“Could you be trying any other colour? No?” and she giggles to herself pouting right through the shiny reflector, admiring herself with those red tinted lips.
Lipstick is the most imperative part of cosmetics; they carry the duty towards the females to look as attractive as the colour she chooses to put on. The concept of enhancing one’s beauty, focusing mainly on the lips, is not recent; it has been ages, even before the adorable Queen, Cleopatra. Well, Lips are considered to be the most sensual and appealing part of the body, hence decorating it is the best way to flaunt beauty. Lips are considered to be very sensitive, we kiss with them, sip with them, use them as a very first expression for love and more useful than not, smile with them; thus it should be our priority to take good care of it. Lipstick was only popular among the royal women, not until the Industry revolution, during the 18th century; industries took the lipstick market seriously. By 20th Century, lipstick took the first place in the must have makeup accessory. The popularity grew more among women with the help of Actresses like Elizabeth Taylor and Marilyn Monroe who often flaunted their red pouty lips.
Historians believe that it was the ancient Sumerian women who ought to have started the trend of smearing their lips with precious powdered gems to decorate their lips to make it noticeable to the opposite sex. Later the Egyptian slaves, for their queen, came with the carmine shade( made by crushing carmine beetles) that would show off her sensuality, as Queen Cleopatra was fond of painting her lips dark. Hence, obsession with lipsticks is ancient. Even though some of the ingredients used were poisonous, but fashion would compromise nothing.
Today, when picking a colour, we look for products that can hydrate the lips, giving it a glossy and smooth appearance. The ingredients are no longer harmful but made to nourish and protect as lips lack melanin. Most sensitive lips are to be protected with lipsticks that contain sun protection ingredients.
Red is the colour, for ladies out there. And with advancements, there are various shades that suit skin tones complimenting them, the best way possible. It is said that the colour of our lips define us. Therefore, it is important to pick the right shade to avoid smuttiness. There are lipsticks for teens in lighter shades like cherry, peach, and pink that give a fresh, youthful and flirty look.
Well, the most desired red lipstick has its history; it’s a saga of art, power, death, profaneness, and strength through its course of time. Starting its journey from adding value to beauty, lipsticks were worn by Egyptians (both genders) to show off their social status; they wore various shades including black. The ingredients then used were extracted from bodies of insects and juices from fruits and vegetables. It was not all, red lead, oils, henna, clay and various other ingredients were at trial. The first lipstick in its conventional form was introduced by an Arab cosmetologist Abu al-Qasim, it was merely perfumed roll sticks that were mobile and easy to use. This again brought in high demands during11th –13th centuries. The most common colours were shades of violet and orange.
In medieval Europe, the usage of lipstick was banned by the church. For the Christians believed, that lipsticks were the ‘incarnation of Spirit’, it was the act of devil to wear them and lure the mortals towards sin. This is how and when lipstick was associated with prostitution. The British Empire detested the practice and punished all women if seen donned with lipstick. Well, now we know why the devil looked sexy!
During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, who coloured her lips from beeswax and red mercuric sulfide, face decoration held the fascination for the most. Lip liner was introduced to us through Queen Elizabeth I, as her portrait had this fair and pale look with wine red-tinted on her lips, this had become the trend. Now it is in practice to give a contrasting shade to the lipstick and to make the lips look thicker giving a defining look. It was known as the ‘Age of Deco’.
There are many colours out there, probably not one shade missing under the sun that the lipstick doesn’t match with, yet there is no competition to the stunning guise of a pale face with deep curly lashes and red matte lipstick.
“IF YOU ARE SAD ADD MORE LIPSTICK AND ATTACK”
Lipsticks are believed to be like armor to uphold a woman’s faith and confidence. It makes us comfortable and assured to express our unique selves. It is no longer considered satanic or associated with prostitution, for that matter. A recent report by the British Heart Foundation said that 26% of women have witnessed preeminent confidence while wearing red lipstick and it is believed that when one picks a shade, she has her signature that is just her own and she owns it. Lipstick is a must cosmetic in every woman’s bag that quickly gives a refreshing sexy look, whenever, wherever.
In the 20th Century, lipstick was ‘the defining item’ and a common product in the fashion list. Today, the Lipstick segment is the largest contributor to the sales, accounting for 42% in total, according to the University of Manchester, through a Consumer Voice report. It says, lipsticks not only draw attention but captivate the gaze for a relatively long time. The most popular brand in India is Lakme, followed by Elle 18, 7 heavens, Mac and Colorbar. So, When this contributes so much to the economy, why not use it?
The brands give us varieties that range from suitable skin to a suitable price. Nevertheless, it has always been Revlon that won the battle, from the beginning, for it has always been appealing to the elite class, the colour that made men head over heels. Where there is talking, L’oreal is never skipped for it does give the bold ‘Orangish’ red which is exact for the warm Indian skin tone. If you want to show off your attitude, go with it. And to forget, for students, it is always recommended, Colorbar, for its good product and perfect for experimentation. They never fail in terms of innovation which entices the youth. At last, with such significant history, Lipsticks are the best.
