Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2005
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Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2005
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Obsession: In search of right lip gloss
I spend a good portion of my time in search of a better lip gloss, a better bra and a better man. Like most Southern women, I am an optimist. I believe there is always something better out there than what I have. It is a constant quest of mine to find the best. Which is why I discovered upon a recent cosmetic inventory, that I own 83 lip glosses and 27 lip pencils. Of these, I actually use four lip pencils and five lip glosses. After all, as long as you have peach, pink, red and soft caramel, you have the lips covered. Southern women have an infatuation with make-up that, outside of Hollywood, is somewhat quaint in today’s society. Many seem perplexed by women who put on mascara and lipstick to put out pine straw. I am perplexed by those who don’t. I once wrote, “It only takes 44 seconds to apply mascara and lip gloss. Fifty-three seconds, if you add lip liner.” Some thought it was hilarious that I had actually timed it. “You Southern women are so vain,” a non-Southern man said teasingly to me. I nodded happily. I, like those of my sisterhood, am not ashamed of this. “That’s right.” I leaned closer. “I have noticed that you men tend to like better those of us women who are vain over those who aren’t.” Personally, lip gloss plays a big part in my own vanity. I am addicted to it. I can’t stand dry, colorless lips. So much so that once when I had a business luncheon, I arrived early and was checking my lip gloss before I got out of the car. To my horror, I discovered I didn’t have any! I panicked. My heart started racing, my hands began trembling. Fortunately, I had enough time to dash to the store and pick up a new gloss. I now know how a drug addict feels when he needs a quick fix. Apparently, I’m not alone in this addiction or the quest to find a better lip gloss. Last year, the lipstick industry chalked up over $3 billion in sales. I suspect, just from what I’ve seen, $2.9 billion came from Southeastern consumers. I certainly contributed my fair share. My friend, Debbie, is a racecar driver. One night, she climbed from her car, hot and sweaty, after a long race. She took her helmet off and shook loose her tousled blond hair. Her mother took one look at her and asked, “Where’s your lipstick?” It is impossible to race away from some of the elements of your upbringing. Whenever I shop with my sister and niece in New York, I am always the one who gets snagged and dragged by enthusiastic make-up mavens over to the cosmetic counter in Saks. “Why is it always me?” I asked my companions. “Probably because they’re experts at spotting vanity from a mile away,” Nicole offered wryly. Or, maybe they just recognize an optimistic Southern woman who is looking for a better lip gloss than the one she bought the last time. |
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Copyright
2004-Fayette Publishing, Inc.
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Ronda Rich is the author of “What Southern Women Know (That Every Woman Should)” and “My Life In The Pits.” She lives in Gainesville, Ga.
