Back in the 1950s, the beauty industry had a flair for the dramatic. Lab coats and test tubes weren’t enough to sell lipstick; brands needed something bold, creative and just a little bit strange. Enter the “lipstick tester,” one of the quirkiest jobs to ever exist.
The role gained attention because of its unusual requirements. A man was hired to be kissed repeatedly throughout the day to test how well lipstick formulas held up. Yes, you heard that right. He sat there while groups of volunteer women lined up, puckered up, and put those lipsticks through their paces. His job wasn’t glamorous, but it was undeniably memorable.
The process was as straightforward as it was surreal. Lipstick was applied, the women kissed the man (sometimes on his bald head for good measure), and manufacturers took notes on how well the color lasted. If the lipstick smudged, faded, or transferred too easily, it was back to the drawing board.
At first glance, this might seem like the best gig ever. After all, who wouldn’t want to be showered with attention and affection? But the reality wasn’t quite so rosy. The job was repetitive, messy, and far less romantic than it sounds. The man had to endure lipstick after lipstick being slathered on, wiped off, and reapplied, all under the unforgiving glare of studio lights. By the end of the day, his skin was likely screaming for a break.
This quirky job, though, was more than just a marketing gimmick. It was a testament to the lengths beauty brands went to ensure their products worked as promised. The 1950s were all about glamour, and lipstick was a symbol of that. Smudging or fading just wasn’t an option.
Fast-forward to today, and lipstick testing looks a lot different. It’s done in high-tech labs with machines that simulate real-life wear and tear. But there’s something nostalgic about those early, human-driven experiments. They weren’t perfect, but they had personality—a connection to the product that no machine can replicate.
So, was being a lipstick tester really the “best job in the world”? Maybe for the first few kisses. But by the 50th or 60th smooch, with layers of lipstick piling up and his patience wearing thin, even the most enthusiastic tester might start to rethink his life choices.
Still, this odd little chapter in beauty history reminds us of a time when innovation meant thinking outside the box—and sometimes, outside the lab.
(Photos by Yale Joel/LIFE magazine)