The world’s most expensive lipstick and 5000 years of history, from Kama Sutra to films; How did it become part of Parliament?

Friends, have you ever thought that lipstick Where did lipstick, which has become such an important part of women’s life today, originate from? Lipstick sounds very modern, but its history is thousands of years old. It is not just a means to color lips, but a magical cosmetic to enhance the beauty, confidence and personality of women. Today there are thousands of brands in the market, which sell colorful lipsticks, especially red lipstick, which is the most favorite of women.

But do you know which is the most expensive lipstick in the world? That is ‘Couture Beauty Diamond Lipstick’, which is worth 14 million dollars i.e. crores of rupees! Yes, this lipstick is studded with diamonds and is made only for the rich. But come, let us know its entire story from its beginning till today like an exciting journey. This history is so interesting that you will feel as if you are sitting in a time machine and going back.

From Japan to Mesopotamia, what does history say?

1. The history of lipstick goes back about 5000 years, when humans first discovered a way to color their lips. In those times makeup was not limited to women only. Men also used it, sometimes as a medicine, and sometimes to show status. In the ancient Sumerian civilization, which was around present-day Iraq, people used to grind precious stones into powder and apply it on the lips. This was a kind of luxury for them. At the same time, natural colors were also made by grinding fruits, leaves and herbs, which gave natural glow to the lips.
2. In India’s Indus-Saraswati civilization, which is more than 5000 years old, women used small pieces of ocher (a type of red clay) as lipstick. The remains found in the excavation show how much attention these women paid to their beauty. Australian tribal women also used to color their faces red with ocher, which was a part of their culture. But the most surprising thing is related to the Egyptian queen Cleopatra. Cleopatra used to kill insects and paint her lips red with their juice. Yes, she used insects called cochineal, which gave deep red color. In Egypt, lipstick was only for rich and powerful women, it was a symbol of their royalty.
3. The women of Mesopotamia were even further ahead. She used to grind precious jewelery taken out of the ground and bring shine to her lips. There is an interesting story of Queen Shub-Ad. When his grave was dug, pots were found there, which contained a mixture of red stone and lead. It is believed to be the world’s oldest lipstick formula, dating back two and a half thousand years before Christ! The Egyptians used dangerous substances like lead, bromine and iodine in making lipstick, but they invented unique shades like purple, gold and black. They used to extract colors from sheep’s sweat, crocodile’s feces and insects. Imagine how unique and a little scary it is.
4. Even in Japan, women were not behind. To maintain status, she used to wear dark lipstick, which was made of wire and beeswax. It gave a special glow to his face. But in Greece the story was the opposite. There lipstick was considered bad and was associated with prostitution. According to the law, prostitutes had to wear dark lipstick to attract men, if they did not, they would be punished.
5. Wax lipstick started in China, which is 1000 years old. They used wax to protect the soft skin of the lips, so that the color would last and the lips would not dry out. In ancient times in India, lips were made red by chewing betel leaves or an ointment was made by mixing dried leaves of Ratanjot in ghee, which also healed cracked lips. These methods were natural and home-made, which are still used in some places today.

Who invented bullet lipstick?

Now let us come to the famous Hakim Abul Qasim Al Jahrawi of 8th-9th century. He is called ‘Father of Modern Surgery’ because he invented many methods of surgery. But did you know that he also invented solid lipstick? Yes, they made lipstick in stick form, which can be applied easily. This was a revolutionary discovery, which became the foundation of today’s lipstick.

When lipstick reached British Parliament

Lipstick has not always been pink in life. It was banned in many places. Like in Greece because earlier it was considered a part of prostitution. In the Middle Ages in Europe, women who wore lipstick were considered witches. People used to say that such women drink blood! That’s why there was a ban there. There was even a bill introduced in the British Parliament, in which it was said that if a woman applies lipstick before marriage, the marriage will become invalid. Thankfully, this was later debunked and even today there is one country where red lipstick is banned: North Korea! There red color is associated with capitalism and individualism, that is, women thinking ‘I am the greatest’ can wear any color, but not red.

How did modern lipstick come to Hollywood?

Queen Elizabeth First of England made lipstick fashionable in the 16th century. She started wearing lipstick made of wax and flower colors. But even then it was only for royal women and actresses. In the 19th century, the French company ‘Gerle’ manufactured lipstick on a large scale for the first time. Earlier he used to make perfume, but he brought a revolution by making lipstick from deer fat, beeswax and castor oil. Modern lipstick arrived in 1920, and in 1923, James Bruce Mason Jr. created the ‘swivel up tube’, i.e. lipstick that twists out like today. Red lipstick was promoted to boost the morale of women during the Second World War. Hollywood actresses made it global: Grace Kelly, Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn and Elizabeth Taylor. Marilyn and Elizabeth made bold red lips a trend. A survey in 1950 revealed that 60% of girls used lipstick. In 1952, Queen Elizabeth II built her custom shed ‘The Balmoral’.

Lipstick is mentioned in Kama Sutra

Lipstick is also mentioned in Kama Sutra, an ancient book of India. There it is described how to color lips with red lacquer, wax and fruit juice. This shows how important beauty was in ancient India. Friends, this story of lipstick is not just about colors, but about cultures, revolutions and the strength of women. Today lipstick is within the reach of every woman, which makes her confident. Have you ever imagined that there is so much history hidden in a small stick? Next time you apply lipstick, remember this story – it will make you look even more beautiful.