40 days and 40 Nights of Beauty Cult Classics
Day 32,Lancome's Color Design lipstick in Behnaz

The "Behnaz lippie" cult is rather small.
Only a smart and quick few managed to snag this lippie when it was launched by Lancome. There was a very limited amount produced and availability was only at specific Lancome boutiques. There was little fuss or gushing except for a great blurb in Allure. They were the only ones that predicted that this lippie was going to make us all lose our minds.

This is what sprang Patti aka Cavewoman into action. She began cold calling the boutiques. There was none to be had within 24 hours of it's launch date.
Many Lancome counters had no clue what we were talking about except Saks's Lancome counter in Beachwood Mall. The manager stated that they ceased keeping a tally of the number of inquiries.

This is a lippie that could have been a massive star.
Instead Behnaz is a cult classic that only a few can boast owning.

How did I come to own it?
Well...I begged.


Dear Lancome,

You might not be aware that your hard to find, limited edition Behnaz lipstick went for over a $100 on Ebay. It appears to be worth every penny based on these pictures from the Behnaz show. I will never know the joy of this lipstick. It was gone before I could get my hands on it. I have been trying to get over this.
I have plenty of lovely red lipsticks.
But this one is haunting me.
Just look at it.
It is magnificent.

Why do you discontinue the stuff I love? Do you want to break my heart? Do you enjoy watching me pine away for things I can not have?

I know that you are not cruel.
You brought back my holy grail fragrance 2000 et une Rose.
So...I have decided to beg.
Bring back the Behnaz.
Make my perfect red lippie dream come true.

I posted this shameless begging on October 26 2007.
Lancome heard my plea and sent a tube overnight.
I was floored and delighted.
Contrary to the NYTimes, this lippie was not sent out to dozens of bloggers.
It went out to only one.
And that one is very smitten with her tube.

Behnaz is the perfect shade of poppy red.
It is not exactly blue based but is not exactly orange based either.
It applies like silk and lasts all day with minimal touch-ups.
Behnaz's magic begins once it is applied on the lips.
It is transforming.
Behnaz lights up the lips like a spotlight.
It glows from within.


From March 15th 2007: Behnaz is the holy grail of red lippies. I realized it's power when I brought it to my local Saks. This tube was treated like a movie star. MAC's Parrot never saw this kind of fuss or excitement.
That little tube brought joy to everyone that saw it that afternoon.
It also did a star turn in the big apple. I brought the tube for Tbone's final approval.
Tbone knows her red lipsticks. It is one of her many gifts.
I was actually nervous when I got the Behnaz out for Tbone to try. I felt like a stage mother prepping the tube and discussing its talents.
We both decided to wear it that day.
Tbone proclaimed it superior to all others and gave it a few "damns", which is the highest form of rave.
If Tbone says "Damn"....then its a hit.
I lost count of her damns that day.

This lippie is damnworthy and swoonworthy.
It is worth every gush and swoon.
This is my favorite cult classic.

Credits: Blogdorf Goodman

Disclosure: A press sample of this product was provided by Lancome