AFTER CHRISTMAS BRUNCH AT THE CORREAS

After a marvelous gourmet brunch at the Correa's in Hawaii Kai to celebrate Christmas, as well as, their son's graduation, I immediately pounded on the ladies who might be re-applying lipstick after eating.  Since many of the guests were neighbors who had no other plans after brunch than to walk back to their homes, my success rate was less than stellar: I caught only 2 out of the  9 or10 women present in the act. Some had not brought any lipstick with them and others left before I could ask them questions or take photos. But I went ahead and quizzed the few remaining women about their lipstick routines anyway.  The first one to oblige was Eriko.

Eriko's favorite lipstick is Kanebo, a Japanese brand.

She uses the no mirror, lower lip first technique.

Eriko uses lipstick because "skin pale, need color to make more healthy."

Thank you, Eriko, for being the first to volunteer.

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Barbara was kind enough to let me photograph her, but did not have enough time to answer any questions.

Looks like she is a no-mirror and top lip first gal.

I'll email you my questions, Barbara, and post them later.

Thanks for letting me at least take pictures.

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Both Tien (left) and JoAnn (right) apply lipstick once, when they apply their make-up.  That's it for the rest of the day unless they go out at night.  They use lipstick as a moisturizer and to add more color to their face.

Tien moisturizes first, starting with her lower lip.  Then, if she has time, she'll outline her lips with a lip pencil before applying her lipstick on with a brush.  Brushing it on makes it more even, she says.  She then presses her lips together and, if the color seems too bright, she will use tissue to blot some of it away.  She started wearing lipstick when she was 17 or 18 years old.

JoAnn's favorite brand is Revlon.  She uses one basic lipstick color for every day.  But she also keeps a red, pink and neutral color for times when what she is wearing calls for a matching lip color.

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Beata (left) and Patty (right)

Beata uses lipstick when she goes out, except she didn't today.  She used to have many lipsticks until she discovered MAC, a lipstick and gloss product, that once applied, lasts all day.  That's all she uses now, MAC in burgundy color.  

She uses lipstick to make herself look nice.  She says, "Lipstick brightens my face and makes me look less tired."  She adds, "My students told me (she teaches French), 'Don't wear black and please wear lipstick.' "  How's that for getting advice from your students?  

Beata started wearing lipstick at 18 and gave me a tip on avoiding getting lipstick on your teeth.  "After applying lipstick," she says, "stick a finger in your mouth, wrap your lips around it, and any excess lipstick will adhere to your finger and not get on your teeth."  Aha, the blotting finger method!

Patty was not allowed to wear lipstick until she turned 16.  One day, not yet 16, she came home from school wearing lipstick and got berated by her Dad.  "You don't want to know what he said." she laughs, "It was bad."

Patty uses various brands (Max Factor, Revlon, Clinique), but only colors in the coral section.  She has 8 lipsticks at home and (organized woman that she is) she keeps one tube in each purse.  Since she owns 8 purses, that adds up to 16 tubes of lipsticks.  

She starts with Clinique's All About Lips moisturizer (top left first), then outlines her lips with a lip pencil.  She does not use lip gloss because she does not like that sticky feeling.  When she is on the Mainland, she applies chapstick before going to bed.  Both chapstick and lipstick are to keep her lips from drying out.

Patty feels that putting on lipstick should be done in private, but if it's done at the table, one should do it unobtrusively by covering the action with a hand.  Using a mirror is definitely out of the question.

So, what do you think?

Should putting on lipstick be done in private or is it okay to do it at the table in full view of everyone?