Lipstick has been an essential part of a woman's wardrobe for centuries. Dating back to the time of Cleopatra (69–30 B.C.E.), the pigmented oil has been used to attract men, boost self-esteem, and complete a woman's face for the world. Lipstick became especially popular in America during the 1920s, when women gained a new political voice with the vote. Many liberated suffragettes wore bright red lipstick as a symbol of their newfound voices. While the popularity of lipstick colors changes with the seasons, lipstick remains as one of the most popular accessories in history. Estimations report that nearly 92 percent of American women wear lipstick. Some women who say they do not even wear makeup wear lipstick.

For More Information

Cohen Ragas, Meg, and Karen Kozlowski. Read My Lips: A Cultural History of Lipstick. San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 1998.

Pallingston, Jessica. Lipstick. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1999.