Cult of MAC, Part 1: Making Our Own Lightning

Tell your mama, girl, I can't stay long
We got things we gotta catch up on
Mmm, you know
You know what I'm sayin'
Can't stand still while the music is playin'

- Neil Diamond, "Cherry Cherry"

As much as I would've loved to cave on all the rich, deep colors from that Cult of Cherry collection, practicality (and my budget) eventually won out in the form of "O" (yes, as in "The Story Of..."). It's still a dark, rich red, but it's lightened by all those shots of gold - which means that it can go from work-friendly to sultry without taking you to Transylvania. On me, it's the perfect bronzy red that isn't too brown and isn't too orange. No wonder it's always been a cult classic for more than a decade.

And then there's the *other* cerise-inspired lip product in my arsenal...

Revlon's Just Bitten Lip Stain in Cherry Tart was supposed to be limited-edition, which explains why I hunted this tube down at Longs Ala Moana when it went on sale for $5.75 (only to discover that they put the price back up at $11.95). The consistency of the stain is almost syrupy and gel-like, so it's not as watery as the much-hyped Benetint - which makes it easier to control, too. Plus the roll-on applicator reminds me so much of the old Kissing Potion, which warms my retro-loving heart. Result: a bright, cheery pinup red that won't be out of place on the set of Mad Men.

And yes, I did try layering the "O" lipstick over the Cherry Tart, which resulted in the picture from the last entry. Still doesn't explain the headband, though...