Lipstick - worth the fuss?

At the moment I am using a gloss/balm from Clinique which looks like a chubby crayon. Lovely and moisturising (I hate the feel of dry lips) with a hint of colour.

I like Avon`s lipsticks, but would prefer to use something which "stays on", but having tried the Max Factor ones, I find that they make my lips terribly dry, and just can`t be bothered re-applying the gloss stuff, might as well stick to ordinary lippies and keep re-applying them!

My lips dry out terribly, too. And like numberplease find that ones that are supposed to stay on, make them even drier. I can look a bit 'washed out' in the winter if I don't wear a bit of colour on my lips, and at the moment have a Number 7 one that I used regularly before - but nowadays find that it doesn't seem to look as good as it used to! Might look for the Clinique gloss/balm that MrsJamJam mentioned.

I don't always use lipstick, but when I do bother, I use Estée. However I always forget or can't be bothered to reapply. So is it worth using at all?

Me too, jeni - I like a bit of makeup but forget about lipstick.

I only usually use eye shadow and lipstick. Can`t use mascara as my eyes water quite a lot, and haven`t a clue about foundation, eye liner, etc!

It's scary, but I think lipstick makes all the difference. I feel it's an old lady thing to do because my mum is fanatical about putting it on to face the world. I used to think getting my eyes right was the best thing to do but they are now so sensitive that I can't use any eye makeup at all. My favourite lipsticks are Clinique (usually the free one!) and Chanel which both seem to last on me.

Like numberplease I also have no clue about applying make up, and would probably end up looking like Aunt Sally in Worzel Gummidge if I tried, so I have been lazy about it all my adult life. I have always had good skin, so it didn't seem to make a lot of difference, but now I am grey and if I don't wear a bit of lipstick I look totally washed out. I wore some when I had the photo taken for my new driving licence and it didn't look bad until the DVLA got hold of it. The licence came back with this horrible ghostly image of what was supposed to be my face! I hope no-one ever asks to look at it! Perhaps I could paint make up over it....

My new one is awful too! I'm touchy about photos of me anyway, but this is definitely the worst ever - as you say, sort of ghostly looking. Ugh!!!

Always do my eyes (when in the office) only wear lipstick for meetings, and then like others it's Max Factor Lipfinity. Ok, it is a bit drying, but if you are ony wearing it occasionally, it's not too much of a problem. Also it is the only one I've found that stays on all day, doesn't transfer to cups, glasses or other people.

Keep meaning to try a light gloss and wear it regularly, but as I'm the sort of person who doesn't travel with a make-up bag (I put my make up on in the morning, that's it, can't be doing with touching up throughout the day, although that might sound a bit rude!)

I wear lipstick all the time, it livens up the face. I only use Mac lipsticks, they have a nice sheen to them. I have tried many over the years, but this is the one I stick with, and has great stying power.

I think my attitude to make up might be led by the fact that I have thin lips, which I don't want to draw attention to (in fact, I try to avoid drawing attention to the lower half of my face, but that's another story) but am often complimented on my eyes. I am frequently asked which mascara I use, once (most noticably) by a female bank manager who had called me in for a bit of a dressing down about my over draft!

Bit disconcerting, really, "Now, Phoenix, do you think that you might need to look at how you are managing your account with us, by the way, your eyelashes look really long and thick, which mascara do you use?"

Took great delight in telling her it was a cheap one!

Phoenix you sound like me. My dd calls it "cba".

jeni would that be "can't be bottomed"? (or something similar!)

Yes

What fuss? No fuss if you never wear it. Guess I'm a CBA bod too. I've never worn lipstick in my life but I've sometimes been asked if I am wearing it.

I love wearing lipstick. It doesn't stay on long - I've tried all sorts except for MAC which I might give a go - but it does keep my lips from drying out, especially in this weather. And I've got thin lips. I like pinky brown lipsticks but find choosing difficult because what you see in the tube or on the back of your hand can look very different on the lips. Clarins Rhubarb is a lovely colour for me but it doesn't stay on for long in spite of pressing on a tissue and reapplying when I remember.

Inspired by all your messages, I lashed out on a new Clarins lipstick this afternoon. Lovely!