I recently revisited one of the lipsticks from my collection - a nice little product from Clinique that doesn’t wear off on your Diet Coke can, and doesn’t leave a lip print when you kiss someone on the cheek. This ability to not leave any evidence behind is a Good Thing. Since “Plum Raisin” is a little dark for everyday wear, I headed over to the Clinique counter during lunch. Nothing lifts the spirits like a purchase of lipstick, I thought to myself.

Imagine my surprise when the cute Clinique counter girl (who had a neat East European accent of some sort) told me that Clinique discontinued that line of lipstick! “I don’t know why, it was very popular,” she told me. “I think you can still buy it in Canada.”

Faced with the prospect of quite a long road trip, I sadly turned and walked over to the Estee Lauder counter. The girl there assured me that their “Sumptuous Lipstick” had just the staying power I was after. “It might come off a little bit, but it lasts a long time,” she said. She helped me pick out a shade called “Demure”.

My product testing of “Sumptuous Lipstick” has determined that it DOES come off on your Diet Coke can (or straw, in this case); I haven’t kissed anyone yet to determine its staying power in that department.

This always happens to me, I get hooked on a product and then they stop selling it. It all started with Victoria’s Secret “Her Majesty’s Rose” perfume. I about had a fit in the middle of the store when they told me they didn’t have it anymore. The curse extends to food; even when I’ve tried outwitting the curse by asking at the beginning of the meal if they can save me a slice of my favorite dessert, when I say I'm ready for him to bring forth the tiramisu, the waiter says, “Oh, sorry, she just bought the last piece.”

UPDATE: I think I’ve found the magical Clinique lipstick (“Superlast”) on-line. What color do you suppose “Velvet Pout” is?