Why women wear lipstick?

Some women perceive lipstick as an important component in their daily grooming ritual and is consider by many as a necessary addition to their face in order to feel:

- presentable

- comfortable

-sexy

-feel more attractive

-pretty

-complete

-self-esteem are higher

-attracting the opposite sex

-more confident

http://smib.vuw.ac.nz:8081/WWW/ANZMAC2001/anzmac/AUTHORS/pdfs/Ogilvie.pdf

Women put on a brave face for recession as make-up sale rise

By Fay Schlesinger

The Lipstick Factor: Women are treating themselves to expensive cosmetics despite the recession

The recession is forcing women to cut back on clothes, holidays and dining out – but it seems they have no intention of giving up make-up.

In a trend known as the Lipstick Factor, figures show that sales of eye shadow, perfume and especially lipstick are weathering the recession.

Cosmetics generally have seen a year-on-year increase in sales during the downturn.

If they can afford only limited luxury, women reason that a tube of lipstick is an inexpensive option compared with buying a new outfit or spending a day at a spa.

But rather than saving their pennies by choosing cheaper products, they are treating themselves to top-end, quality brands, the research suggested.

Data showed that cosmetics enjoyed the highest growth in the expanding UK beauty market. Sales rose 7.4 per cent to £1,200million between 2007 and 2008, according to market research specialists Mintel.

Face and body skincare were up 6.7 per cent to £1,000million and women's perfume rose 4.6 per cent to £667million over the same period.

The Great Depression of the 1930s brought a similar phenomenon, with rising unemployment and tougher competition for jobs making women eager to look their best, experts said.

Bright red statement shades give women the confidence boost they desire during the recession, according to Selfridges director Anne Pitcher.

She added: 'Anecdotal evidence shows that lipsticks are up for the first time in years.

'Red is especially popular, as Scarlet Johansson and Monica Bellucci promote the classic Hollywood make-up look.'

George Wallace, chief executive of shopping consultants MHE Retail, said: 'A 25 to 34-year-old woman in the UK is carrying £71 worth of make-up in her handbag and there is no sign of her giving this up in the downturn.

'If anything she is buying more to cheer herself up.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/beauty/article-1226206/Women-brave-face-recession-make-sales-rise.html

FDA Analyses of LEAD in LIPSTICKS

The following results for lead content in a selection of lipsticks were obtained by scientists at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and reported in the Journal of Cosmetic Science^{6[1] 7}. FDA purchased lipsticks from retail stores between October and December 2007.

Brand name	Parent company	Lipstick Line and Shadea	Lot numbersb	Lead (Pb)c (ppm)d
Cover Girl	Procter & Gamble	Incrediful Lipcolor 964 Maximum Red	7241S1	3.06
			5188S1	3.05
Revlon	Revlon, Inc.	ColorStay Lipcolor 345 Red Velvet	Compositee	2.91f
			07298	2.38
Cover Girl	Procter & Gamble	Queen Collection Q580 Ruby Remix	7136	2.24
Body Shop	L'Oreal	Lip Colour 22 Garnet	C274EA	1.79
Cover Girl	Procter & Gamble	Continuous Color 435 Cherry Brandy	7228	1.76
L'Oreal	L'Oreal	Colour Riche 315 True Red	FD261	1.47
Revlon	Revlon, Inc.	Super Lustrous 660 Bed of Roses	07208 1508 53	1.37
Maybelline	L'Oreal	Moisture Extreme F315 Cocoa Plum	WD2891	1.21
Revlon	Revlon, Inc.	Super Lustrous 725 Love That Red	07284 1508 59	1.04
L'Oreal	L'Oreal	Colour Riche 752 Classic Wine	FD064	0.79
			FD234	0.67
Clinique	Estee Lauder Companies Inc.	Long Last FJ Merlot	AA7	0.55
Clinique	Estee Lauder Companies Inc.	Long Last F9 Paprika	A87	0.48
Estee Lauder	Estee Lauder Companies Inc.	Pure Color 1A3 Maraschino	B55	0.43
Burt's Bees	Clorox Company	Lip Shimmer Merlotg	1840701	0.33
Maybelline	L'Oreal	Moisture Extreme E215 Midnight Red	WD3041	0.23
PeaceKeeper	PeaceKeeper	Paint Me Compassionateg	h	0.17
Dior	LVMH	Replenishing Lipcolor 752 Red Premiere	7A01	0.15
Dior	LVMH	Addict Ultra-Shine 750 Shiniest Sexiness	7D01	0.12
MAC	Estee Lauder Companies Inc.	Matte Lipstick Viva Glam I	A67	0.10
Avon	Avon	Ultra Color Rich U250 Cherry Jubilee	h	0.09
Average				1.07

1. ^a Lipsticks selected are the same brands and shades analyzed by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics (http://www.safecosmetics.org/your_health/poisonkiss.cfm^{8 9}).
2. ^b Lot numbers embossed or printed on lipstick cases or end labels.
3. ^c Results are for total lead content determined by FDA's validated method [Reference 1].
4. ^d Reported in units of µg Pb/g in Reference 1.
5. ^e Combination of several lots.
6. ^f Result not used for determining average value of lead content by FDA's validated method.
7. ^g No shade number on lipstick.
8. ^h No lot number on lipstick.

http://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/ProductandIngredientSafety/ProductInformation/ucm137224.htm

-

Lipsticks WARNING!!!!!!!

Recently a brand called "Red Earth" decreased their prices from $67 to $9.90. It contained lead. Lead is a chemical which causes cancer.

The Brands which contain lead are:
1.. CHRISTIAN DIOR
2. LANCOME
3. CLINIQUE
4. Y.S.L
5. ESTEE LAUDER
6. SHISEIDO
7. RED EARTH (Lip Gloss)
8. CHANEL (Lip Conditioner)
9. MARKET AMERICA-MOTNES LIPSTICK.

The higher the lead content, the greater the chance of causing cancer.

After doing a test on lipsticks, it was found that the Y.S.L. lipstick contained the most amount of lead.

Watch out for those lipsticks which are supposed to stay longer. If your lipstick stays longer, it is because of the higher content of lead.

Here is the test you can do yourself:

1. Put some lipstick on your hand.
2. Use a Gold ring to scratch on the lipstick.
3. If the lipstick color changes to black then you know the lipstick contains lead.

Lipstick indicates economic woes?

Hard Times, but Your Lips Look Great!!!!

"INTERESTING ARTICLE" (but it has 2 pages long, so I just the post the link for you to read)http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/01/fashion/01SKIN.html?_r=1&pagewanted=2