Red Lipstick Essentials

Red lipstick is high on the list, thank you!! Finally some glamour which is affordable and let us partake in the world out there, even if you are still standing at home and peeling potatoes.

The best I found in a dedicated auto-guinee-pig try is still by Chanel, "Vendome", Nr. 25. I have given this tip to some dear friends and all have been happy: It suits every complexion and gives an instant lift to all of us!

Two other serious competitors are  "Venetian Red" by YSL, Nr.68 ( on the little bit blue-ish side) - an old and dear favourite with a nice smell! I only fear, that, as with all the things we love and cherish, YSL will finish with it sooner or later - it is not easy to find.

And, more widely available,  Estée Lauders "Rich Red" Nr. 35 - very classy red and highly manageable.

There WAS, not any longer is, alas, at Guerlain the lovely and wonderfully terracottaish "Red Jelly" Gloss, Nr.03 - gone gone gone. I have bought all I could find and have still two to go. Glorious with white winterskin and slightly bronzed summerskin as well.

I do not understand this frenzy for doing all new every season? Anybody out there hearing this??? We do not want all the time hunt for a new lipstick colour - even if it is fun sometimes, but I, for one, feel my age and would love to settle with dear old friends, knowing, that they would never let me down..

Generally I like the Chanel lipsticks for their good quality and colours. And they taste good, too. As do the Guerlain - but they are so expensive! Clarins lipsticks, on the contrary, even when the colours are nice, do taste horrible: Who wants to put sugary smelling reds on the lips?? I don´t. Or are they aiming for a very young public, who normally will buy lipgloss with cherry flavour in the drugstore round the corner? Mystery.

Of course you know, that red lipstick needs very little other make-up in your face: a clean nice teint, some mascara and red lipstick in different layers ( according to the time of the day - little in the morning will do, in the evening load on and then a dab of good old Elizabeth Arden´s 8 hour balm on top and hey, presto...) That´s it.