Valentine’s Day and the 1st day of the Chinese Lunar New Year coincides this year which I can imagine leads to a bit of a quandary for some. In terms of makeup, since red is the colour of love and red is auspicious to the Chinese, its your chance to slick on your favourite red lipsticks! Haha… not like I ever need an excuse 😛
Here are 6 red or red toned lipsticks I like and some wearable colours too for those who might be a little intimidated by red lips.
YSL Rouge Volupte #16 Red Temptation
Creamy in texture, opaque in color. Warm bright red that is not for the faint hearted but if you pull it off, its stunning! Chinese New Year is a good time to pull this one out and if you will be leaving lipstick on anyone’s collar, this is a good one to stake your claim with 😉
Lancome Color Fever #151 – Red Avant RM75
This was released in the Declaring Indigo collection. Yes it is B.R.I.G.H.T and its matte. A combination I rarely go with but this works somehow. Its not drying and applies smoothly. Amp up the glam with a touch of shimmery gloss in the middle (I use my magic gloss Guerlain Crystal Pearl gloss)
Rimmel Lasting Lipstick in Alarm RM19.90
Finally! An affordable option – I can almost see the relief in your eyes 🙂 Alarm is a bright red that goes on opaque on the lips and stands out a mile away. I like it although its not for the faint hearted. At that price you can afford to experiment 😉
Revlon Matte Lipstick in Really Red RM33
Well, the name says it all. Revlon Really Red is really red! Its glamourous and glides on creamy and easily despite being matte in formula. If you like pulling off a pin-up look, look no further than Revlon. Again at that sort of price point, you can afford to experiment! Try dabbing a touch of clear gloss over it too. Stunning!
Chanel Rouge Allure Lacque in Mandarin RM110
A new purchase I’m still feeling around before I post up a full review on this. I wanted to opt for the brilliant red Dragon but settled for Mandarin instead so I’d use it more often. Its a wearable coral red shade that is brighter than I expected and will likely suit many. Beautiful!
Dior Serum de Rouge in Raspberry Serum RM109
You have already seen Crimson Serum and I know many of you aren’t quite into bright red lips as I am, so try Raspberry Serum. A very wearable red toned shade that makes your lips feel wonderful, yet imparts a gorgeous toned down red lip for the masses.
Remember, when wearing red lips, keep your eyes and face light. You want attention on your pout (and it helps keep you looking glamourous instead of trashy 😛 ) so go with neutral eyes, eyeliner and mascara to define your eyes; and a light blush on your cheeks.
Did this help you? 🙂 If you want indepth reviews on any of the lipsticks I featured do let me know in a comment and I’ll try to oblige.
Paris B
hey paris…i want to know: how to apply bright red evenly and nicely within the shape of your lips? do u use lip brush? i always make a mess! and the color always go out of line.
Using a lip brush helps keep things within the line. Also, if you line your lips first, it also helps. I however just slick mine on straight from the tube. Its because I’m lazy 😀
Dior Serum in Raspberry looks really pretty… my kinda red… 🙂
Its actually a little brighter than it looks in the picture but still a wearable everyday red 🙂
hm, i wanna try really red lips! but was wondering, if i have slightly yellowish teeth (can’t bleach or do anything cuz i was born with it), is there any red which would make me look horrendous with it especially when i smile?
Yes and No. Yes if you wear reds with orange or warm tones – it enhances the yellow tones. No if you go for a red with blue tones. Reds with blue tones can actually make your lips look whiter – not white, just whiter. I have the same problem 😛
Just wanna kepoh here… So you can choose the RED’s that Paris has chosen 😛
red with blue tones. i want to go find already. wonder if rimmel one is the one? 😀
The Rimmel Alarm doesn’t have noticable blue tones. Its a red red shade though. Doesn’t make my teeth look yellower if it helps
Such beautiful reds! And Rouge Allure Laque! It’s fabulous, isn’t it?
