helped popularize red lipstick. Throughout the early 20th century, lipstick came in a limited number of shades. Dark red lipstick was one of the most popular shades throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, especially in the 1920s.
Flappers wore lipstick to symbolize their independence. Lipstick was worn around the lips to form a "
Cupid's bow," inspired by actress
Clara Bow. At that time, it was acceptable to apply lipstick in public and during lunch, but never at dinner. In the early 1930s,
Elizabeth Arden began to introduce different lipstick colors. She inspired other companies to create a variety of lipstick shades. In the 1930s, lipstick was seen as a symbol of adult sexuality. Teenage girls believed that lipstick was a symbol of womanhood, yet adults saw it as an act of rebellion. Many Americans, especially immigrants, did not accept teenage girls wearing lipstick. A 1937 survey revealed that over 50% of teenage girls fought with their parents over lipstick. By the 1950s, movie actresses
Marilyn Monroe and
Elizabeth Taylor helped bring back dark red lips. A 1951 survey revealed that two-thirds of teenage girls wore lipstick. In 1950, a chemist named
Hazel Bishop formed a company, Hazel Bishop Inc., to promote her invention of long-lasting, non-smearing 'kissproof' lipstick ("stays on you... not on him"), which quickly gained acceptance. At the end of the 1950s, a cosmetic company named Gala introduced pale shimmery lipstick. Later,
Max Factor created a popular lipstick color called Strawberry Meringue. Lipstick manufacturers began creating lipsticks in
lavender,
pale pink,
white, and
peach. Since parents generally frowned on teen girls wearing red lipstick, some teen girls began wearing pink and peach lipsticks, which became a trend. White or nearly white lipstick was popular in the 1960s. Rock groups such as
the Ronettes and
The Shirelles popularized white lipstick. Girls would apply white lipstick over pink lipstick or place under-eye concealer on their lips. During that time, many lipsticks were either matte, sheer, or slightly shiny. In the 1960s, lipstick was associated with femininity. Women who did not wear lipstick were suspected of
mental illness or
lesbianism. Previously these had been available as little girls' play makeup. They had another resurgence in the very early 21st century, offered by inexpensive as well as more exclusive cosmetic lines, and color changing chemicals also appeared in
lip gloss, such as Smashbox O-Gloss, and
blush, such as
Stila Custom Color Blush. In the 1990s, lipstick colors became semi-matte. Shades of brown were very popular. These shades were inspired by several shows, such as
Friends. In the late 1990s and into the 21st century, pearl shades became very popular. Lipsticks were no longer matte or semi-matte but were shiny. In the 1990s,
Laura Mercier ("M") and
MAC Cosmetics ("Russian Red") created red lipsticks for
Madonna. Author
Poppy King believes that Madonna "ushered red lipstick back in as a symbol of strength" and of "glamorous rebellion". Upon its release the "Russian Red" became a bestseller, and still one of the best-selling lipsticks of MAC according to an article published in 2020 by
Vogue Spain. In 2012,
Make Up For Ever created the "Aqua Rouge/Iconic Red" (shade #8) for Madonna to wear on her
the MDNA Tour, and celebrities like Taylor Swift used it according to fashion-targeted magazines such as
Elle. Another form of lip color, a wax-free, semi-permanent liquid formula, was invented in the 1990s by the Lip-Ink International company. Other companies have imitated the idea, putting out their own versions of long-lasting
lip stain or "liquid lip color", usually in form of a liquid or gel. It generally stays on longer than lipstick by leaving a
stain of color on the lips. in her well-known signature red lips, on
Good Morning America in 2012|alt=Taylor Swift in a red dress. In 2012, bright, bold lip colors became trendy again with saturated colors such as hot pink, neon, and orange. American singer-songwriter
Taylor Swift boosted the popularity of red lipsticks, especially with the release of her fourth studio album,
Red (2012), whose cover artwork prominently features red lips. Swift has since worn red lipstick consistently. Media outlets consider red lips as one of her signature looks, coupled with the "desirable"
cupid's bow and "voluptuous" pout of her lips. In 2014 and early 2015, nude lipsticks became popular. These lipsticks follow the general trend where "less is more". Examples of celebrities promoting this trend are
Paris Hilton and
Gigi Gorgeous. In late 2015 and 2016, liquid lipstick, which applies like a gloss but dries matte, became popularized with brands such as
Anastasia Beverly Hills,
Sephora,
Huda Beauty,
Kylie Cosmetics,
NYX Cosmetics. Its most common form comes in a tube, applied with an applicator wand. Liquid lipstick tends to have more staying power and is more opaque than traditional lipstick. However, it dries out more and cracks more readily over time, depending upon the product quality. In early 2019, before the
COVID-19 pandemic, the trend of liquid lipstick was changed from the liquid matte lipstick to semi-matte or glossy finish. However, the COVID-19 pandemic markedly reduced the popularity of lipsticks since people usually do not apply lipstick under a facial mask. Lipstick also has many variations, including liquid,
lip balms, glosses, crayons, pencils, liners, palettes, and stains. Balms and glosses tend to be more translucent and not as dark or vibrant as regular lipsticks. Some individuals buy lip balms and glosses rather than lipstick, as they get a more hydrating feeling from these. == Significance in sexuality ==