The History of Lip Gloss! How did it emerge?

Today, lip gloss is everywhere—and it's not just a makeup item. Gloss has become a strong symbol of femininity, self-confidence, and style. You've probably seen videos of people applying gloss and getting tons of likes, or lip combo tutorials featuring gloss. But do you know how lip gloss became so iconic? In this post, I’ll tell you the story behind lip gloss!

how did it emerge?

The origins of lip gloss trace back to ancient civilizations where women mixed beeswax and some type of vegetable or animal fat with lipstick to add shine to their lips. We can consider this as the first versions of lip gloss.

Marlene Dietrich

Max Factor

Marlene Dietrich

But did you know that the first official lip gloss emerged because of cinema? In the 1930s, Max Factor wanted to give movie stars a shiny look for their lips, so he created the first lip gloss called Max Factor’s X-Rated, released in 1932. Since the '30s were an era of glamour, this launch became a craze and was widely used!

the 2000s

Though gloss was widely used in the '30s, its popularity significantly declined in the 1940s. It made a comeback in the 1950s, faded again in the 1960s, and surged back with force in the 1970s, thanks to the disco style. In 1973, Bonne Bell launched a new line of glosses with fruity flavors and scents, which would become a trend in the 2000s. However, Max Factor's X-Rated (considered the first gloss) stayed on the market until 2003, when the brand's new owner, Procter and Gamble, discontinued it. Despite this, the lip gloss craze lived on for many years.

As mentioned, fruity glosses and other various styles of gloss were a huge trend in the 2000s, and it was almost a must-have item to carry a lip gloss in your bag. During the same time, matte products also emerged in the 2000s, giving makeup a heavier and more sober look.

the glow era

Like everything in fashion, matte makeup began to lose popularity. In response, many people embraced a more clean and glowing makeup look. Creamy products like blush and highlighter emerged — and, of course, gloss was the perfect finishing touch! Makeup became lighter, with more glamour.

Glow Makeup

Gloss

Glow Makeup

As the cosmetics industry advanced, new types of lip glosses were created, such as those that made the lips appear fuller by giving them a smoother, firmer, and softer appearance. Glosses can now be found in both transparent and colored versions, with various textures, from lighter formulas to more voluminous ones.