Andrea Felsted, Columnist

Our Lipstick Obsession Says a Lot About the Economy

Strong demand for makeup, perfume and bouncy blowout hair reveals a lot about the economy.

September 12, 2022 at 12:00 AM EDT

Andrea Felsted is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering consumer goods and the retail industry. Previously, she was a reporter for the Financial Times.

Bold is back.
Photographer: Miles Willis/Getty Images Europe

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The Lipstick Index is back.

The term was coined during the 2001 recession by Leonard Lauder, then the chairman of Estee Lauder Cos. He noted that lipstick sales rose in the autumn of that year, indicating that women facing an uncertain economic environment turn to beauty products as an affordable treat.

Before it’s here, it’s on the Bloomberg Terminal

LEARN MORE