The other week, one of my instagram followers reached out and asked what red lipstick I was wearing in one of my photos since she has been on the hunt for the perfect red. This one’s for you Lo! For the longest time, I owned two lipsticks from Mac and rotated between these two shades of pink. The only time I ventured outside the safe confines of pink was when I wore red on stage during my many years in ballet. However, over the past few years, I’ve left my comfort zone and have amassed quite a stash of lipstick in a wide range of colors. I’m always on the hunt for a great red lipstick – I find that it’s a shade that can instantly brighten up my face and pull together any look. From more subtle shades to ones that could make any pinup proud, these are my current favorite reds.
This is a beautiful subtle red that gives your lips a berry stained hue. It has a lovely gloss to it and it’s virtually idiot proof to apply. A few quick swipes and you’re ready to go. It even has an SPF 15 rating and has vitamin E and aloe vera in it to keep your lips kissably soft.
NARS is legendary for their amazing range of colors and this red is a perfect example of how they have some of the best hues in the beauty industry. It has a slight pink undertone to it, but it’s nonetheless firmly in the red camp. This is another easy to apply option, that is a perfect every day option. I feel just as comfortable wearing this lipstick to school as I do wearing it for a gala.
This red is not for the faint of heart but it’s such a rich and vibrant color. It’s super creamy but you need to be careful when applying it because it smudges rather easily. This is one lipstick where I highly recommend using a lipliner and applying it with a brush. Don’t let these extra steps dissuade you, the extra time and effort is totally worth it. Cerise is French for Cherry and this color is perfectly named.
This is another red which is not for the faint of heart or the timid. Much like Cerise, Rouge Vibrant is a gorgeous bold and rich red. Just like with Cerise, I also use lipliner and a brush to apply this lipstick. Rouge Vibrant reminds me of the colors you would see Hollywood starlets and pinup models wear in the 1940s and 1950s. It also is super creamy, but not as glossy as Cerise.
What would a list of favorite red lipsticks be with out at least one option from the venerable Chanel. This is my favorite matte red. Other mattes that I’ve tried (I’m looking at you MAC) have been difficult to apply, and even brand new, these other mattes have seemed almost dried out. However, La Fascinante is a gorgeous matte which is very easy to apply. It’s the darkest of my reds and is beautifully vampy.
Red lipstick kisses for the poodle result in a racing stripe that I think is pretty cool and Darling Husband thinks is pretty ridiculous. Feel free to take sides.
