Red Lipstick: The Quest for Glamour, Adulthood, and Transformation
by Angie W
When I was a teenager, I remember searching the mall with my mom, looking for the perfect perfume and red lipstick. Fragrance and lipstick the two things that I thought would define my image as a woman. I did find the perfect perfume: Chanel No. 19, a classic which would continue to be my perfect scent decades later. On the lipstick front, I spent over 20 years searching and never found the perfect color. I wanted the perfect red but was too shy to wear most reds outside of my apartment! This has led me to create a sad lipstick graveyard, a collection of gorgeous reds that sit waiting for me to get up the nerve to wear them out.
Sadly, I must tell you that I did think I had found the perfect red – but it was discontinued! Estee Lauder’s Ancient Brick was the perfect red for my pale skin and dark hair. Wonderful Cavewoman tracked down a tube for me but it’s been discontinued for so long that it has dried up but I still roll it up and sigh at its gorgeous color.
Recently, I was talking to Poppy King of Lipstick Queen and telling her how I loved red lipstick but was too shy to wear a strong red. She suggested I wear a bold red at home until I ease into feeling comfortable w/the idea of having it on, and then wear it out. I have been trying to wear Lipstick Queen Saint Red more often, in daylight!
I have a collection of over 25 red lipsticks and glosses and recently tested them all and categorized the winners as such:
#1 Vibrant Reds that Can Be Worn in Day: Lorac Sheer Emotion, NARS Flaming Dust, Clinique Angel Red, Yves St. Laurent Red Strass
#2 Soft Reds that Are Subtle Enough to Wear Anytime – BB Claret and Cherry Lip Balm, Face Stockholm Cranberry Veil, Vincent Longo Cherry Lipstain
#3 Lovely Shades of Red with Problems: LM Sexy Lips (texture, smell!), MAC Queen’s Sin (gorgeous if you add lipgloss but goes on dry)
#4 Drop Dead Reds: If only I had the noive – Lancome Code Red, MAC Classic Dame, Armani Hollywood Red#5 Lovely Glosses – Christian Dior Red Stockings, MAC Slimshine Urgent, Bobbi Brown Cherry Lip Tint#6 Classic, Strong Reds – Edward Bess – Eternal Passion, Lipstick Queen Saint Red and Saint Rouge, MAC Shhhh
posted by Annieytown @ 4:30 AM
7 Inspired Comments
7 Inspired Comments:
Angie, we feel exactly the same about our red collections! Next time we are together, let's promise to wear reds, there's safety in numbers!
I need to try that Edward Bess!
I used to wear red lippie all the time when I was 14, it was Revlon but I can't remember the shade. Now that I'm in my 30's I kind of marvel how I had the nerve to do it! I think red lipstick is more a state of mind than a "perfect" colour.
I have the same. I have a couple of reds now but I hardly wear them out. I should try them out more often at home. We can do it :)
Angie, do you know about http://www.threecustom.com/home.php? You can send them a sample of your discontinued lipstick and they reproduce it for you. :)
Whoa I'd love to have your shades of red collection! It took me sometime to find a true red. Looking on websites for True reds lipsticks. But didn't quite find one. I thought why is it so hard to find a Red lipstick its everywhere. I was set to buy an expensive one but I ran into "Really Red" By Revlon - The Matte collection (Since I was looking for something matte) at a local Walgreen's. I suppose I love it. Now, I'm on the hunt for a dark rich red. Please any suggestions?
that is the ONLY way to get used to red lipsticks. Just look at yourself in the mirror occassionaly and shock yourself! That whole "sheer red" thing never worked. Seriously, all anyone needs to do is get used to the idea of wearing the lipstick
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