When Was Lipstick Invented And What Was It's Original Purpose?

   Lipstick has been in existence for thousands of years, first appearing near Babylon in the city of Ur in 3000 BC. In ancient Egypt, Cleopatra wore lipstick made from crushed red beetles, while the women of ancient Greece also painted their lips. There are numerous accounts of it being manufactured in ancient times from dyes extracted from certain plants.
   Elizabeth I was the main instigator of lipstick in England during the Middle Ages, after which it didn't become prevalent again until after the French Revolution. The wearing of lipstick was previously thought to be uncouth, and any woman using it was considered a fake attempting to capture her lost youth. In fact, in 1770 a law was proposed to the British Parliament that any marriage could be annulled where it could be shown that the woman had used cosmetics prior to the wedding day. If she lured a man into matrimony through her use of cosmetics, she could be tried for witchcraft.
   In modern times, lipstick is commonplace and is currently made from oils, fats, pigments and waxes, while moisturizers and sunscreen are also found as ingredients.