Hungover? Red lip. Knackered cos you’ve been up all night with the kids? Red lip. In need of a little confidence boost before that date/presentation/party full of people you haven’t seen in forever? Red lip. Whether you’re a matte gal or prefer a glossy finish, love a true bold red or like your lippie a little darker, there’s no disputing that a slick of red lipstick is instantly transformative and makes you feel like you can take on the world. Or at least today’s to-do list.
The red lip is an iconic beauty look as old as time, but it’s having a something of a moment right now: according to UK Google Trends, searches for ‘red lipstick makeup looks’ saw a whopping 250% increase in the past 12 months. It’s a makeup trick we turn to again and again, whether it’s to pep up the Breton tee and jeans we’ve been living in or to feel a little bit more ‘done’ for drinks with the girls. As zhuzhy as a red lip makes us feel, it is a teeny bit high maintenance – it will absolutely make it’s way onto your teeth and/or chin at some point, often within minutes – but find the right formula and shade and you’ll be onto a winner. Blue-toned red lipsticks are perfect for nailing a classic Old Hollywood vibe, while bold orangey reds create a more modern look, and we thought we’d share our go-to shades to help you choose from the seemingly endless red lipstick options out there:
Gemma: Beauty Pie Futurelipstick Matte Red Light – “Matte but moisturising, this bargain lippie packs a hell of a lot of pigment for the price.”
Hannah: MAC Matte Lipstick in Lady Danger – “It’s the perfect shade of orange-red to suit my green eyes (or so a makeup artist once told me) and I’ve never looked back!”
Gemma: MAC Retro Matte Lipstick in Ruby Woo – “If it’s a classic true red you’re after, you can’t go wrong with MAC’s best-selling shade. Described as “universally flattering”, this blue-hued red is one of the best for making your teeth look whiter.”
Hannah: Illamasqua Glamore Lipstick in Soaked – “Another matte orange that just really pops and lasts ages!”
Of course, application is key, and Illamasqua and Eyeko Head of Content and Professional Makeup Artist, Melanie Barrese has created a step-by-step guide on how to create the ultimate long-lasting red lipstick. We’ll defo be trying the concealer trick to stop it bleeding.
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