Hey, beauties! The red lip has been a much-loved classic for decades. When deciding on a red lip colour, it isn’t always a stock-standard choice. All lips and skin tones are different, and you want to find the red that is the perfect hue for you! Searching for your perfect red can be challenging, but adding to that finding a formula that can last makes it even tougher! You want your lips to pop and never stop, right, beauties? So read on for my long-wear red lip options and tips on how to make them last!
I had the absolute pleasure of finding my way back to Cityline to help three gorgeous women find 3 unique formulas and shades that are the perfect red for them — and other wonderful women with different skin tones!
Before I dive into products, I want to acknowledge that very few women wear red lipstick every single day. Most red lipsticks end up at the bottom of a makeup bag, only to be pulled out around the holidays. With this fact in mind, I chose two really accessible lipsticks at reasonable price points. I want you to be able to justify buying them if you only break them out a handful of times a year! But for those who are mad lovers of red and like to rock it on the regular, I’ve also included one elevated lippie option. Let’s dive in!
✨ Lipstick #1 – Maybelline Superstay Matte Ink in Individualist
On the lovely Marilyn, I chose Maybelline Superstay Matte Ink in Individualist. This warm shade is technically more of an orangey-red, but beautiful for Marilyn’s skin tone. It’s a liquid lipstick that has a pointed doe-foot for easy application and does a terrific job helping you shape the lips. I knew this shade would look amazing on her fairer skin tone and really help to brighten up her face.
This liquid lipstick is extremely pigmented and dries to a comfortable finish, without leaving your lips feeling dried out. It also happens to be transfer-proof and perfect for kissable, beautifully pigmented lips!
One thing we can’t promise is that it will look absolutely perfect after eating and drinking for hours. To do that, you either have to sit still, not talk, eat or drink or basically know magic. But it is pretty spectacular, overall.
So I give this Maybelline lipstick an 8 out of 10!
✨ Lipstick #2 – Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in #10
On the wonderful Julie, I used Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in #10. This 8-hour wear lipstick is a stunning, traditional Hollywood red, giving all those Marilyn Monroe vibes with a blend of cool and warm red tones. In my opinion, this lipstick is by far the most comfortable to wear. Its creamy texture feels good on your lips for hours on end, but because it’s creamier, it isn’t as transfer-proof as our Maybelline lipstick.
That being said, if you apply it in thin layers it does have some staying power and the colour payoff is exceptional! Just don’t go spending too much time under the mistletoe.
✨ Lipstick #3 – Smashbox Always On Cream to Matte in Bawse
On the gorgeous Vivian, I used Smashbox Always On Cream to Matte in Bawse for 8 hours of fabulous wear. The most expensive of our listed lippies, this is the ultimate matte lipstick. It glides on creamy and dries to an ultra matte finish. But the best part? It won’t smudge, budge or feather. What a lip gift!
The shade I chose for Vivian is a blue-based red which is fantastic to help keep that smile looking its whitest and brightest! Pro tip: the more blue-based the lipstick, the whiter your teeth look. This red shade has a lovely depth to it that I feel beautifully compliments Vivian’s skin tone!
✨ Longer lasting lip tips
Since the hourly claims on lippies may be, shall we say, a little inaccurate sometimes, here are some tips to help long-wear red lipsticks withstand a busy day:
• Exfoliate and hydrate your lips before applying.
• Fill in your lips with lipliner.
• Apply the lipstick in very thin layers
• Place a tissue over your lips and blot translucent loose powder on top of your lips to further set your lipstick. This helps to blot your lipstick as well!
• Avoid eating anything that is really oily. Fun fact: oily foods will naturally break down lipstick the same way an oil cleanser would!
✨ Fun Fact!
We’d be amiss to not add one more red lipstick to the list — it’s a favourite and one of our very own — check out Fancy Face’s Give Love red lipstick for a highly-pigmented, blue-undertoned hue to make your pearly whites even whiter. Even more, it’s a long-lasting matte lipstick that keeps your lips feeling moisturized. Embrace your iconic red, beauties!
There you have it, beauties. You can watch the full segment here. I can’t wait to hear which red is right for you! Happy shopping!
