By Elizabeth Large
Sun Reporter
Originally published May 21, 2006 
301-776-6948

The question you have to ask yourself is:
Do I really want a lipstick that's semi-permanent?

Not to worry. Lip-Ink comes off with the provided remover, and meanwhile it won't smear or get on cups or other lips. The liquid color stain is wax-free, non-drying, made from botanicals, and eco-friendly - it's endorsed by PETA for its no-animal-testing policies.

That no-wax part sounded good when company spokeswoman Charlene Chen told us the average woman ingests 2 pounds of wax in a lifetime just by chewing off her lipstick.

New customers start with a kit that contains moisturizer, two colors, and the remover. After that you can get refills that are cheaper. By layering the 55 "core" colors, the company says, you can create over 250,000 custom colors. The easiest way to buy Lip-Ink is through its Web site, lipink.com. You can also find it at several places locally, including Paradise Day Spa in downtown Baltimore, Allure Salon and Spa in Lutherville and the Facial Plastic Surgicenter in Pikesville.

Sampler kit price: $49.50