It’s impossible to bring up the history of make-up without talking about rouge. Said to have been invented 5,000 years ago, various cultures have flaunted iterations of it since 3500 BCE. There were the Egyptians, who utilised crushed bugs to produce a vivid pigment that is used to colour the lips; Aborginal Australians who opted to encase their pouts in ochre; while the Sumerians preferred gemstones, pulping and compressing them into liquid substances to adorn their kissers in swathes of standout hues. Then, in the late 1800s, French cosmetics and skincare house, Guerlain, began manufacturing a stick of rouge encased within a tube, with big-name brands such as Elizabeth Arden as well as Estée Lauder quickly following suit. And so, bullet lipsticks entered the mainstream.
The make-up market has since evolved to make room for a bevy of lip formulas that come in a in a multitude of textures and forms. Despite so, bullet lipsticks have continued to endure. Recognised as a symbol of femininity and sensuality, traditional tube lipsticks persists in its popularity thanks to its versatility. These solid lipsticks can be customised to produce a matte, satin, velvet, and/or glittery finish; are often able to provide a whole host of benefits in the vein of hydrating and smoothing; and is also available in a diverse array of shades from mauve to pitch-black.
This, thus, begs the question: which bullet lipsticks are the ones worth your dime? Below, Vogue Singapore’s edit of striking lippies to try, from Chanel’s radiant coral to Gucci Beauty’s decadent cocoa brown.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Matte Lipstick in Royal Red
Gucci Beauty Rouge à Lèvres Mat Matte Lipstick in 209 Mona Lisa Cameo
Dior Rouge Dior in 028 Actrice Satiny Finish
Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet in 57 Rouge Feau
Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick in Supermodel
Hermès Rouge Hermès Matte Lipstick in 97 Pourpre Figue
Pat McGrath Labs Satinallure Lipstick in Nude Fantasia
Nars Powermatte Lipstick in 133 Too Hot to Hold