It is! Goes on feeling like nothing 😀 Dragon scared even me though 😛
I am so envious of you being able to pull off red lips! All the red lipsticks I have is the Maybelline Watershine Pure in R22 and my Clinique one, the shade is All Heart, but I don’t know the name…
Oh, and a response for your question: the Revlon Matte one!
I love the Maybelline Watershine R22 – its a perfect everyday sheer red. Anyone can pull of red lips – you just have to find the shade that suits you 🙂 I’ll get down to your request soon!
Rasberry Serum looks great. Just read your review on Crimson Serum. Just wondering… were you wearing Crimson Serum when you went for the Bodybar launch? If you did, I love how it looks on you. It’s fab. Even better in person than in pics!!
Erm… that was so long ago I can’t remember! 😛 If it will help, I’ll wear Crimson Serum the next time I see you LOL…
booo! I don’t like you 🙁 Making me jealous with those fabulous red lips!
*pouts nude lips*
butbutbut… I can’t wear nude lips and you rock them 🙁
Yeah, I can’t do the nude lips look too and Connie, babe, you look so fabulous doing it… *pouts back at Connie*
the ysl rv red temptation looks great on you! 🙂
Thank you its a great color!
You look great with bright lips!!!
I can’t wear bright red. 🙁
I have HUGE lips. Just like connie, I stick to neutral shade…or bright but sheer.
Thanks Indira 🙂 I must agree that bright lips aren’t for everyone just like not everyone can handle light coloured lips. I for one can’t handle pink or even nude as it makes me look washed out 🙂
Paris im amazed at how well and confident you wear red. I’m fair skinned too but somehow I feel that with red lips, its abit too much of a contrast with my fair skin! =( I recently purchased the Chanel RA Laque dragon as my friend keep telling me its a fab shade for me but I still don’t feel confident wearing it. I do feel that red makes me look more mature than my age? I tend to stick to MLBB and slightly nude (but not too pale) colors!
Thank you Aretha – Not even I could bring myself to get Dragon. I found it a little too bright for daily wear but for night it will be GORGEOUS! You are right, red can be a little aging and its not an everyday colour. I do wear various tones of red for everyday though – I look pale and sickly otherwise 🙂
Thank you for the swatches! All colours look beautiful! I love red! Lately I love Revolution lipstick by Urban Decay
I haven’t tried any Urban Decay lipsticks – do let us know how you like it!
I would definitely go for Dior Raspberry Serum, the shape of your lips PB looks so cute and you can even wear BRIGHT BLUE lipstick and it’ll still look great! 🙂
Teehee… thanks Nikki! Now I want to find a bright blue lippie to see if its true 😉
Red lips look great on you! I wish I could pull them off as well as you!
Its all about finding that right shade of red for you – perhaps something sheer? 🙂
You look FAB in all reds!!
Thanks Jamilla!
Paris. You really can wear red. I can’t 🙁 They make me look weird. I still prefer nude and nude lip colours only. The most I can wear is a golden pinkish colour and that’s it. Envy… To me red just show some class to it. Makes you bold and you mean serious business. That’s what I think. 🙂
Wearing red takes a lot of confidence especially when people start to stare 🙂 Best time to try is to wear it at night – it looks better too. Perhaps start with a sheer red and then work up to something stronger. Look around for a red that suits you – there’s a red for everyone!
Love reading your posts…very enjoyable..
I have no idea what type of reds suit me..but i do noe that fresh red reli goes well on my skin tone..
any suggestions?i do noe that Maybelline’s Dragonfly Red does not suit me at all..i looked old wearing that shade…haha..i was thinking about Stage’s red..the one you reviewed..
how do you see that the red is blue based or orange based??
hmmm…i think Stage’s racy too dark..hee…jz browsed thru the review you did…
all my lipsticks are pinks…all shades of pinks…i want a red..boohoohoo..you look soo GORGEOUS in red…
I like the YSL Rouge Volupte! looks uber sexy!
Revlon in Really Red is my fav! So awesome 😀
Thank you and its affordable too! 😀