Category Archives: Lipstick

Missing Tooth

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WARNING, pictures of my dental surgery are below.

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I admit it, I love my wiggle tooth, but I didn’t always.

When I was nine I knocked out my front three teeth, and the excessive dental work began.  I hated the gap, it made it so obvious what missing and what was so clearly wrong with me.  The funny thing is that those feelings of inadequacy were really coming from me, and not from others.  Sure, kids teased me, but what made the situation worse was how I handled it.  In my book How to Embrace Your Inner Hotness I teach how to get over self-taunts and about how to change the perceptions of ourselves to see the radiant women we really are.

I’ve learned in my nearly 20 years of working with women in beauty, that we all have an area, feature, or something we just don’t like about ourselves.  Yes, there are makeup tricks that can minimize facial features to bring out our best; but I really love helping women see how beautiful they really are, and helping them start the real work—seeing themselves differently.  I can meet with you one-on-one through Skype.  I am here to help you see that you are far hotter than you think you are!

Through helping other women, I actually got so good at changing my perception that I LOVE my wiggle tooth!  I’m not saying that I want to have a retainer with a tooth attached my whole life… but then again, maybe I do!  The tooth is such a relatable subject and always an instant icebreaker.  I often joke that “I am soooo HOT, I don’t need all my teeth!”  It is funny– I like funny.   But Mr. Greene doesn’t love it so much… I guess when he takes his wife out a on a Oral Surgery romantic date, he would like to look across the table at a full toothed smile.  It’s particularly annoying to him because we have already paid to have it repaired, and I’m putting it off because it’s so funny.  I guess I can see his point of view on this.

So, on October 16th, I reluctantly dragged myself to the oral surgeon.  I was so sad—not only would my adorable toothlessness be gone, but I knew it was going to hurt.  I’m not really one who thinks being drilled on is fun.  With that said, I firmly believe in choosing to have fun in any situation — here in this picture with the drill head attached to the recently placed implant.

I would like to point out that my lip color survived all of this with grace— meaning it stays on like a rock star!  I forgot to take pictures that night of my still perfect makeup because I was high—you know, legally drugged up—since it really hurts to get drilled on.  The important thing that every girl IMG_0079needs coming out of oral surgery is to know that her makeup is still there and looking awesome.  I can help with you with that part, but the missing-tooth hotness, you will have to take care of on your own.  I can show you how to bring out your best without looking like you tried too hard.  If you want amazing skin, and want to know where to put your makeup and the right colors just for you that stay looking perfect all day until you take it off— I can help with that.Tooth X-ray

As for my tooth, in four months, after the bone heals around the implant, I will get a new set of not-as-hot-though-very-expensive-teeth.  I firmly believe that Mr. Greene will miss the wiggle tooth.  Although, if we’re being completely honest… probably not.

 

 

Confidence

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For my entrepreneur friends:

Do you have confidence in you? Do your clients? Do they believe you will take good care of them? Does your family believe in you?

Friday, I was working a Christmas boutique when a lady called my house looking for a distributor. My eleven year old son answers. He picks up the phone by saying, “This is the Greene’s. How may I help you?” Echoing what he has heard me say thousands of times, “This is Leta, how may I help you?”

The woman was desperate to purchase LipSense for her sister as a gift. She had called two other distributors (fortunately not on my team) leaving messages. None of them had called her back.

She then calls my house. She can tell that the man answering the phone is young. But he is professional and told her, “My mom is at an expo. Here is her cell phone. She is awesome and will take good care of you.” He has heard me say to clients “I will take good care of you” and more importantly he has seen me take good care of my customers.

She believed him called me and ordered several tubes of lip color. She asked if there was any way I could deliver it to her tonight. I asked if it was okay for me to drop it after my expo around 8:30 pm. She said that was great and was immensely grateful.

I called my son telling him what a great job he had done and that I would give him $7 (a large amount of money to his 11 year old economy) as a 5% commission on the sale. He was busting proud bragging to his grandparents and dad all day!

At the expo the building was cold. Very cold. The heater was not working properly. And it was only 55 degrees. I am very tired of being cold, I’m tired– and honestly feeling grumpy. Walking out I accidentally spill my tester kit of 100+ tubes of lip color, eye shadows, concealer, and foundations all over the ice. Remember, I’m tired, cold, and now I have to bend over and un-glove my hands to pick up tubes from the icy ground below. I want to cry. I don’t have the best hip and bending in the cold is the last thing I want to do. I decide not to cry. My tears may freeze.
Two wonderful men saw me struggling in the parking lot to pick up numerous items from the icy floor and came to help. Thank you to my rescuing knights! One man pointed his car lights so that we can divide my applicators, that are now dirty, to the trash, and put my testers back into my kit to be cleaned and organized later. Hopefully where it’s warm!

