365bet

Cosmetics, Costumes and Ornaments in Ancient India

by Remadevi. O. | 2009 | 54,177 words

This page relates ‘Pharmaceutical use of Lipstick� of the study on cosmetics, costumes and ornaments of ancient India based on Sanskrit sources. Chapter one deals with cosmetics and methods of enhancing beauty; Chapter two deals with costumes, garments and dresses; Chapter three deals with ornaments for humans and animals. Each chapter deals with their respective materials, types, preparation and trade, as prevalent in ancient Indian society.

Go directly to: Footnotes.

2.6. Pharmaceutical use of Lipstick

Use of lipstick was popular among women. For this purpose they used lac dye[1]. Men dyed their lips by chewing betel. Sometimes they applied beeswax or Lodhra powder over this lac dye, in order to brighten the lac[2]. This beeswax is supposed to be a remedy for splitting lips in the winter and it is perhaps similar to today’s lip gloss. Ჹś󲹰 has mentioned the use of bees wax by ladies. In ūñᲹī, it is said that during spring, women gave up the use of bees wax[3]. ٲⲹԲ[4] alludes to 岵첹 rubbing bees wax over the lips to give a glossy effect to the lac already applied. [5] also has often represented women painting their lips with lac. During the description of پ’s wedding in ܳ󲹱, we come across پ’s attendants, besmearing beeswax over the lac dyed lips of ʲī. Lips were painted with minerals also. Bharata[6] prescribes Aśmarāga (Իū) or lac as lipstick for actors.

Footnotes and references:

[back to top]

[1]:

Śśܱ (Śśܱ), IX.46; ṭṭīٲ, vv.7, 113

[2]:

ٲśܳٲ, p.23

[3]:

ūñᲹī, Act I

[4]:

I.4.5

[5]:

ܳ󲹱, VII.18; 岵Ծٰ, III.5

[6]:

ṭyśٰ, XXIII.20

Let's grow together!

I humbly request your help to keep doing what I do best: provide the world with unbiased sources, definitions and images. Your donation direclty influences the quality and quantity of knowledge, wisdom and spiritual insight the world is exposed to.

Let's make the world a better place together!

Like what you read? Help to become even better: