Lipstick is a cosmetic product that people apply to their lips to add color, moisture, or shine. It usually comes in a small tube that twists up to reveal a waxy, colored stick. Lipstick has been used for thousands of years: ancient Egyptians crushed gemstones to make red lip color, and in medieval Europe, Queen Elizabeth I wore dramatic red lips made from beeswax and plant dyes.

Today, lipstick comes in countless colors, from subtle pinks and nudes to bold reds and purples. Some people wear it daily as part of getting ready in the morning, while others save it for special occasions like performances, celebrations, or formal events. Theater actors often use lipstick (along with other stage makeup) so their faces are visible under bright lights.

The word lipstick sometimes appears in phrases that have nothing to do with actual makeup. When someone says you can't “put lipstick on a pig,” they mean you can't make something fundamentally flawed look good just by improving its surface appearance. It's a colorful way of saying that real problems need real solutions, not just cosmetic fixes.