Today is International Lipstick Day, which to some might seem like an arbitrary day. Why not International Eyeshadow Palette Day? Or Concealer Day?!
Turns out, lipstick is loaded with as much history and meaning as it is pigment. Ancient Egyptians and Sumerians used combinations of white lead and red rocks or crushed beetle wings to apply to the lips, denoting social status as well as enhancing their beauty. Lipstick became so popular during Queen Cleopatra’s reign that aristocratic women took at least two pots of lipstick to their tombs. She’s the original beauty influencer!
Lipstick was one of the earliest commercially available cosmetics and since 1885, it has been worn by women and the LGBTQI+ community as a form of self-expression. Lipstick, above all other cosmetics, seems to be something we connect with on a deeper level. It’s also accessible and relatively inexpensive, which has led to financial analysts and Wallstreet execs paying attention to the “Lipstick Index” when assessing the state of the economy. If lipstick sales fall, consumer sentiment is pretty bad.
For International Lipstick Day, I asked POPSUGAR Editors about the lipsticks they receive the most compliments on, and what they mean to them. Here they are:
Valentina, Managing Editor: MAC, “Lady Danger”
I don’t wear a bright lip very often but when I do, it’s MAC, Lady Danger ($32). It’s an orangey-red shade that is super easy to wear.
I first spotted it on former Bachelor winner Snezana Wood (née Markoski) who also has olive skin colouring so knew it would likely be a good fit for my tone. That guess was correct.
I love that I don’t need a lip liner to apply it nicely and it’s a great lip for all year round that gives holiday vibes. I’ve lost count of how many compliments I have received while wearing it.
Stephanie, Entertainment Editor: Charlotte Tilbury, “Pillow Talk,” MAC “Ruby Woo” + Several Sadly Discontinued MAC Lipsticks
It’s a basic, yes, but a basic is a staple! Charlotte Tilbury, “Pillow Talk” ($49) is one of those shades you can pull out when you want your face to look done, without making your lips a statement.
MAC, Ruby Woo ($32) is also a staple, it’s THEE must-have red lipstick that will never let you down. There are also some discontinued MAC shades I love, like Scarlett Ibis and Party Parrot from the MAC Iris Apfel collection.
Ange, Shopping Editor: Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Liner in Pillow Talk (With a Strawberry Chapstick Topper)
It feels like cheating to say my favourite lipstick is actually a lip liner, but it’s the truth. Any time I line my lips with the Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Liner in Pillow Talk ($35) and top it with a layer of good old-fashioned Strawberry ChapStick ($4), I get compliments.
I actually think the secret is in the lip liner application, which follows the Mario Dedivanovic (aka Makeup by Mario) lip lift technique, whereby you slightly overline the cupid’s bow and the lower lip, and follow the natural lip line everywhere else. Voila! Juicy, plump lips.
Sangeeta, Lifestyle Editor: Ethique, “Snapdragon”
I’m not a big lipstick wearer, but if I do wear some it’s Ethique, Snapdragon ($30). It’s subtle but also adds a bit of rosy colour, and I love that when I’m finally done with it, I can compost the packaging.
Natasha, Lifestyle Producer: Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lipcolour in “Cherries at Midnight”
I love a bargain find, and I picked up Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lip Colour at Chemist Warehouse when it was half off. I decided to try it and loved it. I will never go too bold with my lipstick colour so the soft pinks are perfect for me. I have about four, but my favourite shade is “Cherries at Midnight” — bonus, it smells like cherries!
The best part is these are comfortable to wear and last a really long time. It’s one of those lipsticks that survive a six-course dinner. Also, who doesn’t love a matte finish?
Basmah, Entertainment Producer: Pat McGrath Matte Trance Lipstick in 1995
I’m obsessed with the Pat McGrath Matte Trance Lipstick in the shade ‘1995’ ($55). Not only is it my birth year, but it’s the perfect everyday shade for olive skin. It’s deep enough to give me some colour without looking over the top, but I can also wear it with heavier makeup looks to help pull everything together. It’s so universal!
Laura, Culture Producer: Chanel, Rouge Allure Lip Colour in 176 Indépendant
This Chanel, Rouge Allure Lipstick in “Indépendant” ($62) has gotten me through my darkest days! Whenever I feel under the weather (having a bad self-esteem day or am a bit hungover) I slap some of this on my lips and everything is right with the world again. It’s hydrating but stays on, it’s vibrant without being too much, and it doesn’t bleed. Truly, the perfect red lippy.
Alana, Gaming Producer: QV Face Lip Balm SPF30+
My lips are too sensitive to wear lipstick (screaming, crying, etc) but QV Face Lip Balm, SPF30+ ($5) is my emotional support lip balm. I literally carry a tube of it with me everywhere I go, even when I’m just hanging around the house. It makes my lips feel RIDICULOUSLY soft. Very un-chic, but I would die without it.
Ruby Feneley, Beauty and Wellness Producer: Ellis Faas, Hot Lips, L401 “Deep Red”
On my day-to-day I’m incredibly lazy and can be found wearing Bobbi Brown, Extra Lip Tints (my favourites are Bare Nude and Bare Pink). But, my “stopped in the street” colour that I wear whenever I need to feel strong or powerful is Ellis Faas, Hot Lip in L401 “Deep Red” ($45).
Kevyn Aucoin and Francois Nars get a lot of hype, but Ellis Faas was a truly visionary makeup artist. I had a chance to meet Ellis Faas before her passing in 2020 and she told me that L401 was created to mimic the colour of human blood. While possibly a little morbid, it’s genius colour theory.
The rusty “organic” undertones in L401 make it a universal “true” red, picking up on the natural warmth in every complexion. There is mesmerising dimension in this pigmented and plumping shade that gives lips immediate fullness. You can wear this with next to no makeup, dab a little on your cheeks with the sponge-tip applicator and feel polished and alive.
