips. In fact, we’ve got a ravishing red for you. The NY Bae Shakti Liquid Lipstick is available in the best lipstick shades for Indian skin. It’s the ultimate heartstopper among liquid lipsticks! 

Lipstick Goss: We’ll never tire of Audrey Hepburn’s beauty looks from Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

Did you know that she wore (and made eternal) a Revlon lip shade called ‘Pink in the Afternoon’? What’s awesome is that this shade is a hot-seller for the brand even today! It’s a pinkish nude that’s got classy written all over it. Pretty cool that it’s still around.

Lip-Glam From Pots to Twist-Up Tubes!

Back in Ancient Egypt, lip color was mixed and kept in pots. So, the packaging we’re familiar with came about in 1923. You know the one! A twist-up bullet with a cap. The modern-day lipstick form was patented by James Bruce Mason, and boy, do we love these tubes! 

The Faces Canada Creme Lipstick is one of the best lipstick shades out there! It’s true! It’s in our favorite swivel-up casing and is available in the most beautiful lipstick shades for Indian skin. Jojoba Oil, Almond Oil, Shea Butter and nature’s finest ingredients go into this creamy wonder!  

Lip Goss: Lipsticks are designed to help you ace the perfect cupid’s bow. Ever wondered about the pointy tip? It’s there for a reason. If you use the flat side of the lipstick and keep the pointy bit intact, applying lip color precisely would be a cinch!  

True Story: 

The first commercial lipstick was introduced in 1938 by Guerlain.

Royal Treatment for Lipstick Crayons! 

During Queen Elizabeth’s reign, lip pencils came into the picture. Plaster of Paris was mixed with Dye into a paste which was then shaped into a crayon stick. Fancy! 

Lip Goss: Queen Elizabeth 1 had some lipstick on, even on her deathbed! It’s ironic that this very lethal lipstick could’ve caused her death! In those days, toxic materials like Lead were sometimes mixed in lip crayons. 

Lip Crayons never went out of style. Over the years, these crayons have colored lips in vibrant hues of pinks, reds and browns. It’s really no surprise that we like to keep this handy pencil close. It’s a one-swipe wonder every girl desires. The NY bae creamy lip crayon is a magical matte stick that’s just the wand for kiss-ready lips.

Some Lipsticks Don’t Kiss And Tell! Enter Kiss-Proof Lipsticks!

The Smudge Free lipsticks we’re so dependent on, were created by Hazel Bishop in 1950. Made from Molten Wax, Dye and Lanolin, these lipsticks were sold with a solid promise! They were kiss-proof! An unforgettable tagline was coined to popularize these lippies. “It stays on YOU, Not on HIM!” Sweet, eh? 

Speaking of smudge-proof lipsticks, there’s surely one more you could slip into your kitty. The Purplle Ultra HD Matte Mini Liquid Lipstick is that playful (yet faithful!) partner we need in our lives. Sticks with you and stays put on your lips, no matter what! 

A Glossy Makeover For Movie Stars! 

“Lipstick lasts longer but gloss is fun!” 

Our Gossip Girl, Serena Van Der Woodsen knew exactly what she was talking about. So, what’s the goss about gloss!? 

In 1930, Lip Gloss made its dazzling debut! Max Factor, a renowned beauty professional, created glossy lip products for movie stars in black and white films. That was his way of adding some shimmer to the screenplay, we suppose! 

The gloss reached bedazzling heights of success in the 90s. We’re talking about Lip smackers, Roll-on glosses, glossy Lip Balms and Juicy Tubes. A starry galaxy of glosses stretched out for gloss lovers in the nostalgic 90s. 

Lip glosses have been in and out of our lip kits, and yet, we’ve never really stopped loving lacquered lips. The Sugar Cosmetics Time To Shine Lip Gloss is a pleasant throwback to the OG lip gloss. It’s non-sticky, Jojoba Oil formula keeps lips looking nourished and glossy-good! 

Inside Cleopatra’s Casket: Lip Stains! 

Egyptian Queen, Cleopatra fancied deep red stains on her lips. A unique pigment was formulated for her highness, from mashed ants and beetles (Eww, we know! But worked wonders for her).

Ancient Egyptians used Henna, Berries, Bromine Mannite, Iodine and sometimes toxic ingredients to create their favorite red and purple lip stains.

Lip Goss: The first-ever lipstick in Ancient India was the betel leaf. Chewing on these leaves would stain the lips. Unbe-leaf-ably simple, no? Not really! Betel leaves can stain your teeth too. 

We’re eternally grateful for lip stains that keep all that color where it’s meant to be. Like The Face Shop Water Fit Lip Tint, that glides like gel on your lips and gives you a cherry-kissed shine that’s just divine!  

Where’s Your Lip-Force, Ladies!? 

Don’t hold back this National Lipstick Day and get your hands… Scratch that! Get your lips hooked on the best lipstick shades, because frankly, one or two shades is way too less. We girls need a whole lipstick battalion ready for action! Every. Single. Day!

Also read how to select red lipstick based on your skin tone!