Lipstick is a cosmetic product for the lips that is richer in color and texture than lip gloss, primarily used to apply color to the lips. Most lipsticks are red or reddish, simulating the appearance of sexual arousal, which naturally increases blood flow and reddens the lips, intending to make the wearer more sexually attractive. With modern pigments, however, lipstick is available in numerous colors and shades.

A typical lipstick contains many chemical ingredients, principally pigments, oils, waxes, and emollients. Perfume and/or flavoring may be added to cover the odors and tastes of the other ingredients.

Lipstick does not have a particular origin. However, it is known to have been used around 5000 years ago in ancient Babylon, when semi-precious jewels were crushed and applied to the lips and occasionally around the eyes. Ancient Egyptians extracted purplish-red dye from fucus-algin, 0.01% iodine, and some bromine mannite, which resulted in serious illness. Cleopatra had her lipstick made from crushed carmine beetles, which gave a deep red pigment, and ants for a base. Lipsticks with shimmering effects were initially made using a substance found in fish scales called pearlescence.Chemical and Engineering News: What's That Stuff? -- Lipstick

Queen Victoria declared makeup vulgar because prostitutes were usually the only ones who painted their faces. It was also forbidden to wear makeup before marriage, lest a woman trick her husband into thinking she was beautiful, only to discover she was not.

Lipstick started to gain popularity during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, who made blood red lips and stark white faces a fashion statement. By that time, lipstick was made from a blend of beeswax and red stains from plants. During WWII, it gained the respect of the movie industry, and it became commonplace for women to apply makeup, or "put their face on".

As with most other types of makeup, lipstick is typically, but not exclusively, worn by women. It is usually not worn until a female reaches adolescence or adulthood. Men wearing lipstick may be viewed as carrying a social stigma, as male use of makeup does not fit traditional Twenty-first Century gender roles.

A lip-duo is a combination of lipstick and lip liner.

Another form of lip color, a wax-free semi-permanent liquid formula, was invented in the 1990s by the Lip-Ink International company. Other companies imitated the idea, putting out their own versions of long-lasting "lip stain" or "liquid lip color", but were not allowed to infringe on the patented wax-free formula.Lip-Ink International

See also

• makeup
• lipstick lesbian
• lip gloss
• lipstick print

References