- Coloring one's lips is far from new. History has it that the ancient Egyptian women (2500-2300 B.C) were the first with a penchant for "pretty." They used charcoal to line their eyes and red dyes made from crushed earth to paint their lips.

- The first cosmetics cases were discovered in a 5,000-year-old Sumerian tomb.

- A 17th century pastor, Thomas Hall, called face-painting "the devil's work" (he was also the author of The Loathsomnesse of Long Haire).

- During World War II, American women working in munitions plants helped the war effort by sacrificing metal lipstick cases in favour of paper. But when Hitler banned makeup, German women refused to work. Guess who won the war?

- Preston Sturges (1898-1959) developed the first kiss-proof lipstick.