Updated date:

Mar 12, 2021

What Is the Most Expensive Lipstick in the World?

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What Is Lipstick?

So is lipstick the one thing that you would not leave the house without? Many women feel naked without their lipstick, or without at least a slick of gloss on, but what is it exactly?

Basically, it is the cosmetic that women apply to their lips to add colour to them and accentuate or alter the shape. Modern lipstick is made of a combination of wax, oils, and emollients and is a solid stick of colour that comes in a case. The cases are generally made of plastic and contain a mechanism to swivel the lipstick up and down.

Buying a posh lipstick is probably one of the cheapest ways to treat yourself to a little piece of luxury and get a designer name like Chanel, Lancôme, Guerlain or Dior into your makeup bag. These days it comes in a huge range of colours, even black or blue, but bright red is still the most popular shade. Bold, bright red lipstick conveys the message that you are a highly attractive, confident and sophisticated woman; a woman of the world who knows that she is truly alluring to men.

All of the big cosmetic houses have great ranges of lipstick, so there is a shade and lipstick out there that will suit every woman, so go and experiment and ask the beauty consultants in the stores to help you pick one out.

History of Lipsticks

So how did we women start wearing colour on our lips? There is evidence from the earliest prehistory that mankind used to decorate their bodies with naturally occurring pigments like ochre and woad. The face has always been the focus for body decoration, and adding colour or altering the shape of the lips became one of the most popular facial adornments.

You may not like bugs and insects, but you have to be sorry for the carmine beetle, which used to be ground up to make a crimson colour that was used. It was popular with the ladies of antiquity, and even Cleopatra was a fan! Colour has been used throughout history to define the shape of a woman’s lips, and what is considered to be the most desirable shape has changed constantly throughout history.

Whether or not to colour the lips has also been a big question historically; in some centuries, wearing lip colour was socially acceptable, and in some eras, it was considered to denote loose morals and even be a sin. During the Middle Ages, the use of lip colour denoted class, and by the Elizabethan age, staining the lips crimson had become popular.

Queen Elizabeth I apparently favoured a lip colour made of cochineal mixed with egg white, gum arabic, and fig milk. During the 17th century, the Puritans were strongly against the use of cosmetics and any artificial beauty enhancements, and in 1770 the British parliament even passed a law associating lipstick with witchcraft.

During Georgian and Victorian times, the use of cosmetics and heavy makeup was frowned upon by Polite Society, especially if worn by very young, unmarried women. A young girl who wore lip colour and cosmetics would have been regarded as "fast," and this reputation could really damage her chances of making a good marriage.

Through the ages, most cosmetics were made in the home, and by the 1850s, reports were being circulated that proclaimed the dangers of applying cosmetic products containing lead and vermillion. It wasn’t until the end of the 19th century that commercially produced cosmetics first became available when French cosmetic company Guerlain successfully marketed lip rouge.

What we would later know as lipstick came into being in 1915 when a metallic cylinder was invented to contain it in the USA by Maurice Levy. Wearing it became much more socially acceptable during the 20th century, with many women wanting to wear the same shade as their favourite film actresses, with dark and bright reds still being the most favoured shades.

What Is the Most Expensive Lipstick?

These days, we are lucky because we can choose from hundreds of shades, and pay anything from a couple of dollars to thousands of dollars. But what is the most expensive lipstick in the world, and what is it that makes it expensive?

It is quite often the case that sends the price sky-high. You can find them in cases made of gold, silver, or even platinum that are studded with twinkling gemstones and diamonds. A lipstick being part of a designer’s cosmetics range is also always going to cost you more, as having names like Chanel or Nina Ricci in your makeup bag is never going to come cheap, as the big cosmetic houses need to keep up their image of exclusivity and luxury.

So how much would you expect to have to pay for the world’s most expensive and glamorous lipsticks?