As I headed to the woman’s house I put on my happy face carrying in my container of inventory– Not only did she order significantly more upon seeing all the pretty colors and my impressive inventory she also purchased my book for her and as a gift for the boxes awaiting to be mailed out from her Santa’s workshop. We had a delightful conversation not only do I have a new customer I also have a new friend.

Driving home I’m still tired, still cold but with $420 extra income. I’m thinking about how remarkable my son is and it hits me he has modeled me. I’m teaching him something incredible. Old time values that seem to be forgotten of doing what I promised I would do even when it’s hard, teaching kindness, courtesy– I’m incredibly thankful as a mother that I’m an entrepreneur. Being an entrepreneur takes confidence in myself. It’s not always easy but you know life isn’t easy but the rewards are greater than the money. Don’t get me wrong I like money, the reward of involving my children in what I do and how I do it is well– priceless.

Why Women Wear Lipstick

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As our month long blogging on lipstick comes to a close (no this won’t be the last time you hear us talk about lipstick,) the question “why do women wear lipstick?” is forefront. Makeup, specifically lipstick, is seen by some as uneccessary and put on simply to attract and hold the interest of men. While this is not true, well not entirely true, there must be a reason behind the lipstick and other makeup we put on. In fact, there is. We like it. It makes us feel pretty and fun, mysterious and sexy. Maybe the truth really is that as girls we loved messing around our mothers makeup drawers and begged her to put even just a small dab of her lipstick on us for the day or at least until we had to leave the house. Many of us have this experience with our daughters. From very young ages – even as early as 15 months – children are fascinated by our makeup. Wearing lipstick as adults channels us back to those simpler days when all that mattered was having the stuff on our lips no matter how well it was applied, if it matched perfectly with what we were wearing or what would the other girls would think of it.

We continually look for new products, colors and application techniques to improve our look. As unique as each of us are, lipstick can be just as unique for us. It lets us say what we want about ourselves – be it confidence, sexiness, security, or even that maybe that’s all we had time to do and it makes us feel more put-together. For all you women reading this who don’t wear lipstick, we lipstick wearers might understand your perspective as well-you’re just not into it. To which we say – good, more for us. Not really. Honestly, to each his own. Women should just do what makes them feel beautiful and not follow along because that’s what society tells us we should do.

Finally, I’d like to answer the question with a question. Why not wear lipstick?

Simply Put

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By Leta Greene

Why is our lipstick the best? Often we are compared to other long lasting lip products. So, how are we different? It isn’t just ‘lip service’ that we actually last—our formula is markedly different. Even our application techniques are different than other long lasting lipsticks, but all these differences are good!

We have been putting wax on our lips since Egyptian times, but we’ve learned a few things about skincare since then. Customers who try SeneGence rave to me as though I didn’t know how wonderfully different it is. I know — believe me, I know! I have been using SeneGence for nine years this February. Honestly, I love my lips! No smudging, smearing, or kissing off.

In addition to how long SeneGence lipstick lasts. and looks fresh, we have no yucky ingredients, like lead.  A few years ago, there were media statements that long lasting lipsticks had lead in them. SeneGence is completely lead free. Our ingredients list is available without purchase. If you want one, let me know so you can Google the ingredients.

I contacted several other companies selling long lasting lipstick, asking them if they had lead in their product. The response? They stated that they were FDA approved. So was that a yes or a no? When I asked for an ingredient list, they told me a list was available with the product. I would have to buy their lipstick to gain access to what was in it. That is convenient, since I can’t return it once the box is opened.

SeneGence means “aging intelligently” (I know it is a funny name,) but no allergens, irritants or carcogens are put in our products —basically nothing you couldn’t safely put on your baby’s skin. Actually, I wouldn’t recommend putting lipstick on your baby, just not my preference. I prefer to just apply kisses– whatever you want to do–totally your call…

Ease of use

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Lip color can do a lot for women and, if we let it, it can help ease transitions from activities throughout the day. For instance, say you work full time for a corporation that is pretty conservative. You would wear one LipSense lip look to work that says “I am conservative, with a kick,” if that’s who you are. Additionally, throughout your busy work day, trips to the bathroom to touch up your lipstick are completely unnecessary. All you need to refresh your look is a swipe of gloss, that you conveniently keep in the top drawer of your desk. So swift is the application that going from meeting to meeting, you stop by your desk for a mere 20 seconds and leave the other women in your next meeting wondering how you found the time to reapply. Just think of all the extra time you will have.

