While we INPT girls do take pleasure in luxurious frivolities, at the core, we’re all substantial, inquisitive  minds, so when we come across news of ‘lipstick being the new economic indicator,’ we can’t help but spend some time looking into it.

U.S. News & World Report Money and Business editor Kimberly Palmer recently asked her online readers if red lipstick was the recession solution?  She said she received a press release from a cosmetic company claiming sales of red lipstick rose more than 400%. The reason, according to the company, was the economy.

“Red lips evoke a sense of power in women allowing them to stand bold and tall in the face of adversity. So it only makes sense that red lipstick sales are on the rise in America’s recent recession,” the company asserted in their press release.

Palmer said she thought it smelled like a “marketing ploy,” and left it at that.  Of course after reading this, I had to know, do people buy more lipstick when the economy takes a turn for the worst?  How much of a correlation is there… Do the shades get darker as the dow drops?  C’mon now, the thought of crimson lips on every Betty on the street is a little terrifying, no?

After a little bit of searching I came across another interesting article in the NYTimes from May of 2008 featuring Cristina Bartolucci, the creative director of DuWop Cosmetics.  In it, Bartolucci attributes the economy as the driving force behind DuWop’s Prime Venom, the co.’s first matte plumper designed to be worn under lipstick.

“One of the main reasons we came up with this product is that we’re in a recession, or a difficult time  with the war,” she said. “You always think of the classic lipstick and stockings doing well in wartime.”

What?! Cosmetic companies are banking on it?  Apparently yes, the article said that in 2001, Leonard Lauder, chairman of Estee Lauder Companies, told the NY Times that lipstick sales at his company had increased after the Sept. 11th attacks, perpetuating the belief that lipstick sales are indeed an economic indicator.

However, Mr. Lauder speculations weren’t enough to convince me.  Mr. Lauder is, after all in the business of selling lipstick, so I kept digging until I came across an article just published in The Economist, which finally put my fears to rest.

It basically debunks all previously mentioned “lipstick factors,” citing not enough data to draw such conclusions.  Come to think of it, I do remember red lipstick being a trend in the booming early 90’s (think Winona Ryder circa Reality Bytes). Lol.

The article did mention though that cosmetic sales in general do fair well during tough times.  Apparently, cosmetic sales increased by 25% during the Depression.  Hmmm, I had no idea.

Until next time,

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