3 months ago
49
The morning of the biggest product pitch of my career felt less like a professional milestone and more like a high-stakes, low-oxygen freefall. My suit was perfect, my slides were flawless, but the knot of anxiety twisting in my stomach was strong enough to rival a battleship’s cable. I had exactly five minutes left before I had to walk into the boardroom, and my hands were actually shaking.
I retreated to the restroom, splashed some cold water on my face, and stared at my reflection. I looked pale, stressed, and definitely not like the person who was about to convince a panel of executives to invest millions.
That’s when I reached for the one thing I knew I could rely on: my tube of Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in the shade Fire & Ice.
It’s an iconic color for a reason — that perfect, vibrant crimson with a subtle cool undertone that manages to look sophisticated, daring, and classic all at once. I twisted it up, and the texture was, as always, beautifully rich. It glided onto my lips with zero drag, laying down a perfectly even, high-pigment coat. It felt substantial, but never heavy or sticky, the way some long-wear formulas do. This lipstick feels like a velvet cushion, not a plastic mask.
As I blotted it lightly, something shifted. The instant visual pop of the color against my crisp white shirt was a jolt of energy. It wasn’t just makeup; it was armor. It was the visual manifestation of the boldness I needed to embody. I looked in the mirror one last time. The fear hadn’t vanished, but it had shrunk, overpowered by the vibrant, confident woman staring back.
I walked into that room, not trembling, but standing tall. Every time I paused to take a breath during the presentation, I was conscious of the bright, perfect color on my mouth. It anchored me, reminding me that even if my voice wavered slightly, my look was impeccable and my resolve was solid. The pitch went flawlessly, and we secured the deal.
That lipstick remains a small, potent talisman. It’s more than just a superb formula that truly is super lustrous without drying out my lips; it’s the physical reminder that sometimes, the only thing standing between me and success is a little dose of bold, beautiful color and the confidence it ignites.