Day 39: Blogdorf Goodman and The Holy Grail

Makeupalley defines the term "holy grail" as a sacred cosmetic product that is the object of a mystical quest by beauty addicts and junkies. Hardcore beauty consumers strive to find the one perfect product that will deliver bliss and fulfillment. We join pilgrimages to the holy land, New York City, to visit counters at the beauty temples.
The expeditions have many dangers to the wallet and to the soul.
The search for the "holy grail" anything does not come cheap.

My journey to find the holy grail lippie had a wonderful fairy tale happy ending.
Lancome's Behnaz is my silver chalice, my rosebud and my maltese falcon.
It is the perfect red.

What is your holy grail lipstick or gloss?
If you have found your holy grail, how many times have you repurchased it?
Tell us everything in the comments.

Credits: I want to thank Melanie Parker for the awesome 40 Days lipstick graphic along with the Behnaz & Dante Rossetti.

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

Me and my PS Kiss are back from our Paris World Tour.

The trip was lovely and amazing.

PS Kiss enjoyed touring the Eiffel Tower while my personal favorite moment was a violet pastry from Laduree. Of course, no Paris trip would be complete without my beloved Behnaz. Here she is at Les Georges....

I promise to spill more details throughout the week. Right now I am staring at the piles on my desk...and feeling overwhelmed.

Disclosure: This Paris trip was made possible by Lancome Cosmetics

40 Days and 40 Nights of Beauty Brand Reviews

Day 21, Lancome

Cavewoman: I used to think that all rose fragrances would smell like the Tea Rose from Perfumer's Workshop, and even the thought of that fragrance would give me the shivers. I was convinced that I'd never even try a rose scent. All that changed one day at the Lancome counter in what used to be our local Kaufmann's store. I was chatting with my favorite Lancome SA, testing lipsticks and shadows, and she showed me a lovely teardrop-shaped bottle with blue-tinted fragrance inside, and said I had to try it. The name of the scent was 2000 Et Une Rose, and she sprayed a little card for me to try. I was stunned and captivated, how could this be a rose scent and so different from any other rose scent I had tried? I bought the bottle. I went back the following day and bought another one. It was the last one in stock. Since my first bottle of 2000 Et Une Rose, I have shared precious vials with my friends, scoured counters, checked ebay (ouch!) and found a secret supply (bought all of them) at a Lancome outlet store near here. I've used up five bottles of 2000 Et Une Rose, and was rationing out my last one when the good news arrived that Lancome was going to re-release the fragrance under a new name, Mille Et Une Rose. And of course, I've already bought it. The new Mille has been repackaged, matching the other 'vintage' scents that have recently been re-released at Lancome counters, but the juice is still the same beautiful blue. Wrist-to-wrist comparison has proven that the new formula is identical to the original.

2000/Mille Et Une Rose is an exquisite blend of several roses plus tangerine, ambrette, amber, musk and vanilla. It has a spicy, peppery quality that gives the scent a little kick, and the amber adds depth and warmth. More complex than a rose soliflore, but still allowing a starring role for the roses, Mille achieves perfection. This is without a doubt the standard by which I judge all rose scents. There is nothing else that comes close. I have come to love and appreciate other rose-based perfumes now, but Mille Et Une Rose will always be THE rose for me. I feel the need to stockpile. Will Lancome snatch this away again? I'm panicky. I'm buying another bottle.


Annieytown: The most important Lancome product in my life is my prized tube of Behnaz lipstick. It all started when Cavewoman alerted us to it's existence. She stated that the perfect red lipstick had been invented by Gucci Westman and we had to have it. She began searching the country for this lipstick. She called NYC. She called Texas. We hit every Lancome counter in Northeast Ohio.
It never made it to the counters.
Less than 200 tubes were made.
This limited edition tube garnered raves in Style.com and Allure.
There is nothing worse than knowing that the perfect red lipstick is out there but that you will never see it or own it.


I wrote this post on October 7th 2006:
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.

They did the next day.

Behnaz is the most magnificent red lipstick. It is a cool toned poppy red that seems to have a glow from within. It practically puts a spot light on the lips. It is a gorgeous cream formula that lasts all day with no need for touch ups.

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.

I hope that Lancome will one day consider bringing back the Behnaz. I know there are no plans but I can not give up hope.

They did bring back 2000 et une Rose.

What are your favorite Lancome products?

Besides Behnaz...mine are 2000 et une Rose and Rouge Now or Never. Both of these fragrances were introduced to me by dear Cavewoman.

Photos: Cavewoman and Blogdorf Goodman

Tbone is wearing Behnaz.

Disclosure: The products were purchased by the reviewers. The Behnaz lippie from Lancome was a press sample.

Lancome's Behnaz Lipstick

Dear Lancome,

I adore you again!
You made my day, week, month and year!

Lancome heard my cries for Behnaz and sent a tube overnight. This was beyond generous and amazing.
They have had a special place in my heart since I first sniffed 2000 et une Rose. Now I want to send flowers to every person who works there.
I love them.

There is some bad news. Behnaz is out of production. There were only 250 made(not the 500 reported) and it appears that they are gone. The silver lining is that there are plans to do more designer lipsticks in the future.

Is the Behnaz worth the hype?
Yes.
I almost passed out when I opened it.
My next project will be red lipsticks and comparing them all to this tube of Behnaz. Cavewoman and I will drag this tube across Ohio and NYC to find any dupes.
That is my promise to you.

Special thanks and huge hugs to Kristen and Kerry!!!!

photos: Blogdorf Goodman
I had the worst time photographing the tube. I am taking it to work again and see if I can get a better shot.


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

Lancome Behnaz Lipstick: What Could Have Been

Bring back the Behnaz:

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.

Readers: What product do you wish to be brought back?
Name anything.
Fragrance, lippie, eyeshadow, nail polish etc.

photos: style.com

Lipstick Blues: Behnaz by Lancome

Style.com has featured the sold out limited edition Behnaz liptsick from Lancome. I feel like they are personally mocking us.

It's only fitting, then, that Sarafpour has teamed up with beauty wizard Gucci Westman to create the perfect poppy shade for Westman's Lancôme Color Design Pout-à-Porter lipstick line.
The color, simply called Behnaz, is so delicious, we just had to kiss and tell.

"We have the perfect red lippie...and you will never get your hands on it."

Damn it.
She was a beauty.
style.com