Happy National Lipstick Day

It's National Lipstick Day again (Officially on July 29th) and I was so inspired by this story that I had to share the love and lipstick! The first time I read Jessica Honegger's book Imperfect Courage, I was blown away by the level of vulnerability she displayed in not only herself, but in other women she met along the journey. When I saw National Lipstick Day was coming up, I had to do a post on it. One, for the empowerment that one little tube can provide to the wearer and two, because I was reminded of a beautiful story that actually brought tears (happy ones) to my eyes.

Image from Newsweek.com

In the fourth chapter "Own Your Worth", Jessica describes how she flew out to East Africa to meet her artisan partner Jalia for the first time. They were meeting to do a photoshoot for the website and while Jessica was getting glammed up with mascara and lipstick, she noticed that Jalia was feeling "small, quiet, and unworthy of lipstick". She immediately told Jalia that she was now the head of a fashion business and she should own that part of her life! Jalia decided to do a makeover that day and proudly stated how beautiful she was after.

Jessica and Jalia

On a later trip back to visit the Jalia's team, Jessica took some of her ambassadors to meet these amazing women and Jalia asked if the ambassadors would all bring lipstick for the ladies on her team! She stated, "Now that I wear lipstick and care for my appearance, my employees want to do the same. They would love lipstick. Preferably red." Once they got to Africa, they had a full on lipstick party and all the women found commonality in being and feeling beautiful. It was a beautiful sisterhood moment where geographical location, race, body shape, and life circumstances did not matter.

My mind was blown at how such a simple thing that some of us can take for granted can have such a huge impact. Most of us put on lipstick so we can feel something. Rather it be beauty, confidence, boldness, sexy, or empowering. So I ask you to wear your favorite lipstick on this day not only for you, but for women like Jalia and her employees.

Women who need to be reminded of owning their worth! And if you should feel inspired, buy a special woman in your life a shade that you would like to see them in and encourage them to be bold or that boss CEO they should be (I'm looking at you Regina and Lisa)! For my shade, I choose Fenty Beauty by Rihanna's Ma'Damn! Yes, she looks like a badass in it. It inspires me to channel my inner Riri and feel like a badass too. With that being said, get your lipstick ready, pucker those beautiful lips, and go rule the world! Go on, I'll wait!

Rihanna pictured in her Fenty Beauty Lipstick Ma'Damn

On a side note, I ordered the Ma'Damn color right before writing this post just to find the image below a day after it arrived. I picked this color because it was bold and inspired a boss mentality that I hoped would come through upon wearing. Apparently, I could not have picked a better color for what I needed and that one that fit my personality, as I am indeed an Aries! It's like it was meant to be!

Want to know what Fenty Shade your zodiac matches? Head over to HelloGiggles.com HERE. Post your shade below in the comments. I dare you to order your shade and work it!

Happy National Lipstick Day loves!

With Love,

Micole Elise