The oldest lipstick discovered so far is 4,000 years old, but it doesn't look it: the color was a dark red and its chemical composition was very similar to that of modern lipsticks.
The case that contained it also has a contemporary feel, with the shape of a small cylinder.
It was made with a mineral, chlorite, and was entirely carved with geometric patterns.
The discovery, published in the journal Scientific Reports, was born from the collaboration of archaeologists, chemists and mineralogy experts from the University of Padua, with the group of Nasir Eskandari from the Faculty of Archeology of the Iranian University of Tehran and first author of the research.
If the appearance of lipstick is so current, radiocarbon dating confirms that the cosmetic dates back to the period between 1900 and 1700 BC Hematite, manganite and braunite were the basic ingredients of lipstick, mixed with waxes and vegetable oils .
It was precisely the analysis of this composition that suggested to the researchers that the substance was probably used to color the lips.
“This discovery adds to the results of a line of research which reveals how the artisans of ancient Iran, already 5000-4000 years ago, had developed very advanced knowledge on metal compounds, natural but also synthetic, which allowed the production not only of kohl (our black eye pencil), but also foundation based on lead carbonate (white lead), and eye shadows which, thanks to the addition of copper and lead chlorocarbonates, and perhaps urea, changed the color basic light towards shades of blue and green”, observes Massimo Vidale, of the Department of Cultural Heritage of the University of Padua and coordinator of the study.
It is also interesting that the oldest lipstick contained only minimal traces of lead minerals: a detail which, according to Vidale, suggests that those who produced and used it "were aware of the dangers of direct ingestion of this metal".
The discovery, he concludes, "also suggests the possibility that female makeup, in formal and ceremonial social contexts, was an important component of the public manifestation of the dominant role of an elite stratum of the population."
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