Lipstick is a cosmetic product made from waxes and oils and provides color and texture when applied to the lips. It is available in almost every shade and a variety of textures including matte, semi-matte, glossy and shimmery. Popularised in the 20th century, it is worn by women on an everyday basis as well as for special occasions. Multiple cosmetic brands, both inexpensive and high-end, have their own ranges of lipsticks.
What is lipstick?
Lipstick is a makeup product manufactured from waxes, oils, emollients, and pigments. Waxes provide structure to the final product and oils provide shine. Many lipsticks also contain products like olive oil, jojoba oil and cocoa butter for added softness and hydration to the lips. Colour is provided by lake dyes and pigments such as Bromo acid, titanium dioxide and various red shades of D&C. Trace amounts of lead and other metals are also found in lipstick as a by-product of the ingredients.
History of lipstick
Lipstick was first worn by the ancient Sumerians over 5000 years ago and was made by crushing gemstones. Ancient Greeks also wore lip paint made from crushed mulberries and vermilion pigment. Until the late 19th century, lipstick was considered unfit to be worn by respectable women – by the 1880s, however, the French had started manufacturing commercial lipsticks. In the 1910s and 1920s, American women started applying lipstick in public and famous salons like Elizabeth Arden and Estee Lauder began selling their own varieties of lipsticks.
Types of lipsticks
The lipstick comes in a large number of shades, textures, and finishes to suit all tastes. Some of the popular varieties of lipstick include:
Popular trends in lipstick
Over the 20th century, lipstick has become a universal cosmetic product used by all women. Different trends in lipstick have been observed over the changing times, some of which are as follows: