The most powerful product in the makeup bag, and the history behind it.
By Shreya S · Last reviewed 15 November 2026
Why is red lipstick so symbolic?
For centuries it was associated with actresses and was considered improper for respectable women. That changed in the early 20th century, when American suffragettes wore red lips as a sign of independence; Elizabeth Arden is said to have handed out lipstick to marchers in New York in 1912. Red became a statement of confidence rather than scandal.
What did it have to do with war?
During the Second World War, lipstick was promoted as a morale booster on both sides of the Atlantic, and Elizabeth Arden created a shade to match the red trim of the US Marine Corps women’s reserve uniform. After the war, Hollywood stars from Rita Hayworth to Marilyn Monroe made the red lip the image of glamour.
Which reds are the classics?
Rouge Dior 999, a true red from the house’s first lipstick line of 1953; MAC Ruby Woo, a blue-red matte; Chanel’s Rouge Allure Pirate; and Charlotte Tilbury’s Red Carpet Red. Economists even coined a “lipstick effect”, the idea that people keep buying small luxuries in hard times. It was named after Estée Lauder’s Leonard Lauder noticed lipstick sales rising after 2001.
How do I choose a red?
Look at the undertone. Blue-based reds (cherry, crimson) make teeth look whiter and suit cool or deep skin; orange-based reds (tomato, coral) suit warm and olive skin; brick and berry reds work on deeper skin tones. Test on your lips or fingertips rather than the back of your hand, and line the lips first so the colour stays sharp.
Read on Ayerhs: 17 Luxury Makeup Gifts She’ll Love · Inside the Little-Treat Economy · What Is the Mob Wife Aesthetic?