The curse of Shirley is a legend that dates back to the early 20th century. It involves a young woman named Shirley who is said to have possessed supernatural powers. According to the legend, Shirley was a beautiful and charming woman who could captivate anyone with her presence. However, it is said that anyone who fell under Shirley's spell would eventually suffer misfortune. The curse of Shirley was believed to bring bad luck, illness, and even death to those who crossed her path. The curse was said to be especially potent for those who betrayed or harmed Shirley in any way.

Color-Changing Lipsticks Are Trending Now—Here’s How They Work

Plus the best products you’ll want to get your lips on.

Casey Clark is a freelance writer at Real Simple who covers beauty and style. She has been a writer for nearly three years and has been featured in Allure, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Stylecaster, and more from a queer-centric, plus-size perspective. She's constantly working to debunk beauty myths, test trends, and review the hottest products. Prior to writing, she graduated from Hofstra University magna cum laude with a journalism degree and minors in public relations and creative writing.

IMO, no makeup look is complete without lipstick—whether that’s a nude, pink, red, or something bolder. Most makeup brands carry a collection of lipstick and lip gloss shades to choose from, but a currently trending category has customers buying before knowing what color they’re going to get. How? The color of the lipstick changes depending on the person who uses it.

Mystery color cosmetics isn’t totally novel—you may have heard of color-changing nail polish before—but color-changing lipstick is a bit different when it comes to how it’s activated. We tapped professional makeup artists to get the latest information on color-changing lipstick (and figure out exactly how this intriguing makeup tech works).

How do Color-Changing Lipsticks Work?

While some marketing may lead you to believe that color-changing technology works based on your mood, that’s actually not the case. According to Lex Smith, Tarte’s Global MUA, color-changing lipsticks have everything to do with your lips' pH.

“Color-changing lipstick reacts with your skin’s pH to create a custom color that’s different from the original lipstick shade,” Smith says. “It’s unique to every person who uses it because all of us have a unique pH.”

At baseline, the optimal pH of skin on our face and bodies typically rests between 4.7 and 5.5 — however, this varies from person to person and on the part of the body. On the pH scale of 1 (acidic) to 14 (basic) with 7 as the neutral point, skin generally leans more toward the acidic side.

According to celebrity makeup artist Ashlee Ann, our lips have a higher pH than lipstick, which is what ultimately triggers the chemical reaction that causes the color change. “Red 27 is the main ingredient in these products, which has been tested to be safe for everyone to use,” she says. When this dye comes into contact with moisture, it changes in solubility and pH, creating a brighter color.

Now this is where it gets pretty cool: Since your skin’s pH is unique, your final look will be slightly different (be it lighter or darker) from someone else’s. It won’t be a huge difference, but your lipstick will be somewhat bespoke. Hormone fluctuations and physical activity can also cause a change in the skin’s pH, so your lipstick will look different at various points of the day too.

Where to Buy Color-Changing Lipsticks

Intrigued? Shop some of our favorite color-changing lipsticks below. Just a heads up: The color you see in the tube may look a bit funky, but they’ll change to different shades of reds and pinks when applied.

Hare Magic Green Moroccan Lipstick

Ever buy something on a whim and then think, Why did I do that? Well, I sorta feel that way about Hare Magic Green Moroccan Lipstick. I read a post about it on Total Beauty, I think it was. A young woman tried out a magic green lipstick that changed color on her lips and stayed on for 24 hours. She loved it. Remember Mood Lipstick from the 1980s?

Well, I fell for it. The 24 hour part really got me. And I loved the “changes color according to your unique body chemistry” thing that was promoted with mood lipsticks decades ago.

So I ordered it on Amazon. It arrived from the UK about a week later. It cost about $11 including shipping.

It arrived on one of the 90 degree days we had, and when I took it out of the mailbox, it was hot. Like a dope, I didn’t put it in the fridge or wait till it cooled off. I used this green monster right away, and the bullet came off because it had softened in the heat. 🙁

On me, it’s a pink/purple shade that’s a MLBB color.

Is it long-lasting? I would say up to a point. It does last for several hours, like any decent lipstick, and it fades with time and if you eat a meal. Today, I applied it around 1pm and it’s after 10 now. I can see that a smidgen of color is left on my lips, but not enough to prevent me from thinking I need to put on some lipstick.

