All the time I was growing up, I used to marvel at the Tangee lipstick in the Vermont Country Store catalogue -- the stuff that's supposed to turn a different color on everyone. How was that even possible?

Finally last year it occurred to me that I'm a grownup and I could order some for myself. So I did. I also bought some for my cousin Mariel.

Mariel's generally higher-contrast than I am -- paler skin, darker hair -- and on her the lipstick's a nice sophisticated berry shade. On me it's closer to coral. I wouldn't have picked the color out, but it's grown on me. I like it. It's nice for work -- brightens up my mouth without screaming LIPSTICK!

Now I'm curious. I want everyone to try it and tell me how it looks on them.

I'm in love with gloss, but I hate that it goes away so quickly. I just started trying the Maybelline Superstay Gloss, and I love it. One end is a stain-like color that dries and won't rub off, the other end is a clear glass. They make Superstay Lipcolor as well, but I may have chosen the wrong shades because they are much darker than the lip color.

If you don't wear it often and want to wear it more, choose something close to your natural lip color, a soft pink or peach.

Last year a friend gave me a Clinique lip gloss gift set for Christmas. Similar to this, but just four glosses ranging from dark rose to very pale pink.

They're really nice, natural looking and easy to carry about and apply. I much prefer them to 'stick' lipsticks.

But my absolute favourite of all time is my Stila lipglaze (starfruit shade). Fabulous colour, and lasts too.

This is an interesting 4-question quiz. Interesting because it's so brief, yet my results reflected exactly the colors and styles (shimmery or glittery versus matte, etc.) I use. You might see what it recommends for you.

I used to wear almost no makeup, but now I kind of need the boost, and it's a bit of a pain in the ass, frankly. I'm not the type to be constantly re-applying makeup, so I'm always looking for things that will reliably last for a few hours. So far, the best things I've found are MAC eyeliner in a pot (learning curve to apply - I use a teensy bit on the top edge of an ordinary foam-tipped eyeshadow applicator and smudge it with little, feathery strokes just at the base of my lids where the eyelashes start, only on the outer edges), and Max Factor Lipfinity, though you may not like the texture, which is much different than most lipsticks. It definitely stays, though!

One thing is that if your hair color has changed, you don't necessarily want to use the old colors you used before it was more silvery. Typically, someone with darker hair will use colors that are more vibrant than someone with lighter hair, and those tones may look harsh with the silvery color.

If you feel like sending me a photo of yourself, I'd be happy to give you my own impressions of a great lip color for you!

Okay, I'm not a makeup person. We know this.

However, I *am* a taz person. And I must know: If Taz were to buy something called Max Factor Lipfinity (ha!), what color would it be?

Seriously, I need to know this.

I'm hoping for someting like 'Raspberry Zeal' or 'Leather Infarction,' but I really don't know anything about any of this.

Taz, humor me. Which color do you covet?

Or better yet: Taz, covet me! Which color do you humor?

Heh. I'm an exciting #50.

Oh, okay: "Blushing"

How embarrassing is that? I should really be something like "Gurgling" or "Burping". Possibly "Smirking". But "Blushing"? Aw, gee whiz.

I like the Maybelline Wet Shine and Wet Shine Diamonds lines.

I have too many lipsticks. Right now I'm alternating between Bare Escentuals Lips to Go and Loreal Color Juice in Watermelon Ice.

I seldom use coral or bronzey shades, but the Allure lipgloss in the Bare Escentuals kit is so pretty and flattering, and sexay.

I usually gravitate toward clear berry shades. Nothing muddy or frosty. The Watermelon Ice is a perfect example of what looks good with my fair to medium white skin with light brown hair. It makes your teeth look white. I also like clear berry nail polishes and clothes, so this color must look good on me.

I'll have to try the Lipfinity. I'd like my lipstick to last all day at work.

For years I wore Prescriptives lipsticks and only Prescriptives lipsticks. But then last time I went to Nordstrom the woman from YSL was manning the Prescriptives booth and she was ... extremely convincing. It was very hard to keep her from selling me a bunch of stuff I didn't want or need.

But I did end up with the YSL Golden Gloss in shade no. 6, Golden Plum. It's sort of a maroon color, very striking, and depending on how I apply it, I can either be very vampy or pretty tame. It's got a paintbrush applicator rather than one of those awful q-tip-like things, and it smells nice. It is now my favorite lip stuff EVAR.

On a whim, I recently picked up Bert's Bee's Lip Shimmer in "Coffee" -- it's also pretty good, a lot less glimmery but nice. I still prefer the YSL, though. It makes me feel more sophisticated than I really am. :)

Related but unhelpful: I was looking at eyeshadows the other day and saw that there's a shade called "Shroom Shimmer." What on earth were they thinking?

I, too, like the Burt's Bees lip shimmer stuff, in a soft berry tone.

I grew up artsy and New Wave-y and (later) goth-y, and during those years I wore a good deal of carefully painted dark lip color. I feel that I've used up my allotment of heavy lip color. I prefer something softer now.

i think if you're going to bother, you should get something that's worth the money. i don't wear make up that often but when i do the foundation has sunblock and the lipstick has moisturizer, etc. But then most of what i have is freebies from people who use a lot of cosmetics. i think Laura Mercier lip gloss has amazing staying power. Sometimes i'll do the full treatment of powder and liner if it has to stay, but generally i mix and match for the occasion.
You need to go to play at the cosmetics counters. MAC has strong pigments, Chanel has good coverage, etc. etc. but we don't know your skin tone, etc. Using a liner or powder or gloss can tint one color into a lot of other options so you get the most out of one color investment. The stuff can be pricy.
It's suppose to be fun. Go play.

Indeed, if you can keep your wits about you when the cosmetics ladies are trying to sell you $45 dollar concealer (I cannot), you should definitely go play at the makeup counters. Actually, if you take a friend and do it on a weekday you'll have better luck, because the cosmetics salespeople like to play as much as we do.

Alternatively, spend some time at a Sephora if there's a store near you. You can wander and sample a ton of different brands at will and ask for help when you need it. They're also great about letting you go home with samples to try, although I've only ever left with samples of skincare products.

Thank you for all the wonderful information and suggestions! I don't wear makeup daily, so this would just be for special occasions. I should definitely go play at the store, though.

if you can keep your wits about you when the cosmetics ladies are trying to sell you $45 dollar concealer (I cannot)

Years ago, when a friend dragged me along on her cosmetics trek to the mall, I told her how devastatingly my confidence dropped whenever I stood before The Makeup Counter Ladies. "I feel like they're always scrutinizing my skin," I confided.

She laughed and said, "They are!" She'd worked as a Fancy Makeup Lady years before, and she claims that she was explicitly trained not to look customers in the eye, but rather to keep her eyes skimming around the customer's face, as if finding and examining many many flaws of complexion.

True or not, with that in mind, I can withstand their gaze better.