The intense red color of classic lipstick traditionally comes from an unlikely source: crushed bugs that live on cactus plants in South America. It takes tens of thousands of the ground-up insects ...

Of all the substances on Earth, very few can make rich, soulful red. It’s the red of lipstick and cheek blush ... The cochineal bugs—a species of scale insect—are a centuries-old colorant.

explaining that the beloved M.A.C shade’s bright blue-red pigment, velvety matte finish, and long-lasting wear made the lipstick “a cult favorite and then a staple.” (The brand claims it ...