Ask Fashion Girl

Dear Makia,

You have a classic friend dilemma! Here's what I suggest. Go to the mall or a department store where they offer free makeovers at the cosmetics counter. Make an appointment for you and your friend and tell the salesperson your situation in advance so they will know that you are specifically trying to help your friend find new lipstick colors. Call your friend and invite her to do something fun and different - get makeovers together! Bring a camera and have someone at the store take "before" pictures of you two (make sure your friend is wearing that gold lipstick!). Once she has been magically transformed, take "after" pictures. Then get ready to complement her like crazy on how much better she looks WITHOUT the gold lipstick! Not only will she then have photographic evidence to see the difference for herself, she will also have some new color options to choose from. You could even offer to buy her new lipstick at the end of the makeover!

If the makeover doesn't work, then try to casually bring up what you've been reading about makeup trends in all the latest fashion magazines. You know, about how gold makeup is SO passe' this season! Hopefully she'll get the hint! If all else fails, just be honest with her! After all, that's what friends are for! Sincerely,