Forensic Techniques to Analyze Lipstick Traces

Forensic scientists established a way to identify the brand of lipstick someone was wearing at a crime scene without removing the evidence from its bag, avoiding contaminating the evidence (2013). The technique by the name of Raman Spectroscopy was used (2013). This method detects laser light allowing for investigators to analyze lipstick marks left at the crime scene (2013). “Analyzing lipstick traces can be used to establish physical contact between two individuals, such as a victim and a suspect” (2013). This advancement is significant because current lipstick tracing relies on destructive forensic techniques or human opinion (2013). “Raman spectroscopy is ideal as it can be performed through transparent layers, such as evidence bags” (2013). This process is advantageous because microscopic samples can be analyzed quickly and non-destructively” (2013). “Raman spectroscopy is a process involving light and vibrational energy of chemical bonds” (2013). When light is scattered off a material most of it is scattered in its original wavelength but a small amount is scattered in a different wavelength (2013). A microscope is used to collect the light giving a Raman spectrum, which gives a characteristic vibrational fingerprint (2013). This can then be compared to various types of lipsticks (2013). Currently more research is being conducted into applying the same method on other types of cosmetic evidence, such as eyeliners, and skin creams (2013). This recent advancement in forensic science is truly amazing. With this new technique forensic investigators will be able to analyze lipstick without compromising the continuity of evidence. In the last lecture we were talking about how we as forensic investigators should not contaminate the crime scene and evidence in anyway. This article talks exactly about that. The current process of analysis is destructive as stated in the article, thus this process will definitely be beneficial. Since this technique can