‘A
study of 50 men were part of an experiment at Manchester University regarding
lipstick – ‘men like to stare at women’s mouths that had lipstick on, with red
lipstick holding their attention the longest. A whole 7.6 seconds’
For many
women around the world that little red bullet of lipsticks has proven to be a
confidence booster, a guy grabbing tool or even a best friend. In 1924 Chanel produced and packaged their
first red lipstick, modelled on the shade that Coco Chanel her self wore. The
red lipstick has gone on to define itself for years.
However following some research conducted
by
the University of Manchester, does
the women’s best friend have more power than we first thought?
According to their research, their
male subjects spent longer looking at women wearing a red lip than they did
pink. For many men, outside of the research project conducted at Manchester
University, it seems they are in agreement. Many say that when they saw a women
wearing red lipstick, regardless of any other clothing or accessorise she might
have been wearing, that they believed it to give off the impression of
confidence and sex appeal.
Women's magazines all over the
world almost daily are promoting red lipstick, or a red lip look. How to wear
it, what are the best brands to buy from, what shade of red suits you best;
‘The secret to confidence is red lipstick’. These can go on for a list as long
as any women's shopping list, but is it all true? Or is this more
of the perfect women propaganda we are all buying into?
True, many women do feel once they
have braved the makeup counters and rifled their way through, what is
essentially 30 red lipsticks all of the
same shade, but the makeup assistant assures you they are not, and this one
will of course make your teeth look whiter and your eyes look brighter, do you
feel more confident now with that red lipstick on your lips? Do you notice more
guys stare?
So maybe that natural look all our
guys go on about is not really the case at all.
The celebrity we see today, all rock a red lip when trying to give off a
sex appeal look, and sex does sell. Scarlet Johansson, known for her sultry
looks often is seen wearing red lipstick and has been voted numerous times in
the top 10 of Maxims hot 100, and topped Esquires Hottest Women Poll earlier
last year. Even
once teen queen Miley Cyrus is now rocking a sultry red lip.
Are these same red lip looks that
are being worn today by are celebrities
the
same as that old Hollywood glamour that Marilyn Monroe once donned though. Many
men still make connections with women who wear red lipstick with women who are
mature, seductive and trying to recreate
that old fashioned glamour look. It seems men, like the red lip look
for what is has always represent, Women. A strong, confident and self
assured. Make up is more than just compacts and mascara wands. It can change
how men see women, how women see women and how women see themselves.
The makeup
industry has been around for over 100 years,
and continues to strive today.
Releasing new products which
promise to make bits of us look, big, better and shinier.
But sometimes the classics is all
we need to achieve what we want. Next time your fighting
your way through that makeup
counter, try a red lip and see how you feel, and the looks,
good looks, you will get.
