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Original poster

It's taken decades but I've finally found my perfect lipstick

52 replies

Rosamutabilis · 11/12/2025 10:27

I'm 61 and all my life since I started wearing make up I've never been completely happy with any lipstick shade.

I have red hair( now faded to almost white) and a freckly yellow-based skin tone. Lipsticks are always too pink, too brown, too red, never the perfect mix of browny orange neutral that I've always wanted. I've tried cheap and expensive, some have been good and I've worn them until they inevitably were
discontinued.

Until now.

I was walking through John Lewis beauty hall on my way out of the shop when my eye was caught by the Tom Ford display, looked at the lipsticks randomly and bam! I knew it as soon as I picked up the tube. The assistant tried it on me and it was perfect. Yes it's ridiculously expensive, far more than any lipstick has a right to be, but I don't care, I'll never wear anything else. I'm justifying it to myself because I don't buy many clothes and don't have manicures or any other beauty treatments.

I know it's so trivial but it's made me very happy, shame it's taken so long!
Anyone else had a similar experience?

OP posts:
Daygloboo · 11/12/2025 12:47

thisoneiscalledbluebellsinpastels · 11/12/2025 12:14

Clinique "almost lipstick" in pink honey or black honey?

Show quote history

😀thanks

Comefromaway · 11/12/2025 12:49

Mine used to be Clinique Beauty. It was discontinued several years ago.

My favourite Lancome shimmery lip gloss was discontinued too.

AstaEscapes · 11/12/2025 12:52

Delighted for you, @Rosamutabilis!

Pre-Covid I used to buy a couple of Tom Ford lipsticks (and mascara and brow stuff) on repeat, and it was all heavenly. Then the prices seemed to become even more dreadful …

Found another perfect lipstick at Gucci and wore that religiously - until it was discontinued.

Mrsredlipstick · 11/12/2025 12:59

Cosmetics a la carte in London will copy any colour. I think you have to buy three . If you've got a knub left you send it to them.

Mrsredlipstick · 11/12/2025 13:08

Also qvc accept returns.
You order it. If its unsuitable you send it back used or not. Its their usp.

LevelHed · 11/12/2025 14:07

Mrsredlipstick · 11/12/2025 13:08

Also qvc accept returns.
You order it. If its unsuitable you send it back used or not. Its their usp.

That's not nice to do though. You could ruin so many lipsticks. It's a business.

Motnight · 11/12/2025 14:16

Congratulations, Op. I can't imagine how many lipsticks I have bought that don't suit me. I end up passing them onto my DD who appears to suit any colour. Currently happy with a Lisa Eldridge lip tint. The assistant at the Liberty Lisa Eldridge counter knew straight away what skin tint and lip colour would suit me and was right!

AutumnLeavesFallingFast · 11/12/2025 14:25

Rosamutabilis · 11/12/2025 10:27

I'm 61 and all my life since I started wearing make up I've never been completely happy with any lipstick shade.

I have red hair( now faded to almost white) and a freckly yellow-based skin tone. Lipsticks are always too pink, too brown, too red, never the perfect mix of browny orange neutral that I've always wanted. I've tried cheap and expensive, some have been good and I've worn them until they inevitably were
discontinued.

Until now.

I was walking through John Lewis beauty hall on my way out of the shop when my eye was caught by the Tom Ford display, looked at the lipsticks randomly and bam! I knew it as soon as I picked up the tube. The assistant tried it on me and it was perfect. Yes it's ridiculously expensive, far more than any lipstick has a right to be, but I don't care, I'll never wear anything else. I'm justifying it to myself because I don't buy many clothes and don't have manicures or any other beauty treatments.

I know it's so trivial but it's made me very happy, shame it's taken so long!
Anyone else had a similar experience?

I am pleased for you! Finding the oerfect product is amazing!

I haven't bought it worn makeup for decades now!

but my advice would be, if you can afford to
(who needs to eat?!?!) it several while it's available ' store them in a cool dark place. You'll thank yourself. Maybe do a search after Christmas & see if you can find it on sale

has anyone bought the one heavily advertised Online (fenexio?? I'm not at home to look at it) that changes colour to suit your PH??

I bought it. But hate the colour it goes on me & I don't think it suits me. As I said. Haven't bought or worn makeup for decades but after a stay in hospital thought it would be moisturising to my lips and would look pretty soft & natural but it doesn't. It's dark & harsh.

Mrsredlipstick · 11/12/2025 18:06

LevelHed · 11/12/2025 14:07

That's not nice to do though. You could ruin so many lipsticks. It's a business.