Did I mention it is rather hideous looking? And it’s a cheap lipstick in a garish neon green & gold plastic container that’s made in Taiwan, nothing against Taiwan. I have no idea what the ingredients are, but I assume it’s better not to know.

Do I regret buying it? Nah. Thankfully, it was only $11, and it was fun to try it out. And I do wear it from time to time. Would I recommend it? Certainly not.

What have you fallen for lately and sort of regretted?

Hare Magic Moroccan Lipstick Color Changing Green To 6pcs/set 2022 Pink

Feature:Please note: other accessories are not included.100% new qualitySpecification: 10g*6pcsColor: 6 colors mixed in one box, single green in one boxFeature:Wei Qiao Tu, with a pretty pink bar. Long-lasting color, long-term maintenance of makeup discoloration lipstick, healthy ingredientsNourishes lips and improves lip linesIt has a good repair effect for all kinds of lip problems, dryness, smog, peeling, and cracking. Long-lasting makeup effect, creating natural and three-dimensional lipsIntelligent color change, according to your body temperature, the color becomes darker and true and lasting coloring, maintaining makeupHealthy ingredients, natural plant extracts have a delicate touch, bright and clear water and smooth maple textureComment:1. Manual measurement tolerance is 2-5g. Please don't mind your replacement.2. Due to the differences between different monitors, the image may not reflect the actual color of the item. thank you very much 3. SKU color is product colorPackage Included:6*10g color changing lipstick

The curse was said to be especially potent for those who betrayed or harmed Shirley in any way. Many disturbing incidents were attributed to the curse of Shirley. There were reports of individuals losing their jobs, experiencing financial ruin, or falling ill after encountering her.

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Some even claimed that they saw Shirley in their dreams, warning them of imminent danger or misfortune. The legend of the curse of Shirley grew over time and became a cautionary tale in the community. Parents warned their children to stay away from Shirley, and superstitious individuals avoided her at all costs. Some even went as far as performing rituals or seeking the help of spiritual healers to protect themselves from the curse. However, like many legends, the curse of Shirley is shrouded in mystery and uncertainty. Some doubt the validity of the curse, attributing the misfortunes to mere coincidence. Others argue that the curse was a manifestation of the collective fear and paranoia of the community. Regardless of its authenticity, the legend of the curse of Shirley continues to capture people's imagination. It serves as a reminder of the power of belief and the potential consequences of our actions. Whether true or not, the curse of Shirley reminds us to think twice before crossing paths with someone who possesses a seemingly otherworldly allure..

Reviews for "The Scientific Explanation behind Shirley's Curse: A Rational Approach"

1. John - 2/5 stars - I was really disappointed with "The Curse of Shirley." The plot was confusing and seemed disjointed, and the characters lacked depth and development. It felt like the story was trying too hard to be mysterious and suspenseful, but it just ended up being convoluted and hard to follow. I also found the ending to be unsatisfying and anticlimactic. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this film to anyone looking for a well-crafted horror movie.

2. Sarah - 1/5 stars - "The Curse of Shirley" was an absolute waste of time. The acting was subpar, and the dialogue was incredibly cheesy. The supposed scares were predictable and lackluster, and I found myself bored throughout the whole film. The plot was filled with holes and unexplained elements, making it even more frustrating to watch. Save yourself the trouble and skip this movie.

3. James - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes for "The Curse of Shirley," but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The storyline had potential, but the execution was lacking. The pacing was sluggish, and the scares were few and far between. The characters were uninteresting and one-dimensional, making it difficult to invest in their fates. Overall, it was a forgettable and unremarkable horror film that didn't deliver on its promises.

4. Emma - 1/5 stars - "The Curse of Shirley" was a complete disaster. The plot had so many gaps and inconsistencies that it was challenging to understand what was happening. The acting was wooden and unconvincing, making it hard to connect with any of the characters. The movie relied heavily on jump scares, but they were so predictable and poorly executed that they failed to elicit any fear or suspense. I regret wasting my time watching this film.

The Haunting of Shirley: Tales of Paranormal Activity and Ghostly Encounters