Admittedly I'm not a regular red lip wearer, but during the festive season I like to paint my pout in the classic colour, so today in true Christmas spirit I'm sharing my top five red lipsticks...
Burberry's Lip Velvet in 'Oxblood' £25.00*
'Oxblood' is a dramatic deep vampy red from Burberry with a rich and luxurious formula. The iconic shade glides on and feels lightweight on the lips. Unlike your traditional red lipstick, 'Oxblood' has a buildable pigmentation with each swipe, giving you far more colour intensity control. It's also surprisingly comfortable for a matte lipstick and sets down to a matte/velvet finish after a minute or so of being applied. And although it doesn't necessarily bleed or feather, it looks worn and fades over time, leaving a stained appearance on the lips. With a matte gunmetal casing, magnetic closure and a beautifully embossed lipstick bullet, this lipstick is without a doubt desirable product for any red lip lover.
Rimmel 107 Lasting Finish Matte By Kate Moss £5.49
A shade I (and many other beauty bloggers) always crack out come Autumn/Winter is Rimmel 107 Lasting Finish Matte By Kate Moss. The deep raspberry red has a velvet matte finish and although the shade can be applied lightly, it has a rather intense colour payoff and be warned, although it doesn't drag on application, it can smudge and leave a red mess lurking around your lip line, so apply with caution (or a lip brush!). Once the shade has set it doesn't bleed and lasts for roughly 4 hours. Rimmel 107 Lasting Finish By Kate Moss is great value for money priced at just £5.49.
NARS Audacious Lipstick in Vivien' £24.00
Another plummy berry shade is NARS Audacious Lipstick in 'Vivien'. The weighty packaging, magnetic closure and stamped bullet are comparable to Burberry's Lip Velvet in 'Oxblood', but 'Vivien' has a cool undertone and satin finish. Moreover, this shade from NARS's Audacious Lipstick Collection '14 is a one-stroke wonder, as it's opaque in just a single application. The satin lipstick has a creamy formula and a glossier finish than expected. And as a result lasts around 4 hours on the lips and unfortunately can on occasion transfer and bleed. But despite this, it's a shade I love and one to indulge in if you too like creamy cool toned lipsticks.
NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dragon Girl £19.00
How could my red lip line-up not include a NARS Velvet Mate Lip Pencil? 'Dragon Girl' is a bright bold red with a pink undertone and blue base (say hello to white gnashes!). The velvet matte from NARS is opaque and leaves a nice sheen on the lips, which I presume, is down to both the formula and the fact the shade is so bright. 'Dragon Girl' is quite frequently compared to MAC Ruby Woo (which also made the mix), but although similar I would say 'Dragon Girl' is far brighter and has a pinker undertone. I do find the pencil applicator can make the colour a little tricky to apply at times; so a little lip liner comes in handy. Overall NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in 'Dragon Girl' is a beautiful bright shade. Oh and did I mention it's a favourite of Taylor Swifts?
The infamous shade from MAC Cosmetics is a medium red with a cool undertone and blue base. 'Ruby Woo' has an ultra-matte finish and as a result has an extremely dry and stiff texture meaning it can be drying and drag on the lips. But nevertheless this lipstick from MAC with a little lip preparation (a.k.a scrub and balm), is a universally-flattering shade, instantly makes you feel kick-ass, passes the kiss test, is vibrant and has the longest wear time out of all 5 lipsticks listed here. MAC 'Ruby Woo' is the perfect pinup girl red, a favourite of Gwen Stefani and Rita Ora and a shade I urge you try, no matter how anxious you are to up your amp!
Left to right: Burberry's Lip Velvet in 'Oxblood' / Rimmel 107 Lasting Finish Matte By Kate Moss / NARS Audacious Lipstick in 'Vivien' / NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in 'Dragon Girl' / MAC Matte Lipstick in 'Ruby Woo'
What's your go-to red lipstick?
Emily
