What is in a (Beauty) Name

I tried on an eye shadow yesterday called Roach.  It was between that and Polyester Bride which was as silvery as tinsel.  I’ve heard that glittery shadow is not attractive on older eyes, but I do like the holographic iridescence I am seeing in some newer shades.  I was just surprised at the names on the labels.  Who comes up with this stuff anyway?

Some of my friends who have redecorated their homes in recent years, never seem to forget the paint names they selected for their walls.   I told one friend to please stop asking me if I could tell the difference between her favorites “Basketry” and “Hayloft” (I couldn’t but in the end, she chose “Hayloft”, a beautiful corn-yellow).  But I’ve been known to buy nail polish based on a coquettishly descriptive name or two.

I already know I’m a sucker for lipstick names.  Anything with “Garnet” reminds me of the crimson pools of faceted stones in my grandmother’s bracelet that now graces my wrist each Christmas.  Laura Mercier’s Garnet Lip-Glace is always on high rotation in my winter makeup bag.  I also like lipstick names that imply something…such as Lively Talk, a lipstick I once spied in a vintage issue of Vogue.  It was a perfect vivacious coral that would have been lovely with a frothy mint green strapless prom dress.   Wallflowers need apply (…the lipstick).

Maybe Madison Ave. is coming up with these inventive and strange names for today’s cosmetics.  I’m sure they are suppose to appeal to the younger set who always seem to want to veer away from whatever the prior generation thought was pretty.  That’s ok…we were like that too – I’m sure my mother shuddered when she saw the ad for a perfume called Skin in my Seventeen Magazine.  We were the “natural beauties” of the seventies knowing that our mothers were still wearing girdles and Hair Net coiffed hair.

I ended up buying Roach which turned out to be a subtle, slightly-effervescent brown.  I don’t think it makes my eyes look older but I could be wrong.  It does make me feel hip though.  And that makes me look younger…I just know it does.

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“”What difference does it make what somebody’s name is as long as they behave themself?” ~ Marilla Cuthbert (Anne of Green of Gables)