Even if your makeup bag is full, a good red lipstick is a must.
Want a kiss? Rosalyn is wearing Nars Cinematic lipstick in Future Red and Kate is wearing Rimmel Apocalips Lip Lacquer in Big Bang. (QMI AGENCY)
Whether you go for deep rouge, pink undertones, or a touch of coral, red lips can be worn every season and with just about every look. If you prefer a gloss, stain, or even lip balm, there is a red out there for you.
We tested out some new red lipsticks and compared them to some our favourites.
(And for your listening pleasure. Thanks, Trey Songz xo.)
Nars Cinematic Lipstick ($30, Murale)
Rosalyn tries out Nars Cinematic Lipstick in Future Red. (Rosalyn Solomon/QMI Agency)
Nars Cinematic lipstick in Future Red. ($30, Murale)
Colour: Future Red, it’s a really nice red pop, almost pure with no other undertones.
Application: This lipstick is quite matte, and though it looks smooth on, it doesn’t glide very easily on the lips.
Coverage: Excellent coverage, I would recommend a lip pencil to set it.
Durability: I wore this out for dinner and it didn’t smudge my glass, but the colour was almost all gone by the end of my meal. Without food, I was able to keep the colour on for a couple hours after the fact.
Would you wear it again? I would definitely use this again, I loved the colour as it is sometimes hard to find a pure red lipstick, this one is really good for any skin tone or age.
How it compares with my red lipstick: It took me a while to warm up to red lipstick, I’ve got big lips and felt they shouldn’t be accentuated anymore – silly old me.
Rosalyn wearing Maybelline Super Stay 14 hour Lipstick in Continuous Cranberry. (Rosalyn Solomon/QMI Agency)
Because of this I got an affordable red, Maybelline Super Stay 14 hour Lipstick in Continuous Cranberry ($6.99, available at mass drug retailers) just for special occasions.
Unlike the Nars product, it has a slight pink tone on my lips that I’m not crazy about. It does however, last through a meal and it pretty durable.
Kate before and after wearing Rimmel Apocalips Lip Lacquer in Big Bang. (Kate Kennedy/QMI Agency)
Kate
Rimmel Apocalips Lip Lacquer ($8.99, available at mass retailers)
Colour: Big Bang. A true red that’s very opaque and the highest pigmentation I’ve experienced in lip colour.
Application: A high-angled foam tip made application fairly easy – it’s an intense colour and stains quickly so you do not want to fudge it! It went on glossy but dried slightly creamer. I would call it a lip paint.
Durability: It lasted through two coffees, biscotti and oatmeal (it’s been a carb-heavy winter). The only problem is, after about three hours my lips began to look lined as the paint dried. As it fades the colour leans toward a warm crimson tone.
Would you wear it again? You bet. It’s a real looker.
How it compares to my red lipstick: My current favourite red is Avon Ultra Colour Lipstick in Poppy Love ($8). Even though my skin is fair with cool undertones, the orange-based hue looks great, it’s got decent staying power, and it doesn’t leave my lips feeling dry. I can imagine it would look that much better on warm skin tones.
Maybelline New York Super Stay 14 Hour Lipstick ($6.99, available at mass drug retailers)
Kate wearing Maybelline New York Super Stay 14 Hour Lipstick in Ravishing Rouge. (Kate Kennedy/QMI Agency)
Colour: Ravishing Rouge, a creamy matte with a slightly cool undertone (it’s cooler in real life than in the picture above) and little ruby sparkles.
Application: It went on a little thick and feels better with a balm underneath, and my lips felt a little tacky for the first hour. I always prep with L’Oreal Paris Colour Riche Lip Liner in Always Red when wearing red lipsticks.
Durability: The colour looked good for two hours, OK for three, and needed re-application after five. It also wore off on cups pretty easily, dried more pinkish and settled into my fine lines. Having said that, for colour to last for five hours is pretty impressive.
Anything else? It smells like minty raspberry candy.
Would you wear it again? Yes, but I’d used a moisturizing balm overtop, like Kiehl’s Tinted Lip Balm in 30 (red) and I’d reserve it for a night out when I won’t be eating as much.
Tval Skincare Lipstick ($16, tvalskincare.com)
Tval Skincare Lipstick in Pirate. (Kate Kennedy/QMI Agency)
Colour: Pirate. A brick red that reads very Instagram-y.
Application: It feels quite balmy going on and needs two good swipes for full coverage.
Durability: I needed to apply again after about two hours, and unfortunately, it wore off from my inner lip quite easily while drinking.
Would you wear it again? Only now and then when I’m wearing an outfit it would match.
Anything else? The colour is quite unusual, but if you need durability, I would recommend using a colour protector – like Anna Sui’s Lip Colour Top Coat over top.
Ready to go red?
Cool complexions: Cool and blue-based reds are best, but a warm red will look bold on fair complexions. Deeper skin tones can go with clear reds, bold purples and berries.
Warm complexions: Stick to orange and yellow-based reds. Caramel and olive skin tones look best with warm reds.
Not sure about your skin tone? Go for a true red like Rimmel Apocalips in Big Bang or Nars Cinematic Lipstick in Future Red.
