New lipstick pigment adds shine and disguises wrinkles, says Shiseido

A new lipstick pigment combines vivid shine whilst helping to diminish the appearance of lip lines and wrinkles, says manufacturer Shiseido.

According to the Japan-based company this is the first time these two features have been combined in the same product.

The pigment has been developed in response to a consumer survey conducted by the company in April 2008.

Results from the survey suggested that disguising fine lines and wrinkles in the lips was particularly important to consumers, in addition to vivid color and shine.

Particle shape affects light reflection

In the past manufacturers have used a plate-like shape pigment if they want to achieve maximum shine, explained Shiseido, due to the way the particle reflects light.

However, such a pigment can emphasize the difference in brightness of an uneven surface, making lines and wrinkles even more noticeable.

In contrast, spherical pigments are often used to disguise fine lines and wrinkles in products such as foundations, but the oil content of a lipstick can make these hard to use.

Shiseido argues that it has solved this problem by creating a spherical pearlizing agent with a two-layer structure consisting of a spherical powder of uniform particle size at the core, surrounded by a layer of pearlizing particles.

This, according to the company, will allow the pigment to both disguise the wrinkles and create a vivid shine – two of the most important qualities for consumers.

The new spherical pearl luster pigment will be incorporated into the company’s future lipstick products.