I own eighteen tubes of lipstick, each of them bought for the color I hoped to find – one that is so perfect, it looks (and feels, if you kiss me) as though I am not wearing lipstick at all, only better. Each one, with a single exception, has been a disappointment, and their ridiculous names, had I been realistic, should have been a clue. Some of them, at the time, suggested exotic meals eaten with strange and even more exotic lovers, like Smoothest Wine, Crushed Cranberry, Crystalized Ginger, and Currant. When I bought them, I imagined myself being fed, resting upon silk cushions. Others spoke to me of interesting places, like Canyon, City of Industry, and Milano Tile. In these dreamy settings, I was clothed in stylish attire suited to the climate and activity. I have even wanted to be lipstick states of mind…Gothic, Forbidden, and Bee Bold, but this, I now know, can be achieved without cosmetics. The anonymous ones intrigued me, such as Maybelline #725, and the other secret agents, Cover Girls #507 and #554, P304 (?) and Wet and Wild #570. Lemon Twist and Strawberry Fields, bought at Victoria’s Secret, were names that made me feel younger, and Browned Down Red agreed with my depressive side. I do not know what I was thinking when I bought Classy Nude, as it is neither. Last week, however, I found the one…Estee Lauder #07 Stay Mocha. The number gives it a light air of James Bond, “Mocha” suggests all the sweet and mature flavors of the others, and the word “Stay” brings to mind a stable yet romantic state of being. It is light, long-lasting, non-waxy, and it’s the perfect color. Imagine that.
Want to see? The Holy Grail of Lipstick
Want to see? The Holy Grail of Lipstick
Once upon a time, there was a lipstick made by Mary Quant, a British designer. It, too, was perfect. But then the company went out of business or was bought up by some other company, and my lipstick disappeared from planet earth. For many years, I wandered naked-faced in the wilderness of cosmetics. Now, perhaps, you have drawn the map to my next treasure at the Estee Lauder counter? Women everywhere will thank you! This is a delightful debut to a lovely blog page.
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