Those who know me will know that when it comes to cosmetics products, it is all about lipsticks. From a young age, I developed a fixation in buying lipsticks in a vast range of colours. The brand was irrelevant. All I cared about was the shade and how I felt when I wore it. I recall the first lipstick that I was given by aunty. It was the perfect brown – not too dark, not too light. It was glossy and it made my lips feel full and pouty. And the obsession began.
In the 90’s, I moved towards matte lipsticks as I found that were pigmented, long lasting although a bit drying depending on the brand. Who could forget Poppy’s infamous opaque lipsticks. Anyone and everyone owned a shade of Poppy lipsticks. One of my favourite shades was Indolence. A nude shade that matched any eye look. And then there was MAC. Their range of lipsticks offered made it my ultimate go-to brand. Whatever lipstick shade I wore, it always matched my mood and look. From day to night, my lips were never without lipstick.
For me, no shade of lipstick made me feel as glamorous, sexy and confident than wearing that perfect red lipstick. It can change your face, your look and your attitude. To this day, this is my preferred colour and as a result, I have accumulated ‘plentiful’ shades red of lipsticks.
Being a brunette with brown eyes and olive skin with golden undertones, I have worn a breadth of reds. I tended to ignore the ‘recommended’ red lipsticks for my hair colour and skin tone. I enjoyed experimenting. From bright reds to dark reds some with blue undertones, some with orange/brown and some with pink. I also played around with different formulas from sheer, gloss, matte semi matte, stains and liquid matte. Over the years, I have developed a ‘few’ favourites. So here are my 15 shades of red:
1. MAC Ruby Woo Known as Retro Matte. Eye catching red lipstick. Intense, striking and beautiful on the lips. Pigmented and long lasting.
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2. MAC RED Satin finish – bright hue of red. The satin finish makes the lips pop. Pigmented and long wearing.
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3. MAC Russian Red Matte – blue based shade of red. Not as vivid as Ruby Woo but still makes as statement on your lips.
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4. Dior 040 – Marilyn Matte lipstick. Long lasting, rich and deep in colour. The lipstick goes on very easily, giving the lips an intense finish. The packaging adds to the sophistication of the lipstick and the brand.
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5. Dior 014- Dolce Vita Matte, long lasting and non-drying. Vibrant red. Bold and daring. The perfect shade of red. Again, the packaging adds to the sophistication of the lipstick and the brand.
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6. YVSL Lipstick –Rouge Pur Couture 01 Matte finish, quite pigmented. Pure red colour. Hydrating and glides on easily. Elegant packaging.
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7. Bodyography Lipstick – Red China Semi-matte. A true red that makes the lips look divine. A hidden gem!
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8. NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil – Mysterious Red A 2 in 1. A warm red hue that is moisturising and long lasting. This pencil is velvety smooth, making application easy.
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9. Chanel – Rouge Allure A must for every red-loving person. Intense, luminous and incredibly moisturizing. Brilliant packaging. Chanel is engraved within the lipstick. The lipstick barrel comes out when you press the golden base.
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10. Chanel Number 14 Passion Satin matte finish. This shade of red is vibrant and daring. A true red.
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11. Chanel Number 104 – Passion Deeper red. Intense hue. Lips feels moist and sensuous
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12. Kat Von D – Hellbent Rich, deep red. Also known as crimson red. This lipstick makes a statement. Lips look sexy and pouty. Hydrating, long lasting and rich pigment.
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13. Buxom – Provocateur Full bodied semi matte. A true red that is vibrant and bold. Hydrating, extremely pigmented and lasts all day. The name says it all!! Stila – All Day Liquid Lipstick This lipstick applies wet and dries to a matte finish. Quite moisturising therefore non-drying. True to the name, this lipstick is long lasting. Incredibly pigmented range of colours.
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14. Fiery Intense full red-blooded colour. Makes the lips look full and sexy.
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15. Beso Pure red. Bold, daring and vivid. Lips looks seductive and sensuous Application is everything when wearing a red lipstick.
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There are many tips online where you can be guided on how to apply on a red lipstick. I make sure that my lips are well moisturised. I then use a lip liner where I define my lip shape and lightly fill in my lips. I do this to ensure that I get a nice even finish. I then apply the lipstick directly from the bullet. What I do is dab the colour into my lips until I get the dimension of red I desire. For those who are uncomfortable in wearing a red lipstick, don’t be. Own it. With so many shades of red, it is a colour that can easily transition from day to night. Don’t be afraid to play around with various colours, formulas and brands. Find what makes you go ‘wow’ when you put it on your lips. Create your own 15 shades of red!