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Recession shopping: What’s your must-have beauty item?

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Way back in the 2001 recession, Leonard Lauder, chairman of makeup giant Estee Lauder, popularized the ‘lipstick index,’ his gauge of what remains important when money is scarce.

“When lipstick sales go up, people don’t want to buy dresses,” he said at the time. “When things get tough, women buy lipstick.”

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Lipstick? That’s so old school, Lauder competitor L’Oreal claims now. The Financial Times reports that ‘the world’s largest beauty company has found in the UK market that foundation has edged out lipstick as the ‘must-have’ product for women, with more than one-third of 18- to 19-year-olds citing it as their most essential beauty product against 8 percent opting for lipstick.’ However, FT adds that 40% of those over 60 won’t part with their painted lips.

But what about you, dear All the Rage readers? Vote for your must-have beauty item in the below poll. Or share your thoughts in our comments section.

-- Whitney Friedlander

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