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3000 to 30 BCE - Ancient Mesopotamians used crushed gemstones and white lead to add color to their lips.

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3000 to 30 BCE - Cleopatra allegedly had a DIY look that included crushed ants, carmine, and beeswax.

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3000 to 30 BCE - Beauty historian Rachel Weingarten told Bustle that royalty and the upper class wore color on their lips as a display of social status rather than gender, so men also sported bright red lips. 

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3000 to 30 BCE - The poor folks during Cleopatra’s time, however, relied on watered-down clay, which lacked the same vibrancy as red.

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The 1500s - Red lips became unpopular as many royals believed that the bright lip color signified being lower class, a prostitute, or a sin against God’s workmanship.

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The 1600s - It entered back into the mainstream, however, after Queen Elizabeth I paired the bold red lip with a pale face and made it a look to literally die for—the lead in her lipstick slowly killed her.

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The 1700s - At one point the British Parliament passed a law that formally condemned lipstick, claiming that women used it as witchcraft to lure men into marriage.

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The mid-1800s - In England, Queen Victoria declared all makeup to be vulgar, claiming it was only suitable for prostitution or theater. The British upper classes consequently adopted the natural look.

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The late 1800s - Since applying lipstick was still seen as something that should only be done in total secrecy, French actress Sarah Bernhardt caused a huge scandal by applying her lipstick freely in public.

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The early 1900s - The first and most famous public demonstration of red lipstick was by suffragettes in 1912’s protest in New York. According to Mic, Elizabeth Arden herself was handing out lipstick to the marching ladies. 

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The early 1900s - The first lipstick tube was invented by Maurice Levy in 1915, rocketing its popularity because of how portable it became.

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The early 1900s -

The modern recipe was reportedly made out of crushed insects, beeswax, and olive oil, and it would turn rancid on the lips after just a couple of hours.

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The early 1900s - Lipstick became more popular with beauty companies like Chanel and Estee Lauder. Coco Chanel's famous quote followed: "If you're sad, add more lipstick and attack."

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The early 1900s - In 1933, Vogue declared lipstick "the most important cosmetic for women," made evident by the continued growth in the market, despite the Great Depression. 

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The mid-1900s - Every actress was wearing red lipstick on the big screen, making it an American staple.

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The mid-1900s - It was also a patriotic act in America during WWII since Hitler reportedly hated red lipstick and would not allow women to wear it. The red lip became a symbol of feminine resilience.

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The mid-1900s - Marilyn Monroe's bold red lip was an essential part of her reputation as being both stylish and alluring.

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The mid-1900s - The good vs bad girl dichotomy came about when Revlon's iconic "Fire & Ice" campaign asked women to answer a quiz to "test" if their personality suited the bold red lipstick shown on model Dorian Leigh. Questions included, “Have you ever danced with your shoes off?”

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1960s-70s - With the freedom revolution, the miniskirt, and birth control, the mod era saw a big shift. Red lipstick was seen as belonging to the last generation, so people started experimenting with more natural shades.

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1960s-70s - At the same time, hippie culture and some feminist groups advocated for no makeup at all.

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1960s-70s - Stars like androgynous icon David Bowie and disco queen Donna Summer kept the red lip alive.

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1980s -

Madonna brought bold red back into mainstream entertainment.

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1990s - Though Julia Roberts kicked off the '90s with her stunning red look in 'Pretty Woman,' the color was challenged by a plethora of brown tones.

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1990s -

“Lipstick feminism” emerged in the late 1990s, encouraging women to enjoy their femininity in opposition to patriarchal oppression.

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2000s - Red lipstick shed its status, toxic ingredients, and implications of feminism, and remained a classic statement of bold color.

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A statement of power - Lipstick has inspired women like Dita Von Teese to assert, "Heels and red lipstick will put the fear of God into people."

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Modern matte - While a glossy red lip used to be all the craze, the matte trend has given the iconic look a modern flare.

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Some made it their signature - Gwen Stefani, for example, wore a bold red lip through all her phases, from No Doubt alt-girl to hyper-stylized solo artist, and even to fashion designer and mother.

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Some use it as reinforcement - Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wore a bright red lip to her swearing-in for Congress, refusing to mute her self-expression for outdated and arbitrary standards.

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Whatever you make it -

Whether it’s at work or on a date, the red lip can elevate any look and be as playful, light, alluring, or mysterious as you want it to be.

Sources: (In The Know) (Allure) (The New York Times) (Revlon) (Fashionista.com) (Mic.com) (Katetattersall.com) (Bustle)

See also: The most common makeup mistakes—and how to avoid them

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