If doing the identical factor over and over is the definition of madness, what does that say a couple of lady who has worn the identical brown lip liner and clear lip gloss mixture for years?
Am I insane?
Or have I merely discovered what works?
For years, I had no motive to query my signature lip. However then I began questioning what would occur if I traded my standard mixture for colourful lipstick.
For years, my lips have lived a really predictable life. Brown liner. Clear gloss. Perhaps a bit of additional gloss if I used to be feeling adventurous. It was my magnificence safety blanket, the one mixture I might attain for whether or not I used to be operating errands throughout the day or getting dressed for an evening out.
However recently, I began questioning what would occur if I finished enjoying it secure.
My Lips Wanted Publicity Remedy
You see, I’ve luscious, massive lips. Not my phrases, however I do agree. And but, regardless of having what I contemplate prime actual property for colour, I had in some way determined that the one acceptable tenants have been brown lip liner and clear gloss.
So, I did one thing that felt virtually rebellious.
I attempted lipstick.
Not nude lipstick. Not brown lipstick. Not a shade that would quietly mix into the background.
Coloration.
I made a decision to attempt The Lip Bar’s “Nonstop Liquid Matte Duo Viral Lip Seems” which comes with two shades that may be worn individually or collectively. It Woman is a scorching, intense pink, whereas Muse is a deep berry shade.
The thought is you can put on them solo or mix them for a good bolder lip look. However let’s be trustworthy: I used to be barely prepared for one daring lipstick. The double energy and impression of each shades collectively? That felt like excessive publicity remedy I had not signed up for.
So I began with Muse.
The complete impression of the lip colour felt like excessive publicity remedy, and apparently, I used to be not able to go chilly turkey. I attempted the deep berry Muse with my trusty brown lip liner, easing myself into colour as an alternative of throwing myself utterly into the deep finish.
When Your Outfit Is Already Saying “Have a look at Me”
As a plus measurement lady, I already know what it seems like to attract consideration to myself. My measurement could make me noticeable earlier than I even say a phrase, and the way in which I costume definitely doesn’t assist me mix in.
I’ve by no means been notably inquisitive about following the principles about what plus measurement ladies are supposedly allowed to put on. If the rule says I ought to keep away from it, likelihood is I need it much more.
However there’s a distinction between carrying an outfit that will get you seen and placing a loud pop of colour instantly in the midst of your face.
The lipstick felt like including a neon signal to an already noticeable outfit that mentioned, “Please take a look at me.”
And instantly, I used to be asking myself: Was I truly prepared for that a lot consideration?
Perhaps that was why I had stayed loyal to my brown lip liner and clear gloss for thus lengthy. It wasn’t only a magnificence routine. It was a method of controlling the quantity. My garments might make the assertion whereas my lips stayed acquainted and predictable.
Muse Meets Orange
However carrying Muse with an orange knit costume from Ashley Stewart made me rethink that.
The orange and deep berry mixture was daring, however in some way, it labored. The colours complemented one another as an alternative of competing for consideration.
And for somebody who had spent years convincing herself {that a} colourful lip was an excessive amount of, I used to be beginning to marvel if “an excessive amount of” was even an actual factor.
Muse is a liquid matte formulation, and I wanted two to 3 swipes to get the complete protection I needed. The primary swipe gave me extra of a sheer wash of colour, however constructing it up gave me the richness I used to be on the lookout for.
Then got here the true take a look at.
I wore the lipstick to an hourlong interview with an inspirational founder. An hour of speaking, smiling and carrying on later, the lipstick was nonetheless there.
If a lipstick can survive an interview, I figured it deserved one other probability.
Then Got here It Woman
If Muse was my cautious introduction to paint, It Woman was me lastly admitting that I would truly prefer it.
The recent, intense pink was not precisely refined. It was the type of colour that enters the room earlier than you do. Naturally, that made me nervous.
Once more, I wanted two to 3 swipes to get full protection. However as soon as the colour constructed up, there was no hiding behind it.
And perhaps that was what I wanted.
It Woman stayed by a cheerful hour with a brand new good friend and three scrumptious avenue tacos.
Sure, three.
The liquid matte formulation did really feel a bit of drying on my lips, however I needed to give it credit score. A lipstick that may survive drinks, dialog and three tacos with out utterly disappearing has earned my respect.
Then the compliments began.
Individuals have been calling me a Black Barbie.
Me.
The girl who had spent years treating brown lip liner and clear gloss like a required uniform.
All of a sudden, the factor I had been nervous about was one of many first issues individuals seen about me. And as an alternative of feeling like I used to be making an attempt too arduous, I felt like I had lastly given myself permission to attempt one thing I had been avoiding.
Perhaps I Don’t Wish to Be a Regular Woman
Perhaps I wasn’t afraid of colourful lipstick.
Perhaps I used to be afraid of being seen in a different way.
As a result of as a plus measurement lady, I’ve already needed to grow to be comfy with being checked out. I’ve realized the way to costume exterior the principles, put on the issues I’m informed I shouldn’t and take up area with out apologizing for it.
However even once you’re comfy being seen, there can nonetheless be elements of your self that you simply hold quiet.
For me, apparently, that half was my lips.
My brown liner and clear gloss aren’t going wherever. Some relationships are price conserving. However now I do know they don’t must be the one relationship my lips have.
Perhaps I wasn’t insane for carrying the identical lip mixture for years. Perhaps I used to be simply comfy.
And there’s nothing unsuitable with comfy.
However now I do know comfy doesn’t must imply fixed.
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