It’s impossible not to stop and take notice when you spot it– red lipstick is feminine, powerful, striking, glamorous, and dares you to wear it. You know you want to! I put red lips off for the longest time, fearing it wouldn’t look right and I just didn’t feel confident enough to pull it off. But the second I tried on my first red lipstick, it was instant courage. I’m convinced that you can actually buy confidence girls, and you can find it in almost every store in the world– one will always fit you (even if you have to try on a dozen), and there’s one to suit just about any budget! Finding the right pair of jeans is harder than a red lipstick in my opinion, seriously. Here’s a look at four red lippies I’m loving right now!
• My first ever “big girl” red lipstick purchase was NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in “Cruella”. At the time, the only reds I had allowed myself to buy were a lot less expensive. I know $24 might seem a little much for the occasional red lip fix, but it is your rite of passage as a woman to own at least one red lipstick that didn’t come from the drugstore! For a matte, “Cruella” glides on like buttah. The scarlet red doesn’t dry out my lips– skipping the “my lips could pass for raisins” look at the end of the day!
• For a cool-red tone with lots of glam, Napoleon Perdis DéVine Goddess Lipstick in “Aphrodite”* is a great bet. 90210 starlet AnnaLynne McCord is a fan and so am I! Totally timeless and ultra-flattering, the lush formula has a little bit of an identity crisis and thinks it’s a lip conditioner. Herbal extracts and antioxidants make sure your pucker isn’t parched.
• New York Color Ultra Moist LipWear in “Retro Red”* is fooling us all! For just 99¢, the color saturation is much more than I ever expected. Just a tad warmer in tone than I usually go for, “Retro Red” still rocks my world. It’s the perfect pin-up doll red with tons of shine, and a little bit more on the slick side. This one doesn’t wear quite as long as the other reds I’ve chosen here, just don’t forget your lip primer and all will be well.
• Lasting Finish Lipstick from Rimmel London in “Alarm”* earned itself some serious kudos and has a new home in the Holy Grail territory of my cosmetics collection– my vanity drawer! I’m keeping “Alarm” handy because the color is just right, the finish is smooth and comfortable, and the price is sweet at about $5. This one does have a little bit of a fragrance, but I like it– it reminds me of bubblegum for some reason. Something about “Alarm” makes it impossible to be in a sour mood!
Red lipstick requires more TLC during application and needs more maintenance throughout wear than other shades. Try prepping with Too Faced Border Line Anti-Feathering Lip Pencil or Urban Decay Lip Primer Potion so that your lips don’t budge!
Check out these luxe red lipsticks for less
*An editorial sample was provided by the company and evaluated to determine my opinion of the product in this post. Please see the Disclosures page for further information regarding my policies for using editorial samples.
I always feel like when I wear red on my lips it brings out the red tone in my skin, you know what I mean? So I shy away from anything red, although I love it on other people with cooler skin tones!
Do I get to vote, Amber? I like Aphrodite best. It makes your lips look plump, and I love the shine. The fact that it’s conditioning makes it even better.
Sure Charlestongirl! Thank you!
xo
Amber
I know what you mean
I can’t wear one without foundation or I feel suuuuuper pink. As long as I’ve got all my other makeup on, I’m okay!
xo
Amber