At the end of your work day you head off to the gym. Working out without having to remove your lipstick for fear of it ending up all over everything keeps your confidence up, enabling you to work out with the gusto of your spin teacher. Wearing LipSense you wouldn’t need to worry about reapplying before rushing off to that dinner date with your man, or potential man. But say you want to look a little more flashy for this particular evening. By adding one simple layer of a deeper color, brighter color or shimmer you could achieve just that. You took your day look into an evening look with one simple brush of LipSense color – and you won’t leave any traces of lipstick on him either.

Beauty's Ancestors

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By Leta Greene

Science says that when we were Neanderthals, we females selected one from the sweaty, grungy males, to share our cozy cave, by who brought home the most meat.  Cavemen picked the slightly less hairy, softer-sex version and  liked  wider hips for birthing little ones to fill the cave. They, and men through the ages, have liked  fat lips.  Lips! Wait! What? Why?

Fuller lips are a sign of youth. So today, a whole school of thought says, “Fuller lips equate sexy, and thinner lips are a sign of intelligence.”  I agree completely. As we age, we loose some of our lip’s natural collagen. Not only do our lips get smaller, but our pigment line also recedes.  So, at 36,  I am almost in the middle, a little sexy but also more intelligent. In my youth, I had a flatter tummy, I spent much more time on my hair and I wondered how what I was wearing would appeal to my friends or a boy? Now I see myself in a much kinder light,even though the perfection of youth is fading.

As the years pass, I feel that I am more beautiful. Additionally, I think my husband, when looking at the total package of who I am now,  would agree, I am more attractive and beautiful, despite my physical weaknesses. My lips may be a little thinner and as I draw on my lips, I don’t worry about how my outfit will be received but rather, I think about my son. As I send him off to school,  I hope he will do his best and be well received.

As I put on my makeup, I cover scars and I am aware of others that are not seen. All of them represent an experience –alife lesson. Although I am not perfect, I wouldn’t take away the things that age me, that have given me wisdom. The ideal beauty of our predecessors has altered and changed as well as what was thought to be stylish. I may not be the ideal, and that is good!

Yet, I can be my best. The scar on my face, from the bike accident of my youth, I get to cover up. The lips are  a combination of colors  to accentuate the shape. And concealer, after some necessary tears, is a good thing to have. We can bring out our best, minimize our imperfections and embrace the adventure of living. For all I do with makeup,  it is my job. But the biggest effort at the start of the day is not on my appearance, but rather on my heart and soul so as to be able to embrace those with whom I share my life.

Lip Shape

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Lips are often the first thing noticed about a person. Women have an edge to create a desired lip look with lipstick, as it gives her the opportunity to accentuate what she’s got. While lipstick colors can give a woman options as far as what she does with what she’s got, to discover the meaning of lip shape you either need to be a psychic (please tell us if you are,) or become familiar with what is known as physiognomy. Physiognomy is the art of judging character by outward features. For instance, while big lips represent beauty and sexual desire, thin lips represent high intelligence and a possible trickster. Combine the different attributes of your girlfriends lips and you may just learn more about her than you thought you already knew. So when it comes to lip shape, fullness, symmetry, etc. each individual lip set is unique. As unique as, say, eye color and shape, as personality and as who the individual woman is. Not only do lips say as much about a woman as her eyes, but they actually say something about the woman behind the lips. In addition, the way we communicate through the use of  our lips (yes, tongue and jaw too) says a lot about who we are. What a woman is all about as a person.

So, what do your lips say about you?

Lips as red as the rose. . .

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By Leta Greene

I like dark red lips.  After all, I had huge lip stickers on my last car. My husband objected to driving around with lips–can’t figure out why.  What could be sexier than luscious red lips? OK, I can see that not everyone may want to be quite as loud as myself when choosing lip color, but having the right lip color for you will brighten your face.  Many women, out of frustration from either the fear of picking the wrong color or distress at leaving our lip mark, pick a very light shade.  Great thing about our lip color is that it won’t kiss-off. So the send off of your loved ones won’t leave a mark.  On the second point, I am here to help pick the right color for both your complexion and personality.  Lip color can make us look younger and more cheerful and brightens the face when wearing complementary eye make up.  General rule: the darker the lips, the darker the eye makeup.  The goal is to focus the viewer’s eye in a triangle between the lips and the eyes.  You loose the lips by wearing a light color and with darker eye makeup, can produce a scowling, menacing look–not so sultry.  When trying something new, even an improvement can take some getting used to, get the opinions of hubby and friends. And so, ladies, be bold—be brave, try a darker shade and pucker up!