What is the ruling on women using lipstick?

Question

Is it permissible for women to use lipstick or not? In our area going without hijab is customary. In that situation, may a married woman, under her husband’s instruction, use lipstick and go out, sitting in a motor car or on foot, for some errand or simply for recreation, or not?

Answer

Whatever is a distinctive mark (shi‘ar) of disbelievers or of the sinful (fussaq) is not correct to use; likewise, it is not correct for women to use whatever is a distinctive mark of men. If any of the things asked about is impure, its use will also be prohibited. If it is something because of which a deficiency remains in the obligatory (fard)

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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