Last April 2008, cosmetic company Shiseido conducted a survey for the development of its newest lipstick product. The company asked 400 women in the age demographic of 20-50 “what they want in a lipstick?” Many of the answers were related to “keeping lips plump” and “lessening lip wrinkles and lines.”

However, Shiseido claims that current lipstick pigments do not address brightness and wrinkle concealment. Existing pigments are limited to pearlizing agents that give vivid color, excellent brilliance, and luster. But, these agents tend to emphasize brightness in uneven areas—thus, making wrinkles more noticeable. This is why Shiseido decide to develop a new type of lipstick pigment: new shape and spherical substance.

The spherical pigment is not new to world of cosmetics. They correct skin unevenness, but are not effective in oil-based cosmetics, like lipstick. That’s why Shiseido developed a new ingredient to make the formula work. The Japanese cosmetic company used state-of-the-art technology to coat high-refractive-index powder with high light diffusing properties. 

And now Shiseido created a spherical pigment that allows light to reflect evenly around the lips, giving it a radiant shine and hiding wrinkles in the process. The company will be testing this innovative make-up product soon.