I have a (real) thing for blacks, flirt with the purples, dab with the blues and on occasion succumb to a nude, but my lips truly belong to the reds.
There’s not a single other thing that can make me feel like myself and can pick me up when I am down (ok, maybe shoes. Or vodka).
Between blues and oranges, I lean towards the warmer as they suit me better but I feel quite lucky my olive complexion can the cooler reds rather well.
Life wasn’t always like this: I only started using red lipsticks around 12 years ago; bought an inexpensive Sleek number at Superdrug (in Clapham Junction) for fancy dress. Never looked back.
And with Valentine’s around the corner, you may want to invest on a new fiery red.
So I decided to wade through my vast collection of reds and do the most impossible: pick my best 10. Funnily enough, 5 are orange based, 1 is pretty neutral and 4 are blue-ish.
The warmer
No warm is too warm. I actually have a great selection of orange-red lipsticks I actively wear. However, the order of the day is red and I simply cannot rank them, so alphabetical order it will be…
The gorgeous Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet in Rouge Feu is stunning; bright with an amazing texture that spreads well with a velvet finish. And lasts soooo well.
Two Charlotte Tilbury feature here: Tell Laura and Love Bite. Both warm and with a great formula, Tell Laura is matte and sharp, which Love Bite has a sheen to it and is less in your face.
GOSH My Valentine lip crayon has some glittery shimmer and is a lovely bright red that is practical to apply.
Finally, a lipstick that has been with me forever: MAC Lady Danger, a fierce red. Super matte, it has a harder formula with great durability.
The cooler
Charlotte Tilbury comes in again with the classic So Marilyn. A great formula, creamy with fantastic finish.
Of course, my gorgeous Christian Louboutin Beauté lipstick in Louboutin Red has to be here. So pretty, with a formula so dreamy I can’t even describe. It is creamy and velvety but settles into a beautiful matte. Durability is exceptional.
GOSH Velvet Touch matter in Classic Red is a true red – not warm, not cool, so a bit out of place in the cooler section, as it’s just in the middle. It has a harder formula, with good durability and amazing value for money.
MAC attacks again, with another shade that has been with me for a long time: Russian Red. A true matte with a hard formula (especially in the winter), it well and truly sticks to the lips.
Walk of Fame, part of Sleek‘s Lip VIP range, is described as a semi-matte. It has the pigmented finish but a smoother, slightly shinier finish.
The extra bits
A while back, I wrote a post on applying red lipstick, and I still follow that “ritual”. It is a life saver, especially in the winter. I also cannot live without a good lip liner and have a few in my collection, on rotation.
What I feel changed the way I apply lipstick is the retractable lip brush. Perfect for your bag, it is small and the fact it’s retractable means there is no mess! The MAC 318 is my go to.
What is YOUR red?
Not too long ago I mentioned Sleek was the very first red lipstick I ever owned, and that started a love affair that spanned years.
Apart from the more luxurious packaging with the colour at the bottom, this £5.49 gem packs a punch. It’s super pigmented and hydrating, with Vitamin E, Shea Butter and Coconut Oil, at the same time, while offering a very decent durability!
My favourite, Flaunt It, is a vibrant orange; Night Spot is a rich pinkier red (and I love a red lipstick!); Guest List is a bright coral; Backstage, a warm coral pink; Reserved, a candy pink and Private Booth a great nude with some pink in it, and not grey and dull as most, so suitable for my skin tone!
So Many Lovely Things 