The Red Lipstick Edit

The Holiday season is fast approaching and to me nothing screams glam Christmas party more than a golden eye look paired with a bold red lip. Some people might find it cliché but for me it’s a classic and classics ain’t clichés, right?

As you may know, I lurve me some dark burgundies, bright oranges, warm fuchsias and other crazy colors on the lips, but there is something about a classic red pout that makes it oh-so-special. I think that it’s interesting to note that the French, who might know a thing or two about beauty, use the same word, ‘rouge’, for both ‘red’ and ‘lipstick’. I guess that the actual reason behind this is that historically the first lipsticks were red, but still I like to use this little linguistic fact to support my idea that red is THE lipstick shade par excellence. OK, cheap etymology lesson over.

As you will notice, all of my favorite red lipsticks are matte or semi-matte. This is not only because I think they look better, but also because they’re easier to wear as they’re more long-lasting and less prone to bleeding and smudging than creamier options. So, even setting aside my personal aesthetic preferences, I think these qualities make mattes the best option when it comes to bold shades.

I personally find all the lipsticks featured in this post comfortable to wear and non-drying. To make sure any lipstick goes on smoothly and doesn’t cling to any dry patches, make sure you follow my simple lip care routine I talked about a while ago.

L to R: MAC Ruby Woo, Sephora Always Red, KIKO Luscious Red, NARS Dragon Girl, Tarte Fiery, Sephora Cranberry Luster, YSL Orange Imagine, Bourjois Hot Pepper

MAC Retro Matte Lipstick in Ruby Woo: This cool-toned red is probably THE classic of all classics. Some people seem to find it drying, which makes me wonder if maybe MAC improved the formula recently. I got mine last summer and don’t find it drying at all. It does have a dry texture, so I have to apply it with a brush, but once it’s on it’s definitely not drying. I actually find it pretty comfortable to wear!

SEPHORA Lip Cream Stain in 01 Always Red: I was wearing this beautiful cool-toned red in my previous post paired with the NARS Duo Eyeshadow in Isolde. If you’re going to a Christmas party that involves food and drinking, this is the one you should opt for. It will last through a full meal (unless you eat something extremely oily) and won’t leave a mark on your glass.

KIKO Rebel Romantic Intensely Lavish Lip Pencil in 03 Luscious Red: I’ve already mentioned the Rebel Romantic lip pencils several times, so I won’t bore you once more. Check out my full review in case you’ve missed it!

NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dragon Girl: A pinky-red crayon that combines ease of use and an amazing formula that glides effortlessly on the lips. (Click here to see it in action)

As I said above, I find all of these products comfortable to wear, but if your lips tend to get dry no matter how you prep them, I think the next ones are better suited for you, as they’re not completely matte.

Tarte LipSurgence Matte Lip Tint in Fiery: This one is not as long-lasting as the other options and if you’re prone to bleeding I’d recommend using a clear liner around your lip contour. It’s a deeper red that I think looks very elegant and a little retro. It has a pretty strong minty scent that might not agree with everyone’s nose. (Click here if you want to see it on the lips)

SEPHORA Luster Matte in Cranberry Luster: Despite its name, this is not matte, but retains a strong luminosity even after it dries down. The deep red shade is very season-appropriate.

YSL Rouge Pur Couture The Mats in 201 Orange Imagine: If you like your reds to be warm-toned and want to treat yourself to something very, very special, this is definitely the one for you! You may read my full review and see lip swatches here.

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in 03 Hot Pepper: Another orangey red, this time in liquid form. The consistency is different from your average liquid lipstick though, it almost feels like a gel and is not fully opaque in one swipe, but you can build it up. I think this one could please all those of you who normally don’t like wearing liquid lipsticks.

Have you ever tried any of these? Do you find them as comfortable to wear as I do? What are your favorite reds?

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