Do you really want to get people seeing you differently? Are you thinking a new haircut or maybe a color change? Brunette? REALLY RED? I’d say blonde but I think many of us have either been there or are there. You can get a refresh on your look very affordably and almost effortlessly: Wear lip gloss. Believe me, it’s amazing the conversation that transpires. No kidding.
If I wear my nothing-special t-shirt and jeans or literally a raincoat, nobody would really say anything or treat me differently. Slap on some understated lip color and suddenly you are accused of working. Not that kind of job; that spells deep red. But an honest to goodness question, “Are you working?” “ Do you have a job?” I say, “Nope. Just put on the lip gloss.” As the conversation progresses, the acquaintance is slipping lip gloss out of her bag and nonchalantly brushing her lips.
It’s not just girls that approach you differently, but guys too. My husband had several appointments with a neurologist over the course of six months. Not all ears are created equally so we both go even though there is only one patient. I fit it into my schedule, often times going in workout attire. The guy was pleasant enough so I didn’t think anything of him the first two visits.
The third appointment occurred 5 months later and it’s like he never met us…vaguely recalling our situation. We came back just 10 days later, me donning the gloss. He didn’t remember us very well and especially me. He turned to me to shake my hand and said, “I don’t think we’ve met? I’m Dr. Blah Blah.” Are you kidding me? (It’s also worth noting I am Caucasian and my husband is Asian.) He was the friendliest he’d ever been in all the visits we had with him. The only difference I could surmise is the lip sparkle putting a sparkle in somebody’s eye. Hmmm. Doctors are more than just scientists.
Maybe my senses are heightened after all these surprising occurrences, but I get this feeling of greater respect just shopping around. We’ve all probably noticed you get treated a little better looking for a new top if you spiff up a little. Polish it off with some gloss and the service amps up. I read some place if you want to look put together in a flash, slap on the mascara and some lip color. It’s true! Trying hard without showing it. And for what it’s worth, my eleven-year-old read this post and said, “Yeah mom. You don’t need all that other stuff. Lip gloss is enough.”(I tell ya, my guys are going to make some girl really happy or really scared when he can relate to her lip gloss issue.)
And it’s not expensive. You don’t have to buy the high-end stuff to get that respect or feeling of confidence. Clinique (takes ya back, huh?) is my favorite because it sticks and it has sunscreen. And it’s something that passes the budget radar if somebody pays attention to credit card activity. That guy will probably look at you differently too. “You’re pretty.” Wow! REALLY? I’m just chopping tomatoes after a tough day at Nordstrom, I mean, grocery store. You don’t have to wear the shine at home to get respect (well, you shouldn’t) but it’s kind of nice to get noticed once in awhile. Remember me? The one you picked because you thought I was cute and interesting, not because you knew I could do laundry and make dinners?
Anyway, ya wanna an easy pick me up, grab the gloss and see if it doesn’t brighten more than just your smile.
I will test out your theory tomorrow….
As for rearing sensitive boys – you go girl – we owe it to our sons future wives!!
You must report back! I'm sure you will have a great story.
i totally agree – lip gloss is a secret weapon against blah!!!! keep on writing.
I remember when Monica Lewinsky was interviewed by Barbara Walters (?) and the thing most viewers wanted to know was what kind of lip gloss Lewinsky was wearing!!