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During WW2, the single item that most women said
that they missed most was their lipstick. So what is this
small item which has found it’s way into every woman’s
handbag and life. It has caused headaches and angst
as we not only try to find the perfect colour, but then
struggle once we have to keep stock of it.
Lipstick today is a cosmetic product which is made up
from a combination of pigments oil, waxes & emollients
that apply colour & texture to the lips. This has not always
been the case though.
Lipstick is known to have been around for almost 5000
years. The ancient Mesopotamian women wore lipstick
made up of semi precious jewels that were
crushed and then applied to the lips. This
is a lot safer alternative than the lipstick
of Ancient Egyptians who made it up from
a purplish red dye from seaweed, some
iodine and bromine which would lead to
serious illnesses and blistering of the lips.
Meanwhile Cleopatra had her lipstick made
from crushed beetles and ants. The carmine
beetle gave her lips their deep red glow.
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It was during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I
that lipstick started to gain popularity. She
made fashionable the stark white face,
from deadly lead based foundations and
the blood red lips made from a blend of
beeswax and red stains from plants. Then
lipstick took another hiding when, during
1770, the British parliament passed a law
which decreed that a woman wearing
lipstick could be tried for witchcraft. It was
Queen Victoria who said that to wear makeup
was impolite and she believed that a
woman who wore red on her face was
“fast”. I wonder what she would say about
my red boots?
Fast forward to the 1920’s and the
suffragettes used lipstick as a symbol
of their new power. Gloria Swanson and
Lana Turner also increased the popularity
of lipstick and Elizabeth Arden opened
a beauty parlour in the 1930’s so that all
women could access makeup. Where as
once the shimmer in your lipstick came
from fish scales today is generally due to
adding bits of mica or silica.
So one wonders were all these women
in pursuit of that perfect colour just as
we are today?
by Clare Maxfield
To select the perfect colour beauticians always
recommend you choose a shade as close to or a shade
lighter or darker than your natural lip tone. Women with
fair colouring should wear lighter, paler lipstick colours and
women with dark and bold colouring will look gorgeous in
the stronger more vibrant colours.
To keep your lipstick on you must prepare your lips.
You can do this by first blotting them dry and even
pressing a layer of powder onto your lips for your lipstick
to adhere to. I always recommend starting with a lip liner -
your lip liner needs to be a colour very close to the
color of the lipstick you are wearing. You do not want your
lip liner to be completely different shade to lipstick it needs
to blend in with the colour not stand out. I find colouring in
my lips with my lip liner also creates a great base for long
lasting lipstick.
The reason we wear lipstick is to create a healthy vibrant
look, simulate arousal and to emphasise our femininity.
The lighter the lipstick you’re wearing the fuller your lips
can appear. It is therefore wise, as we get older, to start
wearing lighter lipsticks as it will help make our skin
appear luminous and detract from the aging of our teeth.
I find the darker the lipstick is that I wear now I’m
instantly putting ten years onto my age. That was OK
20 years ago but I am totally against fast forwarding the
clock now. Time is moving at a fast enough rate without
me speeding it up.
Some final lipstick tips to keep you looking fresh
1. Once you have applied your lipstick blot it with a issue
and reapply. This will absorb any excess oils in your
lipstick and just leave the pigment and the matte colour .
2. If you lick your lips before you drink or eat anything you
are less likely to have your lipstick coming off on your
food or glass.
3. Applying your lipstick with a lip brush gives you a greater
coverage than applying it straight from the stick.
To shop for good lipstick properly – go shopping with a
fresh face to see what colour your lips
really are. Keep in mind - when you are
buying a lipstick chose one that you
really like because over a lifetime you
going to end up eating around 2.5 kilos
of the stuff. Yumm.
Clare Maxfield is an image
consultant based down here
on the Mornington Peninsula.
For more details go to
www.claremaxfield.com.au
aShop 5, 9 Blake Street Mornington.
p03 5973 6790
e sportiva-sbs@bigpond.com
w www.sportiva.com.au
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