"I really want to meet Leandra Medine!" I required some guidance to understand that my friend Jean was referring to the beloved, quirky blogger of Man Repeller.
Fashion's Night Out was happening in less than 24 hours, and it seemed like every girl in my freshman NYU dorm was formulating a battle strategy. It went something like this: "Michael Kors has more champagne, but WAIT Solange is going to be at DVF!?" Meanwhile, Anna Wintour was like...
Jean's plan of attack for the night, however, revolved around the fact that she just wanted to meet Man Repeller. I just wanted to know: what's a Man Repeller?
So, I pulled out my trusty sidekick: Google.
Turns out the Man Repeller blog is pretty top notch. There's a heap of fashion, a pinch of sass, and even a dash of beauty.
One post that caught our eyes at HC was Leandra's story on Henna Lips. She decided to try out this wonky looking green lipstick that apparently reacts with your body chemistry to create a "custom" pinkish-red lip color. The truth is that the lipstick is formulated with Red 27 that is colorless, but once you apply it, a reaction to your lip pH balance and temperature occurs. The caveat? pH levels are affected by diet and stress, even the moisture in the air. So, does that mean that when I eat a grapefruit wedge in the middle of Nevada desert, my henna lip color will be different than when I drink ice tea in humid Florida? I guess you'll just have to fly me out to have a test run, Man Repeller, so that I can find out (wink wink, nudge nudge).
One thing is for sure: this green henna lipstick has passed the Unofficial Man Repeller Longevity Test (I made up this name, shhh!). Leandra happily reported that her pillowcase suffered no casualties after enduring the lipstick for a night.
I wouldn't buy this lipstick for it's shade-shifter abilities, but rather the guarantee that it'll stick around for a while. However, the thought of risking it turning a weird pink on me because I drank a funky green juice with lunch isn't appealing. If you're in the same boat as Yours Truly, wanting your lip color to remain the same color no matter what you drink, allow me to suggest some other super longwear lip products that have also passed the Official Shannon Longevity Test, a.k.a. brunch -- the land of sangria, eggs benedict, and hash browns.
For color, there are a few basic tricks you should use to match yourself to a perfect shade. If you have a fair complexion, go for pinks/reds that have a blue base to balance your pink undertones. Medium complexions should stay exactly that, medium; try shades that are a balance of orange and blue undertones, and dark complexions benefit from fiery orange colors because it brightens the complexion. My best tip for lipstains is to have patience. Let your lipstain completely dry and adhere to your skin before trying to touch it, and if you prefer lipsticks, dab a first layer on, then blot with a tissue or blotting paper to draw out oils, and then lightly pat on a second coat with your finger for a longer-lasting finish! Now, go get your best lips on with the lip colors below and try the brunch test.
Also, Jean did get to meet Leandra at FNO -- in case you were concerned.
So collegiettes, which of these lipsticks will you be rocking soon? Sound off below!