Lip Service
Friday, July 29th, was National Lipstick Day! It was one of those dubious recognition days on the calendar, but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to give some lip service.

Lip Service

By now, you know that I like to travel back in time to learn the history of things. Let’s explore the history of lipstick.

Lip Service

Wearing: Carmen Marc Valvo plaid dress, Kate Spade "Licorice" coral patent leather heel, Chanel Woven Straw Raffia Framed Purse from Fashionphile, Ray-Ban orange Aviators

Guerlain created the first bullet lipstick in 1870. It was called Ne M’oubliez Pas.

1870 Guerlain Ne m' oubliez pas
1870 Guerlain Ne m’ oubliez pas

Guerlain, a French perfume cosmetics and skincare house among the oldest in the world, was founded in 1828 by Monsieur Pierre-François-Pascal Guerlain. I plan to visit the Guerlain boutique on the Champs – Élysées in Paris when I see it in November.

 

Ne m' oubliez pas lipstick and refill, circa 1920 photo.
Ne m’ oubliez pas lipstick and refill, circa 1920 photo.

Check out these three beauties from the movie The Women perfecting their pouts in the Ladies’ Room. This is one of my favorite black-and-white comedy dramas.

Paulette Goddard, Norma Shearer, and Mary Boland perfecting their pouts in the ladies room in the movie, "The Women."  It's Lip Service in the ladies room in the movie, The Women.
Lip Service.  Paulette Goddard, Norma Shearer, and Mary Boland perfect their pouts in the ladies’ room in the 1939 movie, “The Women.”

According to Ladies’ Home Journal, 65% of women use lipstick daily, and 25% won’t leave the house without it.  How about you? Is lipstick the one item you won’t leave home without?

Elvis Presley couldn’t resist the opportunity to lend his name to lipstick for his teenage fans.

Elvis Presley lipstick marketed to his teenage fan club. Image credit: Elvis Presley Enterprises Estate.
Lip Service.  Elvis Presley’s lipstick was marketed to his teenage fan club. Image credit: Elvis Presley Enterprises Estate.

90% of women believe that wearing lipstick makes them feel better about themselves and don’t do it to attract men.

1960s Psychedelic LipSticks from Avon.
1960s Psychedelic LipSticks from Avon.

Coty, Yardley, Max Factor, and Helena Rubenstein were significant cosmetics manufacturers, but many were no longer producing products or were absorbed by more giant corporations. Avon is still ringing up sales door-to-door and office-to-office.

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Our lips can become more wrinkled as we age, and lines may develop around our mouths. There is a thing called wrinkle lip syndrome, which is more evident in long-time smokers and people who don’t protect their skin with SPF (sun protection factor). Help yourself age gracefully by not smoking, getting exercise, limiting alcohol, wearing sunscreen, and keeping yourself hydrated.

My National Lipstick Day Instagram photo. My daughter gave me this extravagant Christian Louboutin lippy last year for my milestone birthday.  Talk about Lip service!
Lip Service.  My National Lipstick Day Instagram photo. My daughter gave me this extravagant Christian Louboutin lipstick on a silk ribbon last year for my milestone birthday.

There are no limitations to how you can color your lips.  There are many choices and styles: crayon, lip cremes, gloss, and custom lipstick.

This post isn’t just lip service but some fun information about lipstick, I hoped you enjoyed it.  Let me know your thoughts!

Don’t forget to be fabulous.

Siggy