Most lipstick contains the byproduct of fish scales, called pearl essence or pearlescence — as it turns out, the stuff that makes fish scales flash also makes one’s lips shiny. Most pearl essence comes from commercially fished herring. Synthetic versions are available, but they are not widely used.
Well, as a matter of fact – Yes, this is actually true! Some lipstick does contain something called “pearl essence”. Also known as ” pearlescence “, this silvery substance is literally found in fish scales!
It is primarily sourced from herring and can be found in many lipsticks, nail polishes and other cosmetic products due to the shimmer effect it creates.
So wait – I am putting fish scales on my face and lips? Well, actually most cosmetics now contain a synthetic version of pearl essence.
I think its time to do some research and find out if your lipstick contains fish scales…
Pearls have a kind of scattered radiance to them, as if they are being lit from within. That’s because they are – especially when fake ones are made by coating ordinary beads with fish scales. The scales are made from purines, which are the things that also make up nucleic acids. The purines are arranged in a crystal that’s both flat and irregular, like the shards of a window pane. When groups of them are arranged over each other, as light hits the plane of each crystal, some light is reflected back, and some keeps going down until it hits another crystal. As light gets thrown up, in a diffuse way, from many different levels, the scales seem to emanate light from within. Slather enough layers on a bead, and it has a glowing, pearlescent quality.
