Poppy King is THE Lipstick Queen. Fact.

Starting her own lipstick brand just six months after leaving school, Poppy has finally given girls worldwide something fabulous to pout about. After falling head over Westwood heels in heart with her book, Lessons from a Lipstick Queen, I’ve been pestering her ever since to come share her minx-y lipstick secrets.

In the book, Poppy reveals how she managed to launch a multimillion-dollar business, extracting valuable lessons from the experience as she goes along. Through King’s example, you can learn how to become a real entrepreneur- from recognizing a good idea and finding financing. to marketing yourself and your brand, to approaching the media, and avoiding common pitfalls. In a world where everyone is looking to get ahead it’s essential to think like an entrepreneur. Much more than just a guide to success. Lessons of a Lipstick Queen is a candid adventure story designed to take you on a journey of self-discovery – it’s acecakes.

Poppy eventually gave in and embraced her Sassy Minx-y-ness – come share the lipstick love with us!

What is Lipstick Queen, why and how did you set it up, and what do you love most about it?
Lipstick Queen is my quirky and wonderful specialty brand of just lip products. I set it up because I don’t like the homogenised and formulised approach that the big companies take with lipstick and think women deserve more options and variations in textures. I set it up bit by bit by finding first the right factory to make what I was looking for and then finding the finance. What I love most about it is the women I meet through buying my lipsticks…my customers never cease to inspire me.

Can you tell us a bit about your daily routine – do you get involved in what actually goes into the products, do you have to be creative and business-like? What’s a typical day like for you?
I don’t really have a typical day, more like a typical week, that is most given weeks involve working with labs on new new products, working on general inquiries and email correspondence, promoting the product to the stores that sell my brand, promoting the products to the press and motivating my team. I am involved in every aspect in some way.

What’s your best beauty secret – care to share?
Smiling a lot. A smile makes you look beautiful inside and out.

What’s your favourite Lipstick Queen product and why?
I love them all but right now I am going through a real phase of loving my Fame Pop Art Lip Gloss in the shade 13 Minutes.

What do you love most about being a woman?
LIPSTICK! And the we are just the more interesting sex all round.

What’s your greatest achievement?
Bouncing back from all the disappointments that come along with forging your own way and to keep being inspired to create.

Your biggest life lesson?
There is never just ONE opportunity….keep looking.

Five must-have beauty items that you could not live without?
Shu Umera Eyelash Curler
Medieval Lipstick Queen tint
NARS orgasm blush
Toothpaste
Sunscreen

What five songs would be on a Lipstick Queen soundtrack?
Protection by Massive Attack
Stairway to Heaven by Led Zepplin
Lucky Star by Madonna
Electric Feel by MGMT
Sympathy for the Devil by the Rolling Stones

What’s your advice for being successful in the beauty industry?
Work on a cosmetic counter! That is where you really learn about the industry before you can do anything meaningful in it you have to know what the front line is like.

What have you learned about yourself since becoming a business woman?
That I am totally flawed and totally human and that is OK.

Who are your inspir-o-girls? Who kicks your ass? Makes you jump in the air happy?
Rosa Parks the Civil Rights fighter is someone I often think of.
I kick my own ass…I am an expert at being very hard on myself.
Dogs makes me jump in the air happy…just seeing one in the street warms my heart.

Is there anything you’d still like to conquer?
I don’t believe in conquering….I like just trying.
I would still like to try more and more to listen to my instinct and not talk over it.

The Lipstick Queen Sassy List: What’s your favourite…
Book: Anna Karenina
Food: Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich!
Clothing label: Azzedine Alaia (can’t afford much of it but I love it!)
Make-up brand: Ah…..Lipstick Queen

Movie: Cabaret
Music: I am all over the place with this one. I have been told I have very un-hip music taste
City: New York City
Shop: Lyell ( a little store near me in New York that my friend also an Australian is the designer for)
Website: Google. It’s amazing!

What does the term Sassy Minx mean to you?
Confidence

Fin out more about Poppy and her awesomeness at: www.lipstickqueen.com