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Let's face it. Lipstick makes us feel pretty. It's a 10-second makeover that brightens our spirits and boosts our confidence. It comes in fabulous colors, each of which begs us for a try. But few people know very much about its origins, how it's made or how to choose the right shade for them.
Ancient History
Women all over the world have used lipstick for thousands of years. Sumerians, Egyptians, Syrians, Babylonians, Persians, and Greeks were all known to paint their faces and lips. Lip coloring has historically been made from a number of substances, including plant roots, berries, toxic chemicals such as mercuric sulfide and even the extract of crushed insects.
Modern History
In the 1700s and early 1800s, the use of lipstick was considered debauchery and was only acceptable in the theater. This didn't necessarily stop ordinary women from using it -- they just applied it discreetly, in the privacy of their homes. Eventually, theater actresses began using lipstick in public, but the lipstick available at the time was made with carmine dye, a bright, shocking shade of red. In the early 1900s, synthetic carmine dye was infused with wax and oil. This gave it a more subtle and natural look and made it respectable enough for the average woman to wear. At first, these lipsticks came in tinted paper or paper tubes. In about 1915, lipstick was sold in metal tins or pushup tubes, and in 1923, the first swivel-up tube was patented. By WWII, lipstick was not only acceptable, but makeup in general was considered important to the psychological well-being of women.
Ingredients
Today, lipstick is mainly made with some combination of three different wax types, including beeswax, candelilla wax or camauba. It also contains oils such as mineral, castor, lanolin or vegetable oil; fragrance; pigments; and preservatives, which prevent the lipstick from spoiling. Lipstick may also contain agents that add sheen, gloss, sparkle or smoothness. There is no industry standard for the specific ingredient amounts or combinations in lipstick.
How It's Made
First, oil, solvent and wax are melted in separate containers. Then, the solvent and oil are mixed with pigment. The pigment mixture is mixed with the hot wax, agitated to remove air bubbles, poured into molds and allowed to cool. Once the lipstick is cooled, it can be packaged.
How to Choose a Lipstick
Invest in your lipstick. Buy quality, even if it costs you a little more. It will last longer, feel better on, have a truer shade and be made with superior ingredients. If you have a fair complexion, cool shades such as pinks, plums, peaches and reds with blue undertones are most flattering. Olive complexions look best with warm tones, such as reddish-browns. Dark reds with blue undertones and deep reddish-browns flatter dark skin best. Wear softer, more neutral colors for daytime, and save bold colors, sparkle and sheen for nights out.
