Did you know there is something called the Lipstick Index?

Leonard Lauder, chairman of cosmetics major Estee Lauder, had coined the term 'Lipstick Index'.

He claimed that in times of economic downturn women would purchase more of lipsticks as against other expensive items and that the opposite would be true in case of a positive economic scenario.

Simply put, 'Lipstick Index' is based on the premise that purchases of cosmetics, particularly lipstick, is inversely related to economic health.

Over the years and across countries, the indicator has been a reliable signal of consumer attitudes.

It is said that in the months following the September 11 terrorist attacks, lipstick sales had nearly doubled.

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