Kiss My Past: the her-story of red lipstick

Red lips have always made a statement—but that statement has evolved from power to rebellion to pure glam. Before it was your go-to bold beauty move, red lipstick was steeped in history, controversy, and serious attitude. Here’s how this fiery shade became a symbol of strength, sensuality, and unapologetic femininity.

Ancient Glam: The First Crimson Queens

Long before Sephora or MAC, ancient civilizations were already mixing up pigment. In Mesopotamia, women crushed semi-precious stones to tint their lips red. Egyptians—especially Cleopatra—crafted lip color from carmine (made from crushed beetles!), mixed with oils for sheen. Red lips weren’t just about beauty—they signaled power, wealth, and divine connection.

Witchy or Worthy? Medieval to Renaissance

During the Middle Ages, red lips took a hit. Christianity labeled vanity a sin, and red lipstick was associated with lust, sin, or even witchcraft. But by the Elizabethan era, Queen Elizabeth I made the look iconic again. Her powdered face paired with ruby-red lips became a signature look—though the concoctions were often toxic (hello, lead!).

18th–19th Century: Scandal & Seduction

In the 1700s, red lipstick became the trademark of actresses and sex workers—not “respectable” women. Queen Victoria famously deemed makeup vulgar. But that didn’t stop rebels. French women wore rouge to subtly defy norms, and suffragettes in the U.S. and UK started to reclaim red lips as a badge of boldness.

The Suffragette Swipe

By the early 1900s, red lipstick became a tool of protest. Suffragettes wore red lips as they marched, signaling independence and defiance. Elizabeth Arden even handed out red lipstick to women picketing for the vote. A scarlet pout meant: “I will not be silenced.”

Hollywood & the Glam Game

In the 1920s–50s, stars like Clara Bow, Marilyn Monroe, and Elizabeth Taylor made red lips the ultimate bombshell look. The rise of the beauty industry and accessible cosmetics brought red lipstick to the masses—and it became every woman’s weapon of choice. It said: confident, glamorous, femme fatale.

Modern-Day Red: Power, Protest, and Pop Culture

Red lipstick remains a symbol of everything from political protest to femme empowerment. In business settings, a swipe of red means you’re walking in like you own the room. In pop culture, icons like Rihanna, Gwen Stefani, and Taylor Swift have made it a staple.

Even in recent protests, red lipstick has returned as a symbol of strength—used in feminist art, rallies, and campaigns. A red lip can say: “Don’t underestimate me.”

GlossBoss Reminder 💋

Red lipstick isn’t just makeup—it’s a mindset. Whether you wear it to feel sexy, strong, or just because it makes you smile, it’s your power move. So swipe it on, chin up, and strut like the queen you are.