What draws you to your favourite lipstick? Is it the colour, the packaging or the smell? According to new research many of us are subconsciously swayed by the name on the bottom of the product. A study found those bearing a moniker relating to food and sex were most popular with consumers with Triple Chocolate Parfait and Hot Mama outselling classic nude pinks or reds.
During the recession many cosmetics brands have had to be more imaginative in the labeling department in a bid to set themselves apart.
MACÂ make-up boasts a spectrum of colours including Creme in your Coffee, High Tea, Popcorn and Reel Sexy while Bobbi Brown offers Salmon, Desert Plum and Rum Raisin.
Lead author Professor Debra Merskin, from the University of Oregon, said: ‘The findings show, beyond simple colour names, that most of the lipsticks are named after food, beverages, sex, and romance. The American cultural imperative of beauty prompts many women to doubt their self-worth and keeps attainment of the beauty ideal just out of reach.’
During the study titled ‘Truly Toffee and Raisin Hell: A Textual Analysis of Lipstick Names’ Prof Merskin categorised the names of 1,722 lipsticks from 52 national brands in order to ‘understand how meaning is constructed through lipstick naming’.
Food related shades were most popular while variants named after birds and animals were least sought-after.
Prof Merskin added: ‘Sugared Plum, Double Fudge, Vanilla Brownie and Raspberry Glace sound like temptations from a dessert cart, but instead these luscious sounding treats are names of lipstick shades. Estee Lauder‘s advertisements for its Clinique brand, for example, invite women to taste ‘deliciously sheer’ shades such as Rich Cherry. Other advertisements invite the wearer to experience “seduction”, be a “tramp”, or “X-pose” herself.’
What the most popular lipstick shades are related to:
Food: 24%
Colour: 20%
Sex and Romance: 10%
Elements and Minerals: 9%
Emotions and Characteristics: 8%
Other: 8%
People and Names: 5%
Flowers: 5%
Places: 4%
Objects: 3%
Dark side: 2%
Arts and Media: 1%
Birds and Animals: 1%
Times and Seasons: <1%
Originally written by Sadie Whitelocks, this article appeared on The Daily Mail.
Image: Shutterstock.com
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34 comments
anisha
I believe that red lips can perk up anyones day and IS flattering on all skin tones
diamond
Colour for me please
CharlieW
Nice read! I just recently decided that I will dare to wear red. I’ve always opted for a more natural lip, but I like the confidence that the red lips give me :)
ricebunny
its just so difficult to pick which shade of lipstick to buy these days so why not make it simple and go with names. great idea by the cosmetics houses
ricebunny
that does make sense lol! thinking about it actually i do that too the first thing i want to know is what the lipstick is called! wow
Orsmond
I’m very lucky, with my skin tone, majority of colours suit me. Interesting article
Mpbutterfly
Interesting article. I rarely where lipstick and mostly use gloss as I am never sure which color suits me.
Charis Kb
Great article~~~~~~~~~~~~~
honey_child
Great article…I love natural colours!
Visagie
Great article. I love browns and nude colours.