The History of Lipstick: A Story of Color

A lipstick holds a small history of color, craft, and personal expression. Long before the familiar tube, people prepared pigments, designed containers, and found ways to make color part of their appearance. These five snapshots trace some of that history, from ancient cosmetic materials to the changing fashions of the twentieth century.

1. The ancient world: color from the earth

In ancient Egypt, both men and women used cosmetics. Red ochre supplied color for lips and cheeks, alongside other minerals used around the eyes and on the face. The University of Chicago’s museum catalogue places these materials within a wider tradition of grooming and cosmetic preparation.¹

Thinking about those ingredients makes the story tangible: before choosing a shade from a shop, someone had to select, prepare, and work with a colored material. Lip color belongs to the history of skilled making as well as the history of style.

2. Nearly 4,000 years ago: a surviving red mixture

A study published in 2024 examined a small stone vial from southeastern Iran containing a deep red cosmetic. Radiocarbon analysis dated the material to approximately 1936–1687 BCE. Researchers identified hematite and other minerals, together with plant waxes and organic substances, and interpreted the preparation as a likely lip-coloring paint or paste.²

The discovery offers a remarkable glimpse of ancient cosmetic knowledge. Its original archaeological context was lost through looting, however, so the identity of its wearer remains unknown. The surviving mixture provides evidence of a sophisticated preparation; it does not establish when or where people first began coloring their lips.

3. The early twentieth century: a case for color

The container is part of lipstick’s story. In its description of a Richard Hudnut lipstick case, the Smithsonian records metal cases replacing paper wrapping in the early twentieth century, and William G. Kendall’s 1917 patent for a sliding mechanism that extended the lipstick.³

These changes show how practical design could shape an everyday beauty ritual. Protecting a stick, carrying it in a bag, and moving it into position for application all became questions for packaging designers. The familiar lipstick emerged through a series of developments.

4. The 1920s: lipstick meets the screen

In the United States, more conspicuous makeup became fashionable during the 1920s. Film stars, theater performers, and flapper style helped influence the look. Lipstick appeared alongside other visible cosmetics as ideas about respectable femininity changed.⁴

This was also a complicated social history. Beauty advertising and access to the cosmetics business reflected racial and gender inequalities. Looking back at the period means considering both its memorable styles and the people the industry represented or excluded.

5. The 1960s: color, fashion, and experimentation

Mary Quant’s makeup range launched in 1966 with an approach closely connected to changing fashion. Coordinated colors, playful presentation, and practical packaging were part of the idea. Her lipsticks came in brushed metal tubes, reflecting her interest in objects that felt useful and contemporary.⁵

The V&A’s account describes a designer treating makeup as part of a complete look, with room for individual combinations. It is a fitting reminder that the story of lipstick includes the freedom to experiment.

Your own chapter in color

At Carmelas, we enjoy the connection between a color’s story and the way you choose to wear it. Let the history spark your curiosity, then explore a shade that feels like you—whether your mood is soft, polished, or bold.

Explore Carmelas lipsticksTry a shade on you

Sources and further reading

1. University of Chicago, Our Work: Modern Jobs—Ancient Origins (2013), “Cosmetics in Ancient Nubia and Egypt,” p. 112.
2. Eskandari and colleagues, “A Bronze Age lip-paint from southeastern Iran,” Scientific Reports (2024). Open full text.
3. Smithsonian National Museum of American History, “Richard Hudnut Lipstick Case.”
4. Smithsonian National Museum of American History, “Make-up.”
5. Victoria and Albert Museum, “The story of Mary Quant make-up.”