Her signature scarlet pout defined disco-era glamour—now clean beauty gives it a conscious update.
Her signature scarlet pout defined disco-era glamour—now clean beauty gives it a conscious update.
Pat Cleveland is known for creating her own spotlight. At a time when everyone was donning disco sheen with neutral-colored lips, the supermodel reached for a classic crimson and turned it into her signature look. On Halston, Yves Saint Laurent, and Stephen Burrows runways (to name just a few), in behind-the-scenes shots, and dancing around the glittering Studio 54, that saturated red lip was kind of like her calling card.
backstage at calvin klein, 1976Yves Saint Laurent, 1980
I knew I’d never have Grace Kelly’s little nose or Rita Hayworth’s figure but I could have bright red lips, lots of hair, and a job with Halston.
Pat cleveland
photo by antonio lopez, 1975
“I had my nails really long and red, lipstick—nobody was wearing red lipstick but me and Donna Jordan and a couple of drag queens,” Cleveland shared with Interview when recalling her experience modeling for the July 1972 cover of the Andy Warhol magazine. “It was a big deal to have the red shiny lips and a tape recorder. Those tape recorders were so hot. High tech.”
Interview Magazine, 1972. cover by richard bernstein
Cleveland’s choice to go anti-trend is what makes it so rebellious and provocative, especially during the height of 1970s vinyl shine, favoring more natural tones. Her timeless, red lip was a power move wrapped in glamour and joy, oozing with confidence. Her natural beauty shone, no fuss needed. Cleveland is still rocking her iconic red lips decades later, by the way, and has never looked better.
Pat Cleveland for Hunger Magazine, 2018
Today’s goal? Take that red lip radiance and channel it – but make it clean. To capture that spirit today, pair a bold, clean-red lip with bare skin, brushed-up brows, and a touch of warmth on the cheeks. Let those crimson lips lead by keeping everything else intentionally restrained.
Brands like Kosas, Axiology, The Outset, and Bodyography have reimagined the red lipstick—rich in pigment, free of toxins, and cruelty-free. No matter if you prefer a deeper shade of red, a nice gloss, or a classic matte, these modern formulas deliver all the vibrancy and drama Cleveland embodied, minus the compromise.
Called the “one swipe + wow” lipstick, the Kosas Weightless Lipstick is no stranger to accolades, previously winning InStyle’s Best Natural Lipstick and Byrdie Eco Awards’ Best Lipstick. Makes sense given the brand’s commitment to clean beauty. This gorgeous shade of Cool Burgundy, along with the staple Deep Talks, provides all of the antioxidant-rich ingredients and benefits users have come to know and love, such as mango and cocoa butter and rosehip oil, to name a few.
Woman-run beauty brand Axiology’s fully vegan and cruelty-free products are legendary. Not only are their award-winning products ethically sourced, but the oh-so-charming packaging received an upgrade in 2022. All of Axiology’s boxes are made from Bali’s paper trash and are completely 100% recyclable. Feel good, look good, and do good with the plant-based, semi-matte 3-in-1 Balmie Makeup Crayon in Strawberry. The handmade Balmie can be used on your lips, eyes, and cheeks, and features nine natural ingredients. Talk about a win-win-win.
Scarlett Johansson’s clean skincare line, The Outset, is giving major glam with its trademarked Lip Oasis Glossy Treatment. Called the “secret to Scarlett’s glass lips,” the conditioning lip treatment boosts lip hydration by almost 50% in just four weeks. Instead of hyaluronic acid, Lip Oasis Glossy Treatment has a botanical alternative, Hyaluroset™ Complex, to nourish, plump, and smooth your smoochers. And, with a dash of juicy berry fragrance, you’ll be smelling sweet while looking way sweeter.
Made from a complex blend of silicones from Bodyography’s “unique Fabric Function Technology,” this outstanding demi-matte lipstick is meant to go on light yet look bold. The superpower pigments cover the lips in a matte finish that keeps your lipstick from looking or feeling dry – genius. The Jojoba and Coconut oils help to hydrate and nourish your lips for hours. Vegan, cruelty-free, and gluten-free, the Fabric Texture Lipstick is a clean dream.
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