Soap Opera Digest
April 13, 1999
Product Queen

My poor husband, Michael E. Knight (who plays Tad on All My Children), lived a blissfully ignorant soap-and-water existence - until he met me. Now his side of the medicine cabinet is stuffed with hair and skin products that he is sure he can't live without. That's the price he pays for living with the Product Queen.

Everyone has at least one thing they shop for that gives them that "shopper's high." Unfortunately, trying new things can also bring you that dreaded shopper's remorse. My particular addiction has always been products -- beauty, makeup, hair, skin, nails. You name it -- I've bought it, tried it, touted it or trashed it. Over the years, my friends have sought my advice on which products to buy for which problem. Hence, my treasured pet name and alter ego: Product Queen.

Here's the deal. I will not rest until I find the perfect ... everything (people excluded). Every month right here, I will share my findings with you. Products will be rated on the 0-4 tiara rating system: 0 being "Why bother?" to 4 being "Absolutely gotta have it." I'll report on products in all price ranges because sometimes, you get what you pay for and sometimes, you don't. But you don't have to mortgage the house to be beautiful. Product Queen knows that girlfriend has to watch her dollar. So, here we go...

I've been perusing fashion magazines for years, looking at what celebrities and models are wearing on their faces. The one thing I've noticed is that when women wear dark, deep lipstick colors, they look older and less soft. You may not be aware that most of these fashion models are somewhere between 15 and 20 years old, but are made up to appear more mature. And even they look older with a darker shade of lipstick.

Just for fun, try a lighter shade and see what I mean. Product Queen has a few recommendations. First, if you aren't already familiar with M.A.C.'s lip pencil. "Spice," it is a no-brainer for almost everyone, blonde, brunette or redhead. It is a perfect pink/brown combination that works with many lipstick shades (4 tiaras). Actress Melissa Gilbert, who is an old friend of mine (her son, Cody was the ring-bearer at my wedding!) turned me on to a wonderful Clinique lipstick called "Honey Gloss" which she wears with the Spice liner, and it looks gorgeous (3 tiaras). I line my entire mouth with the Spice pencil (it lasts a long time) and then I put the Honey Gloss over it. For something less expensive, there is a pencil made by Wet 'N Wild called #666 that costs $1 or so. I don't like it quite as much as M.A.C.'s but it is a fine substitute (1 tiara).

So until my next column (on Bimbo Pinks!), why not test out these new shades? But be sure that your test includes kissing a prince, not a frog.