My approach to makeup throughout quarantine has been quite minimal, save for the occasional eye makeup to hide my fatigue (a touch of concealer, mascara, and a bit of eyebrow pencil). I wasn’t a huge makeup wearer to begin with, and with all the mask wearing, I wanted to give my face a break as well as avoid breakouts. So in lieu of any contour or bright eyeliner, I’ve come to treasure lipstick as a way of spicing things up before a Zoom meeting—and not just any lipstick.

During a time of tumultuous change, I’ve found myself clinging to what I know, which has meant that my choices in entertainment have come with a heavy dose of nostalgia. Revisiting music videos like “Are You That Somebody?” by Aaliyah not only brings back memories of dancing in front of the TV trying to mimic her moves, but also offers a plethora of beauty inspiration. As she holds a hawk, Aaliyah makes mocha-colored lipstick and pearlescent green eye shadow look like an effortless equation. Add in classic sideswept bangs and a belly chain, and you’ve got everything that’s back in style this summer.

The warmer weather also has me dreaming about trying the brown- and red-wine-colored lipsticks seen on Nina Mosley (Nia Long) in my favorite movie, 1997’s Love Jones. The whole film has a moody-sexy appeal that I intend to eventually channel at Brooklyn’s Café Erzulie.

In the interim, I’ve been enjoying creating these vibes in my Zoom meetings with the help of Bobbi Brown’s Crushed Lip Color in Dark Chocolate. I’ve always gravitated toward plummy reds and browns, but I hadn’t previously found one as buildable and light as this. It has a balmy texture, so I never feel like it’s drying out my lips or caking. (It’s actually adding moisture to my lips throughout the day thanks to castor oil, vitamins E and C, and beeswax.) The matte finish makes for a non-smearing experience, so I never worry about the lipstick winding up on my teeth, chin, or upper lip. And it doesn’t go on intensely pigmented, so I’m also able to control how dark or light I want it to be with each swipe.

Beyond it being a staple at-home beauty look, this lipstick has provided a bit of comfort and an escape from the mundane. It might seem like a feat for such a tiny tube, but your average lipstick lover can likely attest they have similar feelings for their favorite shade. This one gives me faith that soon enough, I’ll get to channel my inner Nina Mosley at a poetry night near me.

Originally posted from “VOGUE” by Akili King