4000-Year-Old Lipstick Discovered In Iran, Unveiling Ancient Branding & Packaging Practices

Makeup has become ubiquitous in contemporary times, with one of its most prevalent components being lipstick.

However, it might astonish you to discover that lipsticks have a historical legacy dating back as far as 4000 years ago.

Earlier this month, archaeologists unearthed the oldest-known red lipstick from the Bronze Age in the Jiroft region of Iran, estimated to be around 3600 to 4200 years old, with a dating range of approximately 2000 to 1600 B.C.

Lipstick found in intricately carved tube

Archaeologists discovered a small chlorite vial of a dark red paste that is likely an ancient tube of lipstick.

Credit: X

The intricately carved tube was recovered from an ancient graveyard exposed in 2001 due to a nearby river flood.

Despite the site having been looted, resulting in the sale of numerous artifacts, officials managed to reclaim several items, returning them to a nearby museum.

The lipstick found in the vial contains traces of galena and anglesite, along with minerals such as hematite, which is darkened by manganite and braunite. These components were blended with plant waxes and other organic substances, closely mirroring contemporary lipstick formulations.

Ancient lipstick unveils early branding and packaging practices

The slim shape of the vial, similar to today's lipstick tubes, suggests it might have been made to be held with a copper or bronze mirror, as seen in an ancient Egyptian drawing.

The lipstick stands out with special features like fine cuts on its greenish chlorite surface, making it different from other things from that time.

This hints that even way back in history, people had a smart way of branding and packaging their cosmetic items.

The team suggests that the vial may originate from Mar?a?i, a civilization mentioned in Mesopotamian texts, known for its strength and presence in the present-day eastern Iran.

Representative image/ Britannica

Other than lipstick, many other beauty products were used in Iran, such as 'sormeh' or black powder used as eyeliner as well as various powders on their cheeks and eyebrows.

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