Did you know ?: wearing lipstick has long been associated with malicious nature

Lipstick is part of the beauty routine of millions of women. It is of course available in dozens of shades and constitutes the bold and glamorous touch of a make-up. But it has not always been so since it has long been denigrated and, like other cosmetics, considered a means of concealing a malevolent nature. This is the astonishing revelation made by Madeleine Marsh, author of Conventions and Cosmetics: The History of Beauty from the Victorian Era to the Present, at The Huffington Post.

"God's work must not be tampered with"

The writer explains that wearing lipstick was considered a sign of a deceitful and sinful personality from the beginning of the Christianity until the rise of the Church of England in the 16th century. “With the rise of Christianity, people like Saint Jerome proclaimed that any attempt to change a woman's appearance was against God's will. God has given you a face and this is the one you must show yourself with. Trying to modify it, accentuate it or hide it is a sin,” says the expert.

Saint Cyprian, who was bishop of Carthage and who greatly influenced Christian thought in the 3rd century, also spoke radically: “All women must be warned that the work of God […] must not be tampered with with yellow color, black or red powder, or with any other cosmetic that defiles natural features”.

The ultimate subterfuge to manipulate

The cleric went even further by comparing makeup to “the work of the devil”. Rachel Weingarten, also an expert on the history of cosmetics and beauty, says the Anglican Church "ve been fiercely opposed to the idea of ​​women wearing makeup" from its founding in the 1500s. even irresponsible was even considered a reason for separation: “A man could divorce his wife if she wore makeup. It was a sin and the general belief was that [these women] were not who they claimed to be.”

In the 1700s, the practice was even considered witchcraft, along with wigs and heels. If women accustomed to wearing these devices used them to “seduce”, “deceive” and “induce” a “male subject of Her Majesty” to marry, then the punishment applied was the same as for female citizens found guilty of witchcraft. The union was subsequently considered null and void and then annulled. "It's one of the most extreme makeup responses ever," says Madeleine Marsh. The notion of witchcraft was legitimized by the many sudden deaths that occurred because of the toxicity of the beauty products used (women disappeared overnight, which did not play in favor of the followers of make-up).

A symbol of resistance

It was in the 20th century and more precisely during the Second World War that lipstick (red, in particular) became the symbol of the emancipation of women, of 'after the experts. Cosmetics then embodied courage, patriotism and resilience. The men having left to fight, the women then enjoyed a certain freedom and independence which allowed them to enjoy life in a different way. “It was common knowledge that Hitler hated red lipstick, so [the cosmetic] became a sign of rebellion, a finger of honor to all it stood for. Wearing lipstick was also seen as a strong patriotic gesture, which referred to blue, white and red,” concludes Rachel Weingarten. Well, what a story! We remember one thing: don't be afraid to let out the femme fatale in you, and if lipstick can help you, then here we go ladies!

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