Despite having two large make-up bags filled to bursting point with a collection of red lipsticks, I will always be happy to discover another which I just can't live without.
Blue based, pink based, matt, sheer - there are so many to transform my face from day to night with the mere flick of a lid.
The transition to
Autumn and Winter often brings beauty trends which are lead with a slew of vampish shades, and as we get closer to the sparkling fun of the party season, there really isn't a better time of year to find your perfect shade. The five below are the current selection fighting it out in my main make-up bag, all red, yet all incredibly different.
1. Bésame Colour Lipstick in Bésame Red (£22).
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| Bésame Colour Lipstick in Bésame Red (£22). |
Bésame Cosmetics produce a line of
vintage inspired beauties for your make-up bag, with their reproduction packaging as much a key feature as the product inside. Their lipsticks come in a range of reds, but it is their signature shade - a s
emi-matte, feather proof blue based vibrant red which has become my go to shade for every special event or photo call. The vintage inspired gold bullet shaped case comes in it's own red velvet protective pouch for storage, and the lipstick itself is
enriched with vitamins A, E, C, aloe and green tea. I feel like a silver screen siren whenever I use it, with it's
navy undertones cooling against the pinkness in my pale skin.
2. Lipstick Queen in Scarlett Red Sinner (£20).
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| Lipstick Queen in Scarlett Red Sinner (£20). |
When my lovely sort-of-sister-in-law gave me the pow-packed
Scarlett Red Sinner by Lipstick Queen for my birthday, I was over the moon! This had been on my to-buy list for as long as I could remember. The
full coverage red is incredibly pigmented,
opaque, matte and yet somehow still manages to remain
creamy and rich on the lips. Although it leans towards the cooler blue based lipsticks, it's not quite the navy undertones of Bésame and as such
sneaks under the day time radar, especially when teamed with a soft, 1940s style flick on the eyes.
3. Dainty Doll in 002 / Saucy Sailor (£12.50).
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| Dainty Doll in 002 / Saucy Sailor (£12.50). |
I found the idea behind Nicola Roberts'
Dainty Doll to be a great concept. With the palest shades of drugstore foundations often still a little on the yellow side, she created a range of products for pale skinned people which really caught my milk bottle faced attention when it first launched. I was sceptical when the items quickly seemed relegated to online discount bins, but upon seeing this lipstick reduced to just £5 on Amazon, I thought I'd take a chance. It was the name which convinced me, and I'm glad I purchased it as the lipstick offered a
moisturising, modern take on the classic red lip. The colour is evocative of the 40s screen siren, but it's
shiny finish made it day wear friendly. If you google the name, there are quite a few online shops offering this lipstick for around the £5 mark so grab yourself a festive bargain whilst you can!
4. Barry M Ultra Moisturising Lip Paint in LP160 / Black Cherry (£4.49).
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| Barry M Ultra Moisturising Lip Paint in LP160 / Black Cherry (£4.49). |
Barry M are proof that you don't need to spend a small fortune to get a
highly pigmented colour pay-off. Available at pocket money prices, their new range of
Ultra Moisturising Lip Paints are made with lip loving
Cocoa Butter - perfect for battling the winter cold!
Black Cherry is the ultimate Christmas vamp shade - the dark purple-red feels a little
film noir, and is perfect for bringing your inner
femme fatale out to play.
5. No7 High Shine Lip Crayon in Berry (£9).
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| No7 High Shine Lip Crayon in Berry (£9). |
The
No7 High Shine Lip Crayon in Berry is my go-to product when I need to make an impact, but don't have much time. The berry colour is gorgeous, and it's
crayon format means it's incredibly easy to apply yet still finishes as a
beautiful high-shine gloss. As it's sheer, it's also a product which despite the intense colour, easily passes as day wear. I frequently wear it to meetings with gold eyeshadow and a soft pink flush on the cheeks to create a
striking look which isn't too overpowering.
(Note: This is an honest, impartial review after purchasing an item, and not one which I have been paid for.)
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