Cyndi Lauper On AIDS Awareness, Lady Gaga & Her Favorite Lipstick Since '86

Today is World AIDS Day, and Cyndi Lauper is one its biggest champions. "I think it's a very important day to step up and speak out," said the "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" singer. "I also feel strongly that the numbers and the new statistics are alarming. Now 1 out of every 2 new infections is under the age of 24. So, you know when you’re a kid and you feel invincible? Nobody’s invincible when it comes to AIDS. AIDS is 100 percent preventable, but 100 percent not curable."

Lauper, who was joined by Estee Lauder Group President and MAC AIDS Fund Chairmen John Demsey and tons of other volunteers, was on hand today at New York's LGBT Community Center to help raise awareness. "‘Everyday is World AIDS Day at MAC," added Demsey. "We don’t do this just for a day, we don’t do this just as a company volunteer day -- this is sort of woven into the charitable spirit of what the company is about."

The '80s icon and mother of a thirteen-year-old son stressed the importance that parents play in educating their kids about safe practices. "We as parents need to step up, be informed, band together and help these kids. And yeah, this is the time of sexual awareness and growing up, but let them be safe."

Lauper then brought it full circle when she mentioned her collaboration with Lady Gaga on the MAC VIVA GLAM campaign (the company's lipstick line that donates full proceeds to the MAC AIDS Fund): "I thought the most moving thing I heard her say was that her mother gave her her first lipstick and that, as a mother, you could give your girl a VIVA GLAM lipstick and with it, the message and reminder that every time she puts it on to go out, be protected. And I thought, ‘That’s wonderful to say."

While we were on the topic, we had to sneak in a question about Lauper's go-to lipstick. "A good red," she responded. "I love Russian Red, but that VIVA GLAM lipstick that I had out... if you put it over the Russian Red, it has a lot of depth and changes. I’m wearing that today, that alone is a good color. But that Russian Red, I’ve had with me since 1986."