Alright, alright... that might be a bit of a lie. What she wants is for you to wear her signature Ellis Red lipstick, which is the colour of (you guessed it) blood. Her reasoning is that everyone bleeds and everyone's blood looks the same so it must be a universally flattering colour. The verdict? She's bang on. And her anatomical understanding of the human body (and the colours that lie therein) has prompted the eponymous collection of Human Colours for the Dutch makeup artist. How has it taken so long for someone to realize that within each of us already exists a full-spectrum, flattering colour palette? 

The succinct collection of lipstick, blush, eyeshadow, liner, mascara, foundation and concealer is inspired by us, and because of that, the colours seem to be capable of simply melting into the complexion. By this I mean, the makeup never looks like it's wearing you. You're the master of your look with Ellis Faas. For example, you can do a subtle smoky eye with the taupe E105 in the morning and wear it all day without looking like a dirty stop-out. In fact, you look downright sophisticated. People will wonder what you've done... why you look so good. Right after work, you can swipe on the Ellis Red (not too blue, not too orange) and head to the pub without looking like a painted lady. The colours in the collection simply enhance you, sometimes a touch theatrically but never garishly.

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Lipstick has been overshadowed by its less mature sister, lipgloss, for ages. No, it's not groundbreaking (or, really, important in the larger context) but the recent change in the beauty landscape back to full-on lipcolour is comforting for those of us who brave even the most inhospitable environs in matte red lipstick.

The renaissance of sophisticated lipwear over the last few seasons is, I think, a boon for pouts the world over. Lipstick 2.0 is gives us an amped up version of this ancient beauty aide -- from quality packaging to innovative formulas. Who's leading the charge? CHANEL, of course, the brand that always seems to do the same thing but by doing so ends up on the cutting edge. Defies belief and probably riles the competition. However, they know what they like and what they do well, and they like lipstick so much that it's cult 2.55 handbag has a dedicated pocket just for the prized product.

This lipstick revolution has a name - Rouge Coco, and it's happening quietly. What makes it so revolutionary? The devils in the details, dears, and the details have been overlooked far too long in the name of the bottom line. Have a quick rummage through your makeup drawer. Pluck out the lipsticks and look at them, really look at them. Roll them around in your hand. How do they feel? Certainly not like Rouge Coco. The new lipstick comes in a metal tube... when was the last time you bought a lipstick swathed in anything other than plastic? It feels luxurious cupped in the palm - heavy, cool to the touch. The cap snaps on to the base, making the most satisfying sound, within are the intertwined double Cs, as well as atop the lid.

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Being fair with pores large enough to been seen at ten paces, I am always on the prowl for products that both brighten and heighten the colour of my complexion and smooth over the pore-tastic finish of my face.  My first tango with such powders happened during an impulsive shopping spree on my first trip to a Douglas chemist. I was entranced by the place -- like a French chemist with all the high-end beauty I could handle in one go.

During that trip (and rash dash for products), I purchased my first YSL lipglosses and a pot of Guerlain meteorites. I had once espied the latter product on the bathroom shelf in the house of two very glamorous north London Lesbians (where I also came across first flush darjeeling, in the kitchen, not the loo). It was far beyond my meager student means at the time, but my curiosity was piqued, to be satisfied several years later on that first trip down the aisles of Douglas.

Returning home from Douglas, I shimmied off the lid, swirled a brush within the latticed pot of luminescent balls and swept it across my cheeks, from nose to temple (pores being most visible, of course, on the cheek right next to the nose). Wait... where did they go!? My pores!? The skin was smoothed and had the most lovely, soft, uniform finish. I was hooked, for a while at least.

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