5 Best... Red Lipsticks!

A red lip is a classic beauty look that is flattering on anyone. There are many different brands and formulas available now, but here are a few of my favourites for you to try out if you’re red-y to try something new!

Russian Red (MAC)

If you’ve had your fill of one of Mac’s most famous red shade - Ruby Woo - then why not try out Russian Red?

This colour is a bit darker, and looks very elegant on the lips. The formula is very consistent with other MAC Matte lipsticks, and stays on fairly well even through coffee and lunch.

PROS

Good pigmentation
Long-wearing

CONS

Stiffer/ More difficult product to apply
Not transfer proof

Price: $18.50(USD) / $23.00 (CAD) / €19.50 (EUR) / £17.50 (GBP)

Rouge in Love - 181N Rouge Saint HonorÉ (LancÔme)

For a bright red with high-shine and a glossy finish, look no further than Lancôme’s Rouge in Love collection! My personal favourite colour from this line is 181N (Rouge Saint Honoré) because it has the right amount of blue undertones to compliment my skin tone (they do have more coral or terracotta based reds for those with a warmer complexion).

This formula does transfer a lot, but if you enjoy putting gloss over your lipstick, this is a nice pick that gives a shiny and glossy finish all on it’s own!

PROS

High-shine
Glossy finish

CONS

Not long-wearing
Not transfer proof

Price: $29.00 (USD) / $33.00 (CAD) / €30.00 (EUR) / £24.00 (GBP)

Cupid’s Bow - Ovid (Lipstick Queen)

I really like the Lipstick Queen Cupid’s Bow collection as their products are part lipstick/ part lip liner, making them very easy to apply on-the-go.

The colours aren’t as bold and pigmented as some of the other options on this list, but for a daily go-to, this is a nice pick that slips easily into a purse or a pocket (if your pants or dress have any…).

PROS

Good pigmentation
Easy to apply (it’s in the shape of a thicker lip liner)

CONS

Not transfer-proof
Requires a sharpener

Price: $22.00 (USD) / $26.00 (CAD) / €21.00 (EUR) / £20.00 (GBP)

Medieval (Lipstick Queen)

During the Middle Ages, wearing lipstick was a sin, so women used to use lemons to give themselves a natural blood-red pout. Lipstick Queen took inspiration from this, and created a product to mimic the natural results of this process. As such, they created Medieval, which gives the wearer a very natural looking sheer red.

One thing I really love about this product is that it feels like a luxurious lip balm I can swipe on perfectly without a mirror. It’s made with Vitamin E, so it’s quite moisturizing. This, along with Frog Prince, are my constantly-in-my-purse products that I swipe on when my lips feel dry (and my outfit requires a pop of colour).

PROS

Very moisturizing
Easy to apply (great for an on-the-go swipe of colour)

CONS

Not heavily pigmented
Not very long-wearing

Price: $24.00 (USD) / $32.10 (CAD) / €23.00 (EUR) / £22.00 (GBP)

DIORIFIC - Dolce Vita (Dior)

Yes, this product is pricey, but it is one thing I am quite happy to splurge on. This colour lasts for hours and looks so vibrant all on it’s own. I highly recommend using a lip pencil in order to apply it however, as it’s extremely pigmented and can be a bit of a pain to “correct” if you don’t apply precisely on the lips.

The only thing I am not a fan of is that it has fragrance in it. Luckily, this particular formula doesn’t bother me too much (I am quite sensitive to scents), but the scent definitely deters me from pulling out this products as much as I would like.

PROS