Psychological research shows that women are likely to be vulnerable to the “lipstick effect”, with them splurging on cosmetics no matter what. During a recession, they can cut spending on other items but not their beauty budget.
One theory proposes that it’s a natural instinct that helps ladies ward off depression during an economic downturn, whereas another theory relates cosmetics purchasing to help them look prettier in order to attract men when times get tough.
In this regard, red rules as the most seductive lip colour associated with love and fertility.
According to Shiseido, each woman has to find her perfect red by testing the variations to pick one suited to her skin tone. The Japanese brand’s colour-payoff technology can create a range from ethereally diffused to deeply intense reds, with the 16 variations resulting in the latest Rouge Rouge collection.
Chanel global creative make-up designer Lucia Pica pays tribute to reds — a pillar colour for the French brand — in her debut Le Rouge Collection No1 for autumn/winter 2016. The colour symbolises the power of femininity, as Coco Chanel, once said of red: “If you’re sad, add more lipstick and attack.”
Other recent launches include Illamasqua’s Lip Lure, the product name expressing the purpose of wearing lipstick to attract attention. With a glossy finish, the long-lasting liquid formula comes in Sorbet and Virtue reds, as well as daring deep purple and green.
Choosing one of the 10 Lip Lures is much easier than picking a tube from Urban Decay’s epic Vice range, whose 100 options include 74 new shades in six different finishes.
Shortlisting the palette, 18 shades are categorised into blue-based and yellow-based reds. Doubt for instance is a matte red with a blue undertone and Wrath, a metallic red.
The naming of the collection further reflects how lipstick is a woman’s vice, with the retail therapy tempting make-up junkies to add more than one tube to the cosmetics bag.
This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.