Written by The Strategy

Call me crazy, but I actually believe there is little to nothing a good lipstick can’t fix. Having a bad day? Put on a bright lip and smile. Going through a break up? A little lipstick is exactly what you need to reinvent yourself and give you that boost of confidence. Tired? A vibrant pink lipstick will do the trick. A wise woman once said, “on a bad day, there’s always lipstick.”

You see, for such a small thing, lipstick is incredibly transformative both physically and emotionally speaking. Most obvious is its ability to improve one’s face: whether you’re tired, hungover, a victim of seasonal depression, and/or lazy, lipstick is your saviour. Less obvious are its happy side affects. I don’t think I’ve ever met a woman who didn’t immediately feel great about herself after adding some lipstick to her everyday makeup. I’m not saying lipstick will rid you of all your problems, but it’s certainly a cheap alternative to your local therapist, and offers an instant pick-me-up (cute packaging and whiter teeth are added bonuses here).

Though application is nearly fool-proof, finding the right lipstick for your skin tone can be challenging. Honestly speaking, I still have yet to find the perfect shade, but this is not to say that I haven’t found some really promising ones (see below). Not sure how to wear it? Alexa Chung, Sali Hughes, and Florence Welch are frequent red-lip wearers and look great doing so.

Let me remind you that I am talking a true lipstick here – colour rich and opaque – not your tacky vanilla cake lipgloss from fifth grade. You know, like the one your mother used to wear in the nineties, only better. Which is why I still don’t understand the anxiety associated with red lipstick. It’s been around forever and is the single easiest way to boost your mood and complexion.

And so, I leave you with this: a little lipstick goes a long way. The next time you’re having a bad day, week, or month, look no further than your Estée Lauder Pure Colour Envy. In other words, as Elizabeth Taylor might say, “put on some lipstick and pull yourself together.”

Written by Shannon Sauder