Guerlain’s KissKiss Gold and Diamonds - $62,000 – How sophisticated and spoiled would you feel if you were lucky enough to receive the Guerlain KissKiss Gold and Diamonds lipstick as a Valentine’s Day or birthday gift? This is a truly luxurious lipstick that costs more than some people’s houses, so what exactly makes it so special, and so expensive? Well, you get to choose from 15 exclusive shades, but it is the exquisite case that makes it as expensive as it is. How would you like to casually whip a lipstick that was made from 18-carat gold studded with 199 sparkling diamonds out of your bag when you were reapplying your makeup? You can have this precious lipstick engraved with your name or a personalised message, and luckily it is refillable so that you can keep impressing your friends for a very long time!

Comments

CMHypno (author) from Other Side of the Sun on March 05, 2013:

Thanks for reading and commenting wrenfrost56. I like wearing make-up for special occasions, but during the week I just usually slap a bit of mascara. $62,000 seems a little excessive to me as well, but if you are a billionaire I suppose it is no different to us spending a couple of quid. Everything is relative lol!

wrenfrost56 from U.K. on March 04, 2013:

I don't often wear make-up not because I'm vain enough to think that I don't need it, but due to being generally slack. I do like wearing make-up though, it does make me feel better knowing that I look better, however I think $62,000 is a little excessive :) Another great hub, and a very interesting read. :)

CMHypno (author) from Other Side of the Sun on July 08, 2011:

Glad that you enjoyed reading about expensive lipsticks Carrie, and I think that it is great that there are so many great lipstick shades to choose from

carriethomson from United Kingdom on July 08, 2011:

nice hub:) loved reading it.. i love rich plum coloured lipsticks..and also the light glossy pinks..

CMHypno (author) from Other Side of the Sun on January 24, 2011:

You mean you are not buying your sister the expensive Guerlain lipstick, prasetio???? Keep on hubbing an you will soon be able to buy her one in every shade. Thanks for reading the hub on expensive lipstick and leaving a comment

CMHypno (author) from Other Side of the Sun on January 24, 2011:

Thanks for reading about expensive lipstick, ImChemist, looks like your preference for natural lips could be saving you $62,000 LOL!

prasetio30 from malang-indonesia on January 23, 2011:

Thanks for share this information. I thought my sister wouldn't buy this one because of the expensive price. VEry informative. Have a great day!

Prasetio

ImChemist on January 23, 2011:

I personally like ladies with natural pretty lips ( no lipstick )

CMHypno (author) from Other Side of the Sun on January 23, 2011:

Hi Hello, hello, thanks for reading about expensive lipstick and leaving a comment

Hello, hello, from London, UK on January 23, 2011:

Wow, a very fascinating information. Thank you.

CMHypno (author) from Other Side of the Sun on January 23, 2011:

I have never tried Nars lipstick hsouth, but I will give it a go and look forward to super hydrated lips. Thanks for reading about expensive lipstick and leaving a comment

CMHypno (author) from Other Side of the Sun on January 23, 2011:

Shame about H Couture drbj, because I was counting on you buying 2 Socialite Collections and passing one on to me! LOL Thanks for reading about lipstick and leaving a great comment

hsouth89 from Ontario, Canada on January 22, 2011:

Nars lipsticks go for about 35$ each. But are super hydrating and the texture is great. I love theirs! I'll forever be a HUGE Nars fan. If you want awesome eye shadows that stay even if u swim you should check out makeup forever also a great line!

drbj and sherry from south Florida on January 22, 2011:

Are you saying, CM, that H Couture is out of business? Oh, woe is me. Here I was planning to purchase that beautiful Socialite Collection for only $589. Guess that's why they went out of business. The markup wasn't high enough.

Guess I'll just have to go out in the backyard and find me some carmine beetles to grind up.

CMHypno (author) from Other Side of the Sun on January 22, 2011:

Valentine's Day is coming up Katie, so maybe you will be gifted a gold lipstick studded with diamonds? Thanks for reading the hub and leaving a great comment

Katie McMurray from Ohio on January 22, 2011:

I love lipstick, glosses, stains and lip stuff of all kinds. I just had to read about the most expensive lipstick in all the world. Hea, I like the product line you offer and see many I myself enjoy! well done! :) Katie