Only Smudges Remain...

The Mystery of the Fading Lipstick

For generations lipstick bridged the gap between being a child and becoming a woman. Wearing lipstick was seen as a right of passage, the definition of feminine beauty, a pillar of power for women- so why has lipstick faded? Who has wiped clean the lips of millions of women throughout the western world, leaving only smudges of the vibrant tones that once stained our lips?

With the recent, and sadly official, demise of NBC's "Lipstick Jungle", I am left wondering why recent generations have lost interest with the 'lipstick trend'. This trend once shaped Hollywood beauty and formed the foundation for our mothers and grandmothers, as they learned how to apply makeup. Why has lipstick become such an afterthought?

Here's my hypothesis: Lip Gloss
The birth of the lip gloss has greatly impacted today's tweens, teens and young women, resulting in lipstick getting quickly pushed onto the back burner. I mean really, why would we want to invest in high quality, beautiful hues of designer lipstick when we can buy cheap tubes that contain awfully pungent,very fruity smells that cause not only sticky lips, but also fingers, and leave residue in the lining of our handbags? I must say that I'm really stuck on this one. Just think about the absurdity!

If you are a mother, I urge you to teach your daughter what your mothers taught you about lipstick! Show them the glamour that is created using a tool that stands for femininity and beauty! And you tweens, teens and young twenty-somethings, stray from your days of smelling like a Bath and Bodyworks shop and being forced to clean the gloss off the bottom of your purse! Go to a cosmetic counter and sample the colors of Dior, MAC, Chanel,Clinique and Shiseido! Not only will you be pleasantly surprised by the enhancement you see, but I think you just may be forever finished dabbling with grimy lip gloss and allowing it to take up space in your handbag- let alone leaving residue on your wallet and sunglasses! After all, lip gloss really only belongs in cheap goody bags that are tossed out to guests of a seven year olds birthday party! Take my advice- invest in the best....and bring back the beauty of lipstick!