The Enduring Power of Red Lipstick

The Enduring Power of Red Lipstick

By Tesia Williams
EVP, Public Affairs & Communications

Red lipstick has long been a symbol of confidence and strength. It is widely considered feminine and bold, daring and assured. Red lipstick often declares, "I am ready to meet the world head-on, and the world should get ready for me." And you don't have to be a "Swiftie" to know that Taylor Swift has introduced a new generation of young women to the bold lip stain.

But the power of red lipstick is not new. Each generation has discovered or rediscovered the sense of authority, autonomy, and assurance from a perfect shade of red.

For example, Cleopatra, queen of Egypt, was among the first to embrace the power of red lipstick. In ancient Egypt, red was considered a symbol of social status and strength. The queen wore a red pigment on her lips that she allegedly created by crushing ants and beetles into an appliable paste.

Fast-forward to the 20th century, red lipstick became a symbol of suffragist women fighting for the right to vote. In 1912, as thousands of suffragists marched through the streets of New York City, makeup pioneer Elizabeth Arden passed out tubes of bright red lipstick to show her support for the cause.

During World War II, when luxuries were sacrificed for the war effort, women still found ways to inject a bit of femininity and resistance into their lives with a little red lipstick. Today, women all over the world are owning their confidence and strength through the power that red lipstick symbolizes.

July 29 is National Lipstick Day, a perfect moment to celebrate the rich history and lasting impact of this small but powerful accessory. It also marks my first day in an exciting new role as Executive Vice President of Public Affairs & Communications at the Personal Care Products Council.

The opportunity to represent the cosmetics and personal care products industry is a dream come true. I am proud to be part of this vibrant, essential, and inclusive industry, and I am ready to get to work on important issues that affect so many lives.

And you can be sure that I am wearing the perfect shade of red lipstick on my first day.

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