Hyderabad, Oct. 14 -- Imagine rushing out for Irani chai with friends in Hyderabad. Your outfit is ready, but something feels incomplete. You reach for your favourite lipstick, apply a quick swipe and feel ready to go.

But its story stretches back thousands of years, through ancient civilisations, royal courts, Hollywood and modern beauty counters.

Around 3500 BC: Lip colour in Mesopotamia

Around 5,000 years ago, people in ancient Mesopotamia used crushed minerals and coloured materials to decorate their lips and faces. Some early cosmetics contained toxic ingredients, including lead-based compounds.

Around 1936-1687 BC: An ancient lip-paint discovery

A carved stone vial discovered in southeastern Iran contained a deep-red cosmetic t...