The time has come to paint that pout again.
Secretly glowing in gloss beneath a mask, my ruby rouged lips—a guilty pleasure for the last few months—have been waiting for the moment when I can proudly parade this pucker once more. Primping was out of place for a while, while we collectively embraced a pandemic makeunder, but when what we thought was a day in our pajamas here, no shower there, and a few weeks of turning off the camera on this thing called Zoom turned into sixteen months, undone became the consensus. But now that we’re scaling back the austerity of survival mode, maybe beauty is what we need?
If you agree, you'll join me in celebrating National Lipstick Day on July 29th! Perhaps you'll do so with a good grooming read?
Lipstick History
Red Lipstick: An Ode to a Beauty Icon by Rachel Felder pays homage to the crimson kiss. Red is the oldest, most universally flattering and worn shade of lipstick. The power suit of the beauty world, red lipstick is the lipstick of legend. From Cleopatra to Mia Wallace to the girl next door, lipstick conjures thoughts of queens, femme fatales and coming of age. With anecdotes from beauty industry insiders, literary excerpts, historical references, lipstick lore, and vintage cosmetic advertisement imagery, Felder gives red lipstick the prestige deserving of this coquettish cultural icon. The mentions of fine art representations of a red lips in works by masters like Man Ray make this more than a love letter, it is a study of style and society. Lipstick is the most audacious cosmetic in history.
Lipstick How-to
“Lipstick Queen” Poppy King chronicles her lipstick love affair in The A to Z of Lipstick. Poppy makes lipstick personal as she tells the tale of how lipstick transformed her own self-image and empowered her to create an empire. Her book is a dictionary of lipstick knowledge that is more than superficial. My favorite feature of this book are bios on notable women who rocked a perfect pout. With expert advice on application, the lipstick looks that lured us throughout time, quirky illustrations by David Foote, and a peek into the lipstick manufacturing process, King’s sophisticated handbook to lipstick is a must read.
Lipstick as Art
As much as I love the color and texture of lipstick, the most valuable visual asset is the package. I’m not ashamed to admit I will drop coin on a new shade if the tube is a conversation starter. Encased in gilded glass, encrusted with crystals, or sleek and chic, unique lipstick presentations are an artform. Compacts and Cosmetics: Beauty from Victorian Times to the Present Day by Madeleine Marsh is a vivid timeline of cosmetic packaging that features fantastic photos of lipstick containers from antiquity to the modern age. From Art Deco designs that rival sculpture, Mary Quant’s mod makeup crayons, and Tangee’s mood change magic, Marsh highlights the most striking lipsticks in cosmetic history.
Today let’s rejoice in our newfound freedom to unmask and makeup!
LaCresha Neal is Welcome Services Coordinator at the Central Library. She loves art, altruism, and information.
This blog post reflects the opinions of the author and does not necessarily represent the views of Brooklyn Public Library.
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