The Crimson Crusade
by Blogdorf Goodman

I participate in many beauty quests but none so satisfying as the Crimson Crusade. My journey should have ended when I discovered Lancome's Behnaz but it just stoked the lemming fires. Red is a bold, dramatic shade that demands attention. It means everything from stop, danger, anger, sin, lust and love.

Wearing a red lipstick requires guts, tenacity, and a certain charm. Reds require bravery due to the fact that it is a spotlight on your lips. You will be heard and seen when you wear a red. You can not hide or blend in.
Reds require patience. You do not slather on a red and run out the house. Reds require exfoliation, primers, lip liners and other tricks of the trade. Reds need touch ups. Wearing a red lipstick requires a mind set. You have to commit to it.

My personal red lippie stash is featured in this post. They range from scarlet to cardinal shades. Lancome's Behnaz is a lipstick that defies most descriptions. It is neither cool or warm, nor is it a matte or a gloss. It just is...Behnaz. I think it is very close to a poppy red but with a radiant luminescence.

Chanel's Porto Rotondo is a new lippie from the summer collection. The formula feels like a luxe lip balm. The color is a sheer cherry shade with a slight shimmer. This is so flattering and subtle on the lips. MAC Couture Red #5 is a cardinal red with a metallic sheen.

The reds pictured above are: Chanel's Rouge Allure in Dazzling(a warmer scarlet), MAC Rockocco, MAC Red She Said, MAC Culturebloom, Estee Lauder's Rich Red(a cool ruby red), and CoverGirl's Cranberry Shine(more blue based).

Chantecaille's Cerise(a true blue red), L'Oreal Target Red(stop sign red), MAC Port Red, MAC Brave Red, MAC Kanga Rouge, MAC Queen's Sin, and MAC's Couture Red #5.

Nars velvet matte lip pencil in Cruella(a brick house red)

Lancome Juicy Tubes in NYC Cinnamon Soho (just a hint of paprika shimmer)

MAC 3D Glass in Boundless( a ruby red with ultra fine red shimmer)

MAC 3D Glass in Racy(a sheer poppy with blue shimmer)

MAC lipglass in Red Romp(pigmented garnet red with red shimmer)

MAC lipglass in Pure Vanity(this is so amazingly pigmented! It is a blood red)

MAC Dazzleglass in Love Alert

Chantecaille in Charisma(a sheer cinnamon)
MAC Dazzleglass in Love Alert

This post features press samples and purchased products.

Patti is clearly a red lipstick evangelist, because every time she sees a picture of me without red lipstick I get an email from her demanding to know how I could have let this happen.

(Quote from Tania Sanchez)

Red Lipstick

Credit: Youtube

Target Red Lipstick by L'Oreal

L'Oreal's Target red is a true tomato shade.
It is a warmer red with not an ounce of blue undertones. I thought the texture was creamy and rich but I strongly disliked the scent. It almost smelled like the lippie had turned. It was very old fashioned and unappealing.

In comparison to Lancome's Behnaz it is no contest. Lancome's texture is superior and the shade is magnificent. The poppy color just glows. I have never received so many compliments on a lipstick than when I wear Behnaz.

Disclosure: This product was purchased by me, at my local Target store

Lipstick Queen

The only difference between saints and sinners is that every saint has a past while every sinner has a future.
Oscar Wilde

I visited NYC two weeks ago and spent some time loitering in front of the Lipstick Queen counter at Barneys. The SA was very helpful and let all three of us try the entire collection. Tbone caved on the red sinner shade while I opened my wallet to purchase the sinner shade of Rose. We stayed away from the saint shades because deep in our hearts we are very naughty girls.
Actually...the sinner shades are opaque while the saints are a sheer formula.
This shade concept is genius. Each of the ten colors has a sinner and saint counterpart.

The standout shades are the Red(think Dita Von Teese) and the Rose. The sinner's formula is heavily pigmented with no hint of shimmer or frost. It is a matte-like formula that is easy to wear. It does not dry out your lips or require around the clock maintenance. The saint shades give you just a hint of color.

Poppy King is a lipstick fanatic.
She is obsessed with lipstick and vows that her line will only be about lipstick. She sounds like someone that I could be friends with.
The SA dished on a future gloss product called Oxymoron.
I swore that I would not blog about it so all I say is.....I can not wait to get my hands on it.

This is a company that will be creating lippie lemmings for years to come.

Visit the site at http://www.lipstickqueen.com/hompage.htm or call the Barneys in NYC to make an order.

View other reviews at:
http://offtherack.people.com/2007/03/beauty_obsessio.html
and
http://fashiontribes.typepad.com/la_story/2007/02/all_hail_the_qu.html

Tbone's Red Sinner Tube photographed in Chinatown.
Photo: Annieytown
Disclosure: The product was purchased by the reviewer.

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