History of Red Lipstick!

Let’s begin with a fun question,

What is that one item you will find in the makeup bags of Gwen Stefani, Elizabeth Taylor, Lady Gaga, Marilyn Monroe, and Angelina Jolie? (Yes, we just love peeping in someone else’s roll of cosmetics!).

You guessed it….a red lipstick!

Red is that one classic lip color that women of all ages have embraced since 3000 BC! The ancient Mesopotamian women used crushed gemstones to decorate their lips and the famous Cleopatra VII would crush red ants and carmine in beeswax to color her lips red! (We never felt more glad being born in the 21^st century, honestly!)

(Token of Appreciation: Hats off to Queen Elizabeth I for rocking the red lips in mid 1500’s!)

The popularity of lipsticks faded away until the look was revived on the big screen by famous actresses like Elizabeth Taylor and Marilyn Monroe. Till then lipsticks were made from carmine dye taken from cochineal insect scales (which must have tasted interesting!).

 Within years, major beauty companies like Chanel, Estee Lauder, Elizabeth Arden and Guerlain started selling lipsticks and we landed in an era of hassle-free-bugs-free lipsticks that too in a range of red shades (Thank God!)

Today a signature red lip has the same timeless appeal and classy edge it had centuries ago. Be it a night time or day, a red carpet or a college farewell, a working woman or a housewife , a rouge lip color is fit for all if the right shade is chosen!

Let us know about your favorite red lip event, we would love to hear from you!