This post could also have been called: Beware of Falling Into Ruts.
Last weekend my pal Mizz K took me out for lunch and to play with makeup at Sephora and MAC – a highly enjoyable pastime, that we have enjoyed before.
I picked up some eyeshadow and lipstick that I didn’t need, but that made me happy. As I was checking out at Sephora, the girl behind the counter dropped a couple of lipstick samples into my bag.
Usually I get “anti-aging” product samples (unasked for) dropped in my bag, by the ever-so helpful beauticians (really? why can’t I get some fun stuff instead?) so this was very welcome.
When I got home I pulled the samples out and immediately judged that one had potential but the other had absolutely none.
I don’t do orange. I feel at this age, I know my colours. I know what looks good on my body and my face, and browns and oranges are colours I avoid. I am a pink/plum/burgundy lipstick kind of gal. So immediately, I gravitated toward the colour on the right and dismissed the colour on the left.
However, some spirit of adventure momentarily took control of my senses and I opened the orang-y Dior Charm sample and applied it to my lips.
Mind. Blown.
I don’t know if it’s because I am rocking the Barbados tan still or what. But this coral-y, orang-y, avoid-at-all-costs colour not only looks pinky-natural on me, I love what it does for my whole face.
I was so surprised by this, I didn’t trust my own eyes.
Wait, this can’t be right. I’m just imagining it. This isn’t my colour. It’s gotta be a trick of the light. HOW. CAN. THIS. BE. A. THING. Did I mention THIS IS NOT MY COLOUR? WHO AM I ANYMORE?!?!?!
I had to ask my friend – fashion historian and overall arbiter of good taste – Jonathan Walford, if the colour actually looked as good on me as I thought it did.
He said it did – looked very natural, he said. Well, OK then. Confirmed!
So this begs the question: what else I am missing out on because I’ve become stuck in a rut or think I KNOW what to use and what to avoid?
I tell you, this experience has made me question a lot more stuff that I thought I knew for sure. Who knows what other surprises are in store for me!
Ooooh, the power of makeup to transform not only your outsides, but your insides!
I should write an advertisement. Dior makeup people – you know where to find me, right?
How about you? Ever had a moment where everything you thought you knew went straight out the window? Do tell.
Rock on,
The WB
It’s a lovely colour on you – quite different to how it looked in the pack. I have trouble finding a nice natural rose shade – they always end up pinky rather than rosy (or too dark). I scored one that’s not too bad at a discount shop the other day – so I’m happy atm too 🙂
Thank you Leanne! Just found your comment now. It ended up in Spam for some reason. Grrr.
That color looks fabulous on you! As we age our skin tones change—thins out—so it’s wise to experiment with new colors every decade from 50 on. But we really need to take a younger friend with us because we start growing cataracts long before they bother us but they do dull the colors we see. That’s how some older women start looking like clowns with their make up. You can’t wear the same colors your entire adult life.
You have beautiful eyes, by the way.
Thank you Jean! You’re right – my hair and skin are changing colour so I shouldn’t assume the same old same old will keep working on me. I’m in fear of becoming a clown woman, hence me running to Jonathan for confirmation! Thank you for the lovely compliment!
I don’t wear orange either. I’m in awe of your discovery. How could this be so good when it’s supposed to be so wrong? [Sounds like a line from a country song, doesn’t it?]
Hah! That’s right Ally! If loving coral is wrong (for me), 🎼 I don’t want to be right 🎼 😜.
Wow, I know! I swore I would never wear red lipstick until I discovered Dior lip colors. Now, my “go to” color is Rouge Dior. It just goes on so well, not to0 matte not to0 shiny. Yes, you should do an add for Dior!!
Whoa, really? The power of Dior!!! Move over Maybelline. Sashay away Smashbox. Beat it Bobbi Brown. There’s a new player in (Badass) town!
Wat a fun post, Deb….with a deep meaning within. (My favourite combination!) Your photo is gorgeous. I agree that this should be a Dior ad. To get you started, I have tweeted this with the appropriate hashtag! 🙂
Haha! Thanks so much Donna! Maybe they’ll send me a free tube (even though I’ve already ordered this colour online 😁).
That’s astonishing. I never would have expected what’s on the sample pack to look like that. I wouldn’t have even tried it. Anything with orange (yellow) in it makes my lips sore. Besides making me look like my liver is malfunctioning. That’s a keeper! How does the other one look? I’d definitely try that one.
Reticula, the other colour looks good as well, although less natural. Might work better on me when I lose my tan and resume my normal cool colouring.
Having let my hair go grey in the last 18 months, nearly everything I used to like in clothes colours and make-up now isn’t quite right. I’m thinking a muumuu and a clown mask might be best. You do look lovely in coral. I must say!
Thank you Susanne! I stopped colouring my hair about a year ago. Now I only hi-light the dark parts to better blend with the white parts. This is probably why previously hated colours are working better for me. Just realizing this thanks to your and other’s comments!
“Muumuu and a clown mask” sound good to me. I’m having a bad face day 😉
That lipstick colour looks very nice on you. It’s time to try new things…away with the old.
I agree. Thanks!
I don’t know what’s happened, Deb. I came to your blog today for an entirely different reason and discovered a new blog post from you. WTH?! Why didn’t I get an email notification?!! The blogging gods must be messing with me again 😡
I can’t imagine any parallel universe in which an orange/coral lipstick would look good on me. That doesn’t stop me from trying out different lipsticks though. Is there anything better than the pick-me-up of a new lipstick? … ok, don’t answer that question … I just thought of a couple 😉
For some reason, emails were not automatically sent with this post and I haven’t had time to look into this cuz Tax Time is fast approaching and I had financials to do. So…long story short blogging gods are messing with ME, not you Joanne 😩.
I’m not sure whether I should be relieved I’m not the problem. It so rarely happens 😉
What a great metaphor from a lipstick ‘mistake’ that turned out to be just right. Ruts are bad, and I suppose as we get older we think we ‘know it all’ and what’s right for us. Funny thing is that two weeks ago when I was in CA (I live in NE) I visited my favorite Nordstrom there to buy my favorite color Clinique lipstick (Merlot). They were out of it, but suggested I try another brand (Laura Mercier) and another (lighter, more neutral) color. No, I said, But then I tried the sample. Oh. Okay. I bought it and am slowly trying to wear it. Not my color – too light – yet everyone else thinks it’s just right.
So, out of my rut I shall climb.
Ooh, I love Clinique – Pink Chocolate has been a favourite of mine since the 90s. Remember back then, when brown lipstick was all the rage? Pink chocolate was the closest I could get to a brown-ish lipstick that didn’t make me look dead 😜. Good luck with your climb!
That’s what’s so great about makeup, you can try something and wash it off if you don’t think it suits you! The only thing permanent is change
Looks really natural and pretty. Good for you for stepping out of your makeup comfort zone. We women tend to forget, it’s only makeup… it comes off! Great read
Thanks CG!
I’m colourblind, so perhaps I’m missing something but the colour on your lips looks *nothing* like the colour in the packet. The colour in the sample packet is rather garish, but the colour on your lips looks natural (are you sure you have on lipstick in that photo?).
Hehehe! Yes, I’m sure AJ. I have on a pretty light application in those photos but you’re right. It doesn’t look anything like the strong colour in the sample packet.