In the Jiroft region of southeastern Iran, archaeologists have discovered a small chlorite bottle containing a dark red cosmetic preparation believed to be an ancient lipstick form.
The results, published in various scientific journals, show that the mineral components of the reddish material include hematite tinged with manganite and brownite, as well as traces of galena and angelazite. These ingredients were mixed with vegetable wax and other organic substances, similar to modern lipstick recipes.
The discovery is about 4,000 years old. It highlights the deep knowledge of chemical processing possessed by the ancient Iranians.
