Red lipstick will never go out of style and it’s always in season. And while we definitely can be sidetracked by limited editions, let’s concentrate on those you don’t have to rush to buy, the permanent classics. So here they are, both Astrid’s and my favourite permanent reds right now!
Cheap thrills
Makeup Revolution has become (in)famous for copying high end products. Their quality is mostly good, and they’re widely available, whether in drugstores in their native UK, on Amazon, or various retailers. I was on a hunt for a replacement of my sadly departed Cherry Glaze Huggable when I stumbled upon the Liphug Lipsticks and decided to try them out. They’re not a dupe for my beloved Huggable formula, starting with a perfume-y scent and different texture, but they’re nevertheless quite good for their price (I paid 3,29€ at kosmetik4less).
Their tagline is “the perfect lipstick for the balance of incredible colour with incredible comfort and staying power“. The Liphugs I tested are both opaque upon one application and also quite comfortable to wear – not drying, but not exactly moisturizing either. Their staying power is ok – they survive an occasional drink and lots of talking, but eating is out of the question if you don’t want to reapply. The red I’m featuring here is called I am Ready and is a nice, slightly cool toned neutral red. Can’t beat it for the price!
Slightly more luxe MAC
MAC has come out with a new perm line of lipsticks called Ultimate. They’re housed in the whimsical Marcel Wanders packaging from a limited edition some years ago, with the only difference it’s now made of plastic while it was metal then. They’re more expensive (27$/27€) than their perm lipsticks, while they offer more product (50% more, in fact). MAC says they’ve got “(…) comfortable texture. Rich formula glides on with ease, creating perfect coverage and shine.“ I found that quite true.
They’re definitely more creamy than the Liphugs, but they don’t slide around on the lips either. With the trademark MAC vanilla scent, they wear comfortably for quite some time – again, they don’t survive a meal. The red I’m wearing here, Audacious, is opaque in one swipe and is a neutral red. I like it a lot.
Luxury for your lips
The Guerlain KissKiss line was reformulated last year, and sports now the tagline ‘Shaping Cream Lip Colour’. The formula has hyaluronic acid and commiphora oil to smooth and plump the lips. And you know what? It really does. There’re different finishes in the line-up, so you’ll find shades with and without shimmer. I think that Rouge Kiss (No. 325) is one of the best lipsticks I own, red or not red. It’s a slightly warm leaning tomato red, and I can slap it on and don’t worry about it. It’s incredibly easy to wear.
It doesn’t feather, and when it wears off (which is does quite soon, given its formula), it does so evenly and leaves a slight stain. It’s also incredibly lightweight for such a moisturizing formula. I definitely think it makes my lips look a bit smoother and plumper, and weren’t the KissKiss lipsticks not as expensive (37$/34€) as they are, I’d definitely own more of them. A word of caution, though: I also own one of the glittery shades, and it feels different on my lips. The glitter is a bit gritty and the formula doesn’t seem as moisturizing to me.
Now let’s see Astrid’s three favourite reds – I expect we’ll see some mattes!
A true classic
This is maybe one of the most iconic reds of our time. In 1994, MAC created this first Viva Glam shade that is “universal in appeal and glamour.” The proceeds of all Viva Glam lipsticks and glosses are donated to MAC’s own AIDS fund to support people suffering from HIV and AIDS. So, you can totally indulge in your lipstick addiction and give to charity at the same time. Winwin! MAC Viva Glam I (16$/20€) is a classic burgundy red. It has MAC’s typical matte texture that’s neither drying nor hydrating and is quite comfortable on the lips. If you’re looking for a business appropriate look, look no further! It’s neither too bright nor requires too many touch-ups, which is always a good thing. You can expect some serious staying power with this one, but you may want to apply it anew after having a meal.
Red. And hot. And red.
Armani’s Rouge Ecstasy (35$/36€) line-up bears the tagline of ‘Excess Moisture Rich Lipcolor’. Their aim is to combine care properties with saturated colour and “impeccable hold”, stating the lipsticks are “(…) leaving lips repaired and beautifully enhanced day after day”. Though the lipsticks are supposed to have a balmy texture, they’re not soft and creamy upon application. They feel quite dense at first, with a bit of resistance. Lip-hugging would be a proper term for those! They have a nice shine as well. Giorgio Armani Rouge Ecstasy 401 Hot is a blue based red that somehow brightens up the face and makes you look made up and polished without any effort. For such a moisturizing formula they hold up nicely, fade evenly, and leave a slight stain behind.
Velvet for your lips
Again a matte, but what’s exceptional about Burberry Lip Velvet in 311 Bright Poppy (30$/27€) is its light texture which comes from the gel technology used by Burberry. It also has some hydrating properties that makes it pleasant to apply and to wear. For a matte lipstick, it’s definitely not drying. The colour has a velvety touch to it, but isn’t thick at all – you won’t see any bleeding or feathering with this one! Bright Poppy is a unique mix of purple and red that translates into a deepened berry red. It wears for a long time and leaves a slight stain behind. It’s particularly good for an evening look. The only thing you need to watch out for is when you have dry patches on your lips, you might want to apply lip balm first, as the color might enhance the flakes.
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Btw, Astrid did all those looks above for a project called The 100 Day Project which is about doing something creative each day for 100 days. Astrid chose makeup, of course, and you can see all her looks so far under the hashtag 100DaysOfBeautyLooksForTwindly on Instagram.
