[Luxus Magazine] Brief History of Luxury: Lipstick, a weapon of mass seduction

An ally of femininity and France’s favorite make-up, it is estimated that between 800 and 900 million red lipsticks are sold worldwide every year, or 27 per second. It has to be said that the stick of rouge is not a symbol of vitality and endurance for nothing.

 

Vermilion, magenta, blue or plum, lipstick has adapted to the evolution of women’s lifestyles. A marker of its time, each shade refers to a specific era and a more or less erotic symbolism.

 

In turn an emblem of high nobility, a scarlet mark of sin and a symbol of resistance to oppression, it has become a staple of elegance and seduction.

 

Lady Lilith, oil painting by Dante Gabriel Rossetti, 1826 © Delaware Art Museum

 

Since time immemorial, men and women have sought to distinguish and seduce themselves through make-up. Hindus early on used betel to darken their lips and teeth.

 

For a long time, this product was available for a few euros or dollars, but with the arrival of luxury brands such as Dior and Hermès, it has become a luxury item that can be bought for up to $62,000 for Guerlain’s KissKiss Or et Diamant model.

 

From royal court to Hollywood

 

Contrary to popular belief, the history of lipstick predates the Egyptians and dates back to the Sumerians.

 

Click here to read the full article on Luxus Plus Magazine.

 

Featured photo : © Press

Picture of Victor Gosselin
Victor Gosselin
Victor Gosselin is a journalist specializing in luxury, HR, tech, retail, and editorial consulting. A graduate of EIML Paris, he has been working in the luxury industry for 9 years. Fond of fashion, Asia, history, and long format, this ex-Welcome To The Jungle and Time To Disrupt likes to analyze the news from a sociological and cultural angle.
Luxus Magazine Automne/Hiver 2024

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