I have hesitated over posting this as during the current Covid-19 pandemic, while we are all still in lockdown, it seems very frivolous. But then I thought about the things that give me comfort at this time and lipstick has been one of mine. Even though I am working from my dining room table now and see no one apart from Mr 101BT and the occasional colleague via video for an online meeting, a swipe of lipstick is definitely a morale booster.
In the Second World War women were actively encouraged to wear lipstick. The slogan of the time was ‘beauty is your duty’ and many letters sent to loved ones on the front line had lipstick kisses added to boost morale and convey love. There are many advertising posters at the time of women in uniform wearing lipstick with names such as victory red or regimental red, a sales gimmick definitely, but the name alone might justify the purchase for the buyer.
I haven’t seen any beauty related advertising during this pandemic but there is a definite increase in posts on YouTube about DIY treatments and looking good during video conferencing on Zoom.
I coveted these lipstick cases for a while before getting one. Funnily enough, they remind me of the vintage lipstick cases that some of the beauty brands such a Max Factor and Helena Rubinstein brought out after the war.
Guerlain have quite a big selection of cases and are all so lovely it was difficult to choose one, so Mr101BT got me two as a gift (I think one was from the cat!). You buy the lipstick and case separately. The lipsticks themselves are shaped to fit in the case but you can interchange if you like, just keep the original cap safe.
Definitely a lipstick to bring out in public, the lid flips up to reveal a mirror under the flap and when you put the lipstick back in the case it holds the flap down. The lipstick itself is really nice and comfortable to wear, lightweight with good pigment and reasonable longevity.
Makes a fabulous gift for a friend, or why not treat yourself?