How Lipstick Changed My Life
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Lipstick? Not what you expect to read about here on In My Own Style, but without lipstick, I may have never become interested in DIY, decorating, and eventually blogging about it.
I was reminded of how I got into DIY decorating when I was asked if I would like to have a new blog sponsor – Cover Girl. It didn’t take long to decide – YES!
If you have read my About Me page, you know that I can’t live without lipstick. It is a part of me.
When my hubs and I go out and I don’t have pockets – he knows he will be packing… a lipstick in his pants pocket.
In high school the girls hanging out by the bathroom mirrors always knew who to ask if they forgot their lip gloss that day. I was known as the lip gloss queen. I love it and still do – it just brightens up my face no matter what color – sheer or dark. I have many shades all neatly organized in my bathroom drawer.
But How Did Lipstick Change My Life?
Well, after I graduated from college and couldn’t find a job in NYC, I moved back home with my mom and dad and took a part-time job selling cosmetics at a local department store in suburban Philadelphia.
After working there for a few weeks, the cosmetics department manager asked me if I would clean and straighten out the cosmetic counter glass cases. It was slow in the store that day and I was bored, so I took my task a step further and had some fun by making a display along the bottom of the cases.
I folded pieces of paper into tent shapes and kissed each one with a different color of lipstick. I then wrote the name of the lipstick on the paper and lined them all up in the case with a tube of lipstick in front of each.
I went home at the end of my shift and didn’t think twice about what I did.
Late the next day I got a call from the store’s display manager (who I had never met) asking me if I would like to be his full-time with benefits, no nights or weekends assistant!
He loved what I did and my initiative. He ended up becoming my creative mentor and my book, Instant Decorating was based on all the things I learned by working with him.
It would have never happened without lipstick.
I don’t ever remember reading this story. I love it! I truly love being recognized for going above and beyond – but your creativity was shining!
Hi Kathy – Thank you. I wrote the post in the early days of my blog. Doing the cosmetic case and getting recognized for it, gave me confidence early on in my career.
I loved your story about the lipstick and display. Very creative. Each of us probably has creativity hiding somewhere. It is just a matter of using what we always do and doing it in a new way.
Love CG products too.
They say a lady should never tell her age, so this will date.
I’ve been using nothing but Cover Girl products and Noxema on my face since I was 14. Noxema probably alot longer as my grandmother told me never wash your face with soap. Sixty three years later…I’m still using these products and I’ve constantly been asked about my skin routine and what I use and are usually shocked when I tell them how old I am. I swear it’s the Cover Girl and Noxema and not good gens.
Love the makeup video, she makes it look so easy. I think anything would look good on that beautiful face : )
Isn’t it the truth! It would be nice to be born with perfect bone structure and skin.
You were born with perfect bone structure and skin — yours is perfect for you!
Thanks for the story — loved it!
Hi Shar –
You are a sweetie for saying that. Thanks xo
Loved that story of how you got into display Diane!
Wow, congratulations Diane. I love Cover Girl. I need a new lipstick and intend to buy CG sometime real soon.
I loved this. Thank you. I love playing with make-up and I’m 54! Great tips.
Fantastic!
My all time favorite job was in Visual Dsiplay at a Younker’s department store. It really proved to me that doing something you love is NOT work. I followed that mantra to where I am now – a wire jewelry artist!
Wonderful story! It’s really amazing how things happen in our lives. Thanks so much for sharing.