Caviar-Infused Designer Lipsticks Will See Us Through The Recession
LatestEstée Lauder chairman Leonard Lauder’s claim that lipstick sales rise during a recession has been disproven, but overall there has been a 9% increase in sales of high-end cosmetics since last year despite the economic downturn. While shoppers are cutting back on clothing purchases, they’re still willing to splurge on makeup. Now executives behind several designer brands have come up with an ingenious idea. Rather than hoping women will buy multiple $20 lipsticks, just make one lipstick cost as much as a dress.
The New York Times reports that more companies are rolling out lipsticks that cost $40 and up. Some are able to come up with an explanation that almost sounds reasonable. La Prairie says its Cellular Lip Color costs $55 because it contains caviar extract made from farm-raised roe (this is essential because you wouldn’t want just any old caviar mashed up into your lipstick). Clé de Peau Beauté, which is owned by Shiseido, has a $60 Extra Rich lipstick which contains a form of retinol that “counteracts vertical lines.” Gisela Ballard, the company’s executive director of marketing, explains: