ita ! there was an article in the Washington Post magazine section about makeup artist Derrik Rutledge (link). He and a partner are going to be putting out a line of cosmetics for women of color - he does Michelle Obama's makeup, Oprah, etc. I'll try to find the name of the line - they might have things for you.

For a red lipstick, I used to use Clinique's Angel Red - don't know how it would work for you, but you might give it a try. I'm a completely different color - pale with pink tones - so it might be all wrong, but it's a dark-ish red ... might be blue-ish - I haven't worn it for more than four years, so I don't remember that well.

Did you see Plei's garden of forks, Erin? She planted forks to keep out cats.

I mainly have a lot of lipsticks left over from my family's many purchases of Clinique bonus sets.

For me, I used to use Shiseido because those colors worked for my skintone. Now I use MAC and Clinique. Funny thing: I'm allergic to Clinique lipstick, but not MAC.

I have bunches and bunches of Clinique "gift" items - went through a tossed a bunch a while ago, and they keep accumulating.

I started using Clinique back in my 20s, when it was about the only thing on the market (except, perhaps something waaaaay out of my price range) that didn't irritate my skin. It's worked and now I stick with it. Their mascara is the only one I've found that doesn't make my eyes itch and water.

Liese, I definitely pay attention to how long I keep mascara (three months max) -- it just dries out and starts flaking. I'm sure there are sanitary reasons, too.

And anything with sunscreen should have an expiration date.

I... should probably know this stuff better. Hmmm.

Liese:

Toss opened mascara or liquid eyeliner more than six months old, is general rule. I cheat, though, unless it starts to smell funny or dry out.

Any opened lipsticks or lip glosses, should go if they're more than a couple of year old, unless they smell funny, or have started to look waxy, separating and/or weird. Powders — pressed or loose — stay good for about two years. So eye shadows, mineral makeup, etc. have a pretty long shelf life.

Makeup that's been sitting out in a sunny spot breaks down faster, so if you've got stuff that's been exposed to light or lots of hot days, and it's more than a few months old, you might consider getting rid of it. Liquid foundation lasts anywhere from one to two years depending on the formulation.

ION -- Ooh, I have A TON of forks! Great idea re: the inside plants!!

So my ten year old lipsticks should be tossed? Good to know.

Yeah, I think that means every single thing I have except the Smashbox should be tossed.

Toddson, is Angel Red blood coloured? The web is really not being helpful.

Fresh lipstick for everyone!

Angel Red is, um, red. I don't think it's the bright, bright red - just a thought that if you were in a store you might give it a test.