Show quote history

The companies pay for the stock not qvc.
I'm a suuplier we know we have to exchange things. Its the risk we take.

CarpeVitam · 11/12/2025 18:46

It is a lovely colour but no way am I paying £49 for a lipstick! 🤣

Original poster
Rosamutabilis · 11/12/2025 18:56

CarpeVitam · 11/12/2025 18:46

It is a lovely colour but no way am I paying £49 for a lipstick! 🤣

I know it's ridiculous, but when you've waited as long as I have to find the perfect one the cost seems irrelevant!

OP posts:
BlueberryOats · 11/12/2025 19:00

You sound like you suit terracotta shades. I will come back and post one.

I had my colours done professionally and am a paintbox spring (warm clear bright).

bloodredfeaturewall · 11/12/2025 19:55

I hate the mirrors at the counters.
was looking for a dramatic blood red wednesday style.
found one in store but out in real light it's more pink than blood...

Baninarama · 11/12/2025 20:21

That colour is lovely. My favourite lipstick got discontinued by Lancome a few years ago. It was a brick red with flecks of gold in it - perfect for going out.

Like you I'm a yellow-toned very pale and freckly person, but with dark brown hair with a lot of warmth in it. I suit Pillow Talk but Clinique Black Honey is horrible on me. I know this because I got talked into buying it by reading a. Style & Beauty thread!

NormasArse · 11/12/2025 20:28

Clinique Black Honey (it’s quite sheer) suits my very similar complexion.

Daisywhatsyouranswer · 11/12/2025 20:34

when you find one that works it does make you not want anything else. Mine is Charlotte tilbury pillow talk, but in medium, not the original one;

bizzarely I had a compliment the other day, where a shop assistant said to me suddenly, I really like your lipstick. I’ve genuinely never had some one say that to be randomly before 😂

Original poster
Rosamutabilis · 11/12/2025 20:46

So many people on here who found the perfect one only for it to be discontinued, incredibly frustrating.

OP posts:
Anotherdayanotherpound · 11/12/2025 22:14

Rosamutabilis · 11/12/2025 20:46

So many people on here who found the perfect one only for it to be discontinued, incredibly frustrating.

Make sure you buy about 5 of them incase this happens!

Anotherdayanotherpound · 11/12/2025 22:15

Daisywhatsyouranswer · 11/12/2025 20:34

when you find one that works it does make you not want anything else. Mine is Charlotte tilbury pillow talk, but in medium, not the original one;

bizzarely I had a compliment the other day, where a shop assistant said to me suddenly, I really like your lipstick. I’ve genuinely never had some one say that to be randomly before 😂

I love this one too!

LunaTheCat · 12/12/2025 17:30

Mine is a Mac one. Every time I wear it people comment so I know it’s right. It’s a bright orangy one.
I think as you get older bolder lipsticks look better.

Darklane · 13/12/2025 08:12

I was in a Molton Brown shop & the assistant was wearing a colour that I instantly knew would be just what I’d been looking for. So I told her how lovely it was, how much it suited her, & would she tell me please what it was…..and she refused.

thisoneiscalledbluebellsinpastels · 13/12/2025 09:31

Darklane · 13/12/2025 08:12

I was in a Molton Brown shop & the assistant was wearing a colour that I instantly knew would be just what I’d been looking for. So I told her how lovely it was, how much it suited her, & would she tell me please what it was…..and she refused.

Wow - thats so nasty, WTF was her problem?

I love it when people ask me what makeup I have on- I get really excited about sharing it lol

Jugendstiel · 13/12/2025 09:35

Testingthetimes · 11/12/2025 10:32

i Found mine! A cheap one from Rimmel but it’s like it was made for me. Then they discontinued it a decade ago. Wahhhhh.
I’ve never found anything to
replace it since

Was it Black Cherry? Black Cherry was a magical Rimmel lipstick which suited everyone, from me with Irish white skin with pale lips to my Nigerian friend with very dark lips. It just sort of accentuated your natural lip colour. Everyone I know loved it once they knew it. Then it was discontinued.

Never found anything as good since.

Iloveshihtzus · 13/12/2025 13:04

Oh OP, this is me. I had a fabulous Chanel lipstick that suited me years ago and it was discontinued so I’ve been searching for years. Last week I walked past a Chanel counter and the assistant helped me by getting me to try on loads of lipsticks and I found it!!! It’s amazing how wonderful we can look with the right lipstick.

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