The Lipstick Index

When Life Gives Us Lemons, We Seek Solace in Beauty Indulgence

Three months post-Brexit, UK's lipstick sales outperformed an already flourishing beauty market by 30%, mirroring historical surges witnessed in lipstick sales during economic crises dating back to the Great Depression. To understand this behaviour and its underlying motivations, let's delve into the concept of the Lipstick Index.

The Lipstick Index, an economic term, denotes the incline of beauty sales during times of economic downturn. It suggest that consumers, confronted with financial hardships, seek solace in small luxury items like lipstick, providing an affordable means to boost their mood and indulge in a sense of luxury.

From Lipstick to Laser

In today's ever-changing beauty industry, the concept of the Lipstick Index has expanded beyond just lipsticks to include a wide range of treatments such as fillers, chemical peels, and cryo treatments. During tough economic times, we tend to cut back on luxury purchases but still indulge in affordable beauty treatments. Research shows that these treatments boost our mood and self-esteem, while providing a relatively accessible way to treat ourselves and offer a pleasurable escape from economic concerns